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Kaiser Permanente, Habitat for Humanity, Oakland Community Land Trust Create More Affordable Housing Options
Families will soon move into two newly rehabilitated single-family homes on Manila Avenue near the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
Two newly renovated homes on Manila Avenue in Oakland will provide families with more affordable housing options and help transform the surrounding neighborhood near the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, the health organization announced on October 1.
Kiet Dang and his family will be moving into one of the two homes later this year. The family of three is now living with seven other people in a single-family home with one bathroom. The family sleeps in one bedroom, takes turns in the kitchen, and has little privacy. They are looking forward to finally having a home to call their own and a separate bedroom for their 12-year-old son to study and draw.
“This is very exciting for us,” Dang said. “With this house, our family can have more time together. That’s very important to me.”
In 2005, Kaiser Permanente purchased four single-family homes on Manila Avenue while constructing the Oakland Medical Offices on Broadway. The homes were later donated to Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley and Oakland Community Land Trust as part of Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to provide more stable, affordable housing in the communities it serves. Since 2019, Kaiser Permanente Northern California has invested $41 million to build and preserve affordable housing for low-income residents.
“Kaiser Permanente recognizes that it’s impossible to maintain good health without a safe and stable place to live,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s region. “We are excited to be a part of this effort, and to help residents find permanent housing where they can raise their families. We know the places where we live, learn, work and play have the greatest influence on our physical, mental and social well-being.”
Kaiser Permanente partnered with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley and Oakland Community Land Trust because of their commitment to establishing permanent affordable housing for communities that have been disproportionately excluded from home ownership as a result of income, unfair lending practices, and housing discrimination. The two non-profit organizations have been making significant improvements to two of the four homes for several months. Volunteers have worked to renovate the homes while maintaining the quality and character of the neighborhood. Those who purchase the Habitat homes must also put in hundreds of hours of sweat equity work into the construction and rehabilitation.
“It’s incredible to see, firsthand, the stability achieved, and opportunities gained by families who are able to own their own homes,” said Janice Jensen, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. “Homeownership has been this family’s dream for many years. We’re so grateful for this generous donation from Kaiser Permanente, and to be a part of this family’s dream.”
The homes are sold through stable, affordable mortgages to families typically priced out of the market. Families earning low and moderate incomes are eligible to purchase the homes. Renovations on the remaining two homes will begin in the coming months, with families moving in early next year.
“We are excited to be nearing the completion of the rehabilitation of the first of our two homes,” said Steve King, executive director of the Oakland Community Land Trust. “This partnership has enabled us to provide deeply affordable ownership for low-income families in a high opportunity neighborhood – something that is increasingly difficult to do as home prices in Oakland continue to exceed what is affordable for most households.”
