Bay Area

Oakland Moves to Prohibit Landlords from Considering Criminal Histories in Rental Housing

Published

6 years ago

January 16, 2020

Members of the City Council’s Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee this week unanimously adopted a proposed Fair Chance Housing Ordinance that would ban landlords from considering criminal histories in screening applicants for rental housing.

The ordinance is designed to break down a major barrier, beyond high rental costs, that keeps many formerly incarcerated people from finding a place to live for themselves and their families, leading many of them to end up homeless after leaving prison.

A recent survey found that 73% of unhoused residents in Oakland encampments were formerly incarcerated, according to a city report on the proposed ordinance.

The proposal was originally brought to the city by the Alameda County Fair Chance to Housing Coalition, which includes All of Us or None, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children and Just Cities. The coalition worked closely with City Attorney Barbara Parker’s office, which drafted the ordinance and co-sponsors District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas with Larry Reid and Dan Kalb. Also supporting the proposal at CED were Councilmembers Noel Gallo and Loren Taylor.

“The purpose of the legislation is to increase access to housing for formerly incarcerated persons and their family members, to decrease the homelessness and family separation that result from policies that exclude the formerly incarcerated from housing and to provide formerly incarcerated people with a fair opportunity to reclaim their lives and reintegrate into the community,” said Deputy City Attorney Laura Lane.

With a few exceptions, the law would prevent landlords from asking about or requiring the disclosure of an applicant’s criminal history, from advertising or using a policy that excludes people with criminal history or taking any adverse action against a tenant or applicant, based on their criminal history, such as evicting a tenant or charging someone higher rent or security deposit, Lane said.

Fines for a violation could cost up to $1,000 per incident. A violation would be considered an infraction, but knowingly or willingly violating the ordinance would be a misdemeanor. The ordinance provides for education and outreach so that members of the community would know their rights and landlords would know their responsibilities.

“We believe this ordinance is a valuable and immediate solution to the housing crisis,” said John Jones III, who is a staff member of Just Cities and campaign director of the Fair Chance to Housing Coalition.

“This impact does not lie solely with the individual who has a criminal record,” he said. “These barriers are extended to family members, to loved ones, to children.”

People coming out of prison face barriers in all types of housing: publicly subsidized nonprofit housing, the Public Housing Authority and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) residences, said Margaretta Lin, executive director of Just Cities.

In its research, Just Cities “discovered that the criminal background databases that landlords rely on are extremely flawed,” she said. “We also know that there are…extreme racial disparities…in every step of the criminal justice system.

Noting that the city is strapped for resources, Lin said that Just Cities is willing to provide a pro bono annual evaluation of the implementation of the ordinance for the first two years.

Among the other cities that are already acting on this issue are Portland, Seattle, Richmond and Berkeley, she said.

Succatti Shaw, a member staff of All of Us or None and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, spent five years in prison. She said that because of the way her charges were written, making it seem like she manufactured meth, she is ineligible for affordable housing.

“I have a lifetime ban against me. I served my time, but now I’m serving time because I’m not seen as a human being,” she said. “I’m thanking you all for a chance to house my children (and) myself. We thank you for being stand up men and women.”

Taqwaa Bonner of All of Us or None said, “I am one among thousands of men and women who have been forced to live out in the streets of Oakland. I just served 30 years and two months straight in our California prison system.”

Released three years, ago, he lived in transitional housing for three months and was then “kicked out,” he said.

He said he could not live with his mother because her private apartment complex had a rule against felons living there. “I couldn’t live with my two sisters or my daughter because all three of them have Section 8 housing,” he said.

“I was born and raised in Oakland,” Bonner said. “I have employment in Oakland, (but) I cannot live in Oakland, solely based on my criminal conviction 30 years ago, which had nothing to do with tearing up someone’s property or not paying rent.”

The ordinance is scheduled to be heard on the consent calendar at the Jan. 21 City Council meeting.

Ken Epstein

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

5 days ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

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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

1 week 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.

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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

1 week 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.