Bay Area

Interfaith Council of Alameda County Takes Action on Homelessness Crisis

The Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) is leading a concerted effort alongside city, state, and county officials to tackle the urgent issue of homelessness in our community. For the past six years, ICAC has run the Safe Car Park program, providing resources and a safe place to sleep for unhoused neighbors and families living in their vehicles.

Published

1 month ago

August 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Founding ICAC President Pastor Ken Chambers, left, and Dr. Kenneth Anderson, first vice president of the state Baptist Convention and pastor of Williams Chapel Baptist Church, pose in front of the trailers that need renovation. Photo by Kevin Hicks, Hicks Media.

By Pastor Candace Chambers

Special to The Post

The Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) is leading a concerted effort alongside city, state, and county officials to tackle the urgent issue of homelessness in our community.

For the past six years, ICAC has run the Safe Car Park program, providing resources and a safe place to sleep for unhoused neighbors and families living in their vehicles.

The Safe Car Park program has become a beacon of safety in communities. ICAC has also received 25 trailers from the State of California through the city of Oakland. Funding did not accompany the trailers, so a GoFundMe campaign has been raising funds to make the trailers livable, aimed at providing immediate relief and short-term housing options.

“The Interfaith Council is committed to working hand-in-hand with local authorities and community partners to address homelessness comprehensively,” stated Pastor Ken Chambers, founding president of ICAC. “Our goal is to not only provide immediate support but also to implement sustainable housing solutions that will make an impact.”

ICAC holds monthly community meetings and recently hosted Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the new Oakland chief of police, Floyd Mitchell, at their July meeting at the Williams Chapel Baptist Church in Oakland.

“I’m really getting acclimated with the City of Oakland and how we as a police department can partner better with our constituents, community, and our businesses,” said Mitchell.

“ICAC has saved so many people because of the Safe Car Park program,” said Thao. “We know that when you’re dealing with everyday issues including putting food on the table or finding a job, the last thing you should have to worry about is your safety when you’re asleep at your most vulnerable phase.”

Thao also confirmed that the $450,000 approved resolution by the City Council included the new approved budget to expand the Safe Car Park and Trailer programs.

The next community meeting will take place on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Oakland Temple Visitors Center at 4766 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, California 94602.

Discussions centered on enhancing collaboration between civic leaders, faith-based organizations, and grassroots initiatives will be continued. All are welcome to attend in-person and virtually.

Building Equity Discipline and Respect for our Communities (BEDROC) and ICAC will provide a shower and laundry truck for the community in collaboration with Williams Chapel Baptist Church at 1410 10th Ave, Oakland, CA 94606 on Aug. 13 from 12-3 p.m.

For more information on how to contribute or participate with ICAC, please visit interfaithAC.org where you can donate and become a member. To donate to upgrade the trailers, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/transform-trailers-to-housing.

If anyone is in need of emergency overnight parking, please visit our website or call 510-239-8832.

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Oakland Post: Week of September 25 – October 1, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 25 – October 1, 2024

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1 day ago

September 27, 2024

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 18 – 24, 2024

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Bay Area

Advocates Hold Rally to “Issue a Citation” to City to Stop Homeless Encampment Sweeps

Advocates in San Francisco held a rally Thursday afternoon in front of City Hall to issue a symbolic citation to Mayor London Breed, urging an immediate end to the sweeps of homeless encampments in the city. “What do we want? Housing! When do we want it? Now!,” the group chanted. The group of allies and advocates originally intended to start their rally off on Jessie Street, where a sweep of an encampment was going to take place around noon. But, the group had to change their plans because the city allegedly heard about the rally and chose to sweep the area earlier in the day.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 16, 2024

Oakland Post

San Francisco homelessness advocates held a rally in front of City Hall to issue a symbolic citation to Mayor London Breed to stop sweeping encampments. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.

By Magaly Muñoz

“What do we want? Housing! When do we want it? Now!,” the group chanted.

The group of allies and advocates originally intended to start their rally off on Jessie Street, where a sweep of an encampment was going to take place around noon. But, the group had to change their plans because the city allegedly heard about the rally and chose to sweep the area earlier in the day.

The streets adjacent to Jessie St., such as Mission and Market St, are lined with multiple encampments and unhoused individuals. Many stand in groups or walk along the streets by themselves.

One member of the group, Leah, said she lived in District 6 and what politicians claim is an “open drug market” area. She criticized the extra funding that has gone to the San Francisco Police Department to “solve homelessness” but no positive results have been shown.

“If giving the police more money actually solved the housing crisis, the homelessness crisis…then it would’ve gotten better, but it has actually just been getting worse and worse as more services for poor people have been cut,” Leah said.

Other speakers said the problem with sweeping and citing people for living on the streets is that the homeless problem is being exacerbated, and it’s ultimately not helping those who are struggling.

In order to help alleviate the problem, advocates have called for expansions to permanent supportive housing, resources and services, housing vouchers, and rent relief for struggling residents.

According to the 2024 Point in Time Count, 8,323 people were experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. A seven percent increase since 2022 where there were 7,754 sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals.

In her mission to get people off the streets, Mayor Breed has directed city crews to clear encampments more frequently than before. This decision comes after the landmark case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, was overturned by the U.S Supreme Court and cities were given the authority to ban people from camping or sleeping on the streets.

The mayor also instructed city workers to offer transportation tickets to people before offering shelter with the intent that those who are not originally from San Francisco can return to family or friends elsewhere and services can then be used for long-time residents.

A former homeless resident, Yolanda, in attendance at the rally said it was difficult to get off of living on the streets because of the barriers to housing and services.

Yolanda told the Post that she had grown up in the city with her family, but once her father passed away, there was no one to maintain the bills so they had to relocate to Oakland for a few years. She said her family stayed there for a few years before returning to San Francisco.

As she got older, she found herself living on the streets or in temporary shelter. But these shelters would only allow people to stay for a few months at a time and were very restrictive in what people could do, such as leave when they wanted or have guests with them.

After some time, Yolanda and her boyfriend were selected for housing through a housing allocation program, where she still currently lives now. She said they were one of the lucky ones, but others do not get to experience this same fortune.

She shared that at one point in her journey to find a housing placement, there was a 2,000 person waitlist, making it nearly impossible and disheartening for those looking for a roof to put over their heads.

Yolanda said it was unfair to criminalize people for not being able to afford housing, considering the extremely high costs of living in the area.