In December, the City of Oakland announced that it had purchased Clifton Hall to utilize as affordable housing. The building, located at the corner of Broadway and Clifton, is a former dormitory for the California College of Arts. Funding for the housing was made possible by Governor Newsom’s “Project Homekey” through California’s Department of Housing and Community Development. 

The property will be home to two types of housing operated by two very reputable providers. East Oakland Community Project began managing the transitional shelter for 20 families in December. SAHA Satellite Affordable Housing Associates will operate 40 units of permanent housing for senior citizens who previously experienced homelessness. Those residents are scheduled to move in later this Spring. The building’s ground floor will house the offices of Family Front Door, which serves as the hub for the Coordinated Entry System for homeless families in Northern Alameda County. 

At the announcement of this housing partnership, Oakland City Councilmember Dan Kalb, who represents Rockridge, said “”I’m thrilled that dozens of our unhoused families and seniors will have housing thanks to the hard work of Oakland City Staff and our nonprofit partners. There continues to be a dire need for more affordable housing and I am committed to making that a top priority for North Oakland and our entire city in 2021.”

To welcome our new neighbors, Rockridge Community Planning Council invites you to pitch in for a welcome gift for the residents at Clifton Hall. At the suggestion of SAHA management, we will be purchasing dishes and utensils for the two shared kitchens in the building.  

If we were not living in a pandemic, I personally would have encouraged RCPC and fellow Rockridge neighbors to host a block party to embrace these new Rockridge residents. A gathering will be feasible at some point in the future, but for now, we will have to extend our welcome to make the residents feel at home here through this gift.  

RCPC will match donations made through this fundraiser for up to $600 through our Community Grants Program Fund.

Make a donation of any amount on our GoFundMe Page: https://bit.ly/2QlRhw0