Oakland

Opinion: Developer Danny Haber, Hero of Oakland

Published

8 years ago

November 10, 2017

By Haqq Shabazz

On every street, in every public meeting, weekends and weeknights, people are talking about the lack of affordable housing and the resulting displacement.

Oakland now has the seventh most expensive rents and is acutely suffering from this issue.
The average one bedroom apartment currently rents for about $2,025 per month, while Oakland’s median household income is $54,618.

To compound the problem, the may actively courts large national developers to put up class A buildings that will rent at $3,000 or more per unit.

Over 14,000 of these expensive units are in the development pipeline, with prices Oakland residents cannot afford, bringing in new residents and pricing out Oakland’s long-term African American population.

One developer who is doing things differently is Danny Haber. At first, he has focused on revitalizing buildings. Two of his buildings, like the Ghostship, were formerly deathtraps.

Haber is not asking for tax dollars to transform dangerous housing to desirable housing and is working with former residents so they can come back at the same prices they previously paid.

This represents a game changer for development in Oakland and a model that can be applied to other buildings.

In West Oakland the African American population used to be 65 percent – now it is down to 25 percent .

Haber and his development firm oWow are building, 3-4 bedroom apartments targeted towards workforce housing and families. Units feature a kitchen, living room and two bathrooms. Every square inch is designed to keep rents affordable.

These innovatively designed units are allowing Oakland to stay Oakland, enabling new housing to keep neighborhoods diverse and prevent continued displacement .

Compared to all the Class A developments approved in Oakland, Haber and oWow’s units offer a refreshing anti gentrification alternative .

“We seek to build unsubsidized affordable housing solution that will shift the conversation from desperation to hope enabling people to focus on achieving the American dream instead of where am I going to be able to afford to live next month,” said Haber.

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC