Bay Area

Housing Justice Advocacy Groups Call for Rent Freeze

Published

6 years ago

March 26, 2020

Tenants and members of ACCE Action, Bay Area TANC, East Bay Housing Organizations, East Bay Democratic Socialists, and MOMS 4 Housing marched together on Nov 23, 2019, in Oakland’s March for Housing Now. These same groups and over 140 housing organizations are now calling for a rent freeze due to the COVID19 Pandemic. One marcher holds a sign reading “HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT,” a rallying cry that ACCE Action often uses. Photo by Zack Haber.

In the wake of the housing crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, housing justice advocacy organizations and tenants are calling on California leaders to freeze rent, put a moratorium on all evictions, and allow unhoused people to move into empty units.

“Rent and mortgage payments must be frozen as long as people are unable to work because of COVID-19, and any rent and mortgage debt accumulated during this time must be forgiven,” reads an open letter that Alliance of Californians for Community (ACCE) addressed to California’s leaders.

A poll conducted by NPR and PBS taken on March 13and 14 showed that 25% of people making 50,000$ or less in the United States had already lost their job or had their hours cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the percentage of lower-income people who’ve lost work is likely much higher in California and over a week later, where Governor Gavin Newsom put a statewide “shelter in place” order in place.

Since a state mandate has prevented so many people from working, advocacy groups and tenants claim renters can’t earn money to pay rent. The state mandate requires residents to “stay home or at their place of residence” except for essential jobs, shopping for essential items, and outdoor exercise. Advocacy groups say that unsheltered communities present a public health risk during the pandemic, but some have suggested that empty housing units, empty publicly owned buildings, and hotel units could be used to house the unsheltered.

“For the sake of humanity — everyone who wants to be brought indoors needs to be brought in immediately. All publicly owned property and vacant units — including luxury units — need to be opened up to currently homeless people,” reads ACCE’s letter.

On March 20, a coalition called Housing Now! sent a similar open letter to Newsom making almost the same demands as ACCE’s letter, though the letter stopped short of advocating for housing people in currently empty units. Around 150 California organizations signed the letter including Causa Justa / Just Cause, East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, and California YIMBY.

Around 25 California elected officials signed the letter including Berkley’s Mayor, Jesse Arreguin, and Oakland City Council member Nikki Fortunato Bas and City Council President Rebecca Kaplan.

While housing justice advocacy groups have called on leaders to change policy, groups of residents are confronting power directly by moving into vacant housing units and/or preparing to refuse to pay rent through rent strikes.

On March 14, an unhoused man and two families moved into a vacant home in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles. On March 18, a group of unhoused and housing insecure residents who call themselves “Reclaim Our Homes,” moved into 11 more homes in the same area. CalTrans owns all 12 homes and planned to destroy them to extend the 710 Freeway, but the agency has left them empty even after their plans fell through in 2018.

On March 16, Station 40, a multi-racial working class collective who’ve rented their home in San Francisco for 17 years announced they are going on a rent strike.

“Now more than ever, we refuse debt and we refuse to be exploited. We will not shoulder this burden for the capitalists,” the collective wrote in an open letter, addressing their rent strike.

Bay Area Tenant and Neighborhood Councils (TANC), a group of Bay Area tenants who organize into tenant unions that then make demands on landlords has released a statement called “Rent Suspension Now!,” which also calls for a rent freeze. The statement acknowledges that though Alameda County Sheriff’s office has committed to currently not enforcing evictions, there must be a guarantee that evictions related to current lost wages not occur in the future.

“During the crisis, rent must be completely forgiven; there should be no expectation to pay it now, or ‘back pay’ it in the future. Nobody should profit from this crisis,” TANC’s statement reads.

TANC is currently accepting members. Tenants who want help unionizing can join TANC at baytanc.com/signup/.

Zack Haber

Posts by Zack Haber

Related Topics:Alliance of Californians for Community COVID-19 rent freeze

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Activism

Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

3 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

First 5 Alameda County Distributes Over $8 Million in First Wave of Critical Relief Funds for Historically Underpaid Caregivers

“Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers are lifelines for so many children and families in Alameda County,” said Kristin Spanos, CEO, First 5 Alameda County. “Yet, they often go unrecognized and undercompensated for their labor and ability to give individualized, culturally connected care. At First 5, we support the conditions that allow families to thrive, and getting this money into the hands of these caregivers and families at a time of heightened financial stress for parents is part of that commitment.”

Published

3 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Costco. Courtesy image.

Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregivers Can Now Opt Into $4,000 Grants to Help Bolster Economic Stability and Strengthen Early Learning Experiences

By Post Staff

Today, First 5 Alameda County announced the distribution of $4,000 relief grants to more than 2,000 Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, totaling over $8 million in the first round of funding. Over the full course of the funding initiative, First 5 Alameda County anticipates supporting over 3,000 FFN caregivers, who collectively care for an estimated 5,200 children across Alameda County. These grants are only a portion of the estimated $190 million being invested into expanding our early childcare system through direct caregiver relief to upcoming facilities, shelter, and long-term sustainability investments for providers fromMeasure C in its first year. This investment builds on the early rollout of Measure C and reflects a comprehensive, system-wide strategy to strengthen Alameda County’s early childhood ecosystem so families can rely on sustainable, accessible care,

These important caregivers provide child care in Alameda County to their relatives, friends, and neighbors. While public benefits continue to decrease for families, and inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, these grants provide direct economic support for FFN caregivers, whose wages have historically been very low or nonexistent, and very few of whom receive benefits. As families continue to face growing financial pressures, especially during the winter and holiday season, these grants will help these caregivers with living expenses such as rent, utilities, supplies, and food.

The funding for these relief grants comes from Measure C, a local voter-approved sales tax in Alameda County that invests in young children, their families, communities, providers, and caregivers. Within the first year of First 5’s 5-Year Plan for Measure C, in addition to the relief grants to informal FFN caregivers, other significant investments will benefit licensed child care providers. These investments include over $40 million in Early Care and Education (ECE) Emergency Grants, which have already flowed to nearly 800 center-based and family child care providers. As part of First 5’s 5-Year Plan, preparations are also underway to distribute facilities grants early next year for child care providers who need to make urgent repairs or improvements, and to launch the Emergency Revolving Fund in Spring 2026 to support licensed child care providers in Alameda County who are at risk of closure.

The FFN Relief Grants recognize and support the essential work that an estimated 3,000 FFN caregivers provide to 5,200 children in Alameda County. There is still an opportunity to receive funds for FFN caregivers who have not yet received them.

In partnership with First 5 Alameda County, Child Care Payment Agencies play a critical role in identifying eligible caregivers and leading coordinated outreach efforts to ensure FFN caregivers are informed of and able to access these relief funds.FFN caregivers are eligible for the grant if they receive a child care payment from an Alameda County Child Care Payment Agency, 4Cs of Alameda County, BANANAS, Hively, and Davis Street, and are currently caring for a child 12 years old or younger in Alameda County. Additionally, FFN caregivers who provided care for a child 12 years or younger at any time since April 1, 2025, but are no longer doing so, are also eligible for the funds. Eligible caregivers are being contacted by their Child Care Payment Agency on a rolling basis, beginning with those who provided care between April and July 2025.

“This money is coming to me at a critical time of heightened economic strain,” said Jill Morton, a caregiver in Oakland, California. “Since I am a non-licensed childcare provider, I didn’t think I was eligible for this financial support. I was relieved that this money can help pay my rent, purchase learning materials for the children as well as enhance childcare, buy groceries and take care of grandchildren.”

Eligible FFN caregivers who provided care at any time between April 1, 2025 and July 31, 2025, who haven’t yet opted into the process, are encouraged to check their mail and email for an eligibility letter. Those who have cared for a child after this period should expect to receive communications from their child care payment agency in the coming months. FFN caregivers with questions may also contact the agency they work with to receive child care payments, or the First 5 Alameda help desk, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST, at 510-227-6964. The help desk will be closed 12/25/25 – 1/1/26. Additional grant payments will be made on a rolling basis as opt-ins are received by the four child care payment agencies in Alameda County.

Beginning in the second year of Measure C implementation, FFN caregivers who care for a child from birth to age five and receive an Alameda County subsidized voucher will get an additional $500 per month. This amounts to an annual increase of about $6,000 per child receiving a subsidy. Together with more Measure C funding expected to flow back into the community as part of First 5’s 5-Year Plan, investments will continue to become available in the coming year for addressing the needs of childcare providers in Alameda County.

About First 5 Alameda County

First 5 Alameda County builds the local childhood systems and supports needed to ensure our county’s youngest children are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed in school and life.

Our Mission

In partnership with the community, we support a county-wide continuous prevention and early intervention system that promotes optimal health and development, narrows disparities, and improves the lives of children from birth to age five and their families.

Our Vision

Every child in Alameda County will have optimal health, development, and well-being to reach their greatest potential.

Learn more at www.first5alameda.org.