The following are Oakland Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas’s recent answers to questions about building homeless housing at a city-owned parcel at East 12^th Street and Second Avenue. The answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Nikki Fortunato Bas

What is this project?

Informed by the experiences of our unsheltered neighbors and by homeless advocates, (Nikki Bas’s) District 2 team has been working closely with city departments and Housing Consortium of the East Bay (HCEB) to develop a large-scale homelessness intervention on the city-owned parcel at East 12th Street and 2nd Avenue. The project would:

• Provide temporary housing and comprehensive, trauma-informed/harm reduction services, serving high-needs District 2 unhoused residents, providing them permanent housing.
• Provide “tiny home” PalletShelter structures for up to 65 homeless residents and support services including healthcare and housing navigation.
• On the same parcel, a co-governed program supported by provider Tiny Logic will house 14 residents in PalletShelters.

What is the project timeline?

We expect construction to begin on this project on August 4 and for individuals to move into the Pallet Shelters as early as this fall.

How will individuals be selected or approached for participation in the program?

The city has been coordinating outreach to encampments in the immediate geographic area, prioritizing larger encampments near Lake Merritt and East 12^th Street.

Where will the current residents living on the East 12th remainder parcel move when construction begins this week? 

On August 2 residents will be relocated to a portion of the same East 12th Street remainder parcel and will stay on-site until the program opens. Residents have been offered priority, first placement in the program. Others will receive temporary housing in other programs.

How are you incorporating wrap-around services into the program? 

Staff from HCEB will employ trauma-informed and harm-reduction wrap-around services and care, working closely with each resident to provide case management that fits their individual needs.

How will safety and privacy be maintained for residents and the surrounding community? 

HCEB will hire security professionals to secure the site daily, and the adjacent co-governed program supported will have residents providing their own security. The site will also be secured by a keypad for entry/exit, a 6-foot fence to provide privacy, and ample lighting.

What are the “Community Agreements” for the program and residents? 

The service provider, HCEB, will draft Community Agreements to ensure that safety, restorative justice, well-being and community-building are prioritized at the site. Residents will provide input and agree to these terms and will be asked to leave if rules are violated.

What is the best way for neighbors to support the program?

Our project will feature a “Community Council,” a group of stakeholders, including housed residents, nearby business owners, advocates, faith leaders and others, to provide ongoing guidance, community participation, and support. Email lsalaverry@oaklandca.gov to get involved.

Is there a plan for site beautification?

Bas’s office is working with potential partners, students and teachers at nearby schools and community groups, on murals and beautification efforts. Email lsalaverry@oaklandca.gov information.

What plans are there for noise, dust/debris mitigation during construction?

Site preparation/construction will consist of grading the parcel; this process will be minimally invasive and short. Assembly of PalletShelters will also be relatively simple. Each structure can be set up within 45 minutes, not requiring heavy equipment.

What are the future plans for this parcel, previously slated for development of the LakeHouse Commons Project?

The Lakehouse Commons Project, approved in 2016, is a mixed-use housing project by developers UrbanCore and the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC). The group has missed several construction deadlines and has received six separate extensions or updates. The most recent extension means that – if they are able to confirm their financing – the project would not begin for at least one year. A city staff update will be available in August.

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Isabelle Price

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