• Site selection process:
  • All sites are located near existing encampments to bring people from the area indoors to safer shelter.
  • Local preference policy at shelters – priority given to unsheltered people within close proximity of the site – a series of “invitation zones”
• Site notes:
  • When the Lake Merritt camp opened, city officials say they plan to phase in the no encampment zone around the lake starting first with the large camp that existed at Peralta Park next to the old Kaiser Center.
  • Some people choose to participate in the Community Cabin program. Those who don’t are ordered to leave camps nearby.
  • Community response has improved with each new site, as neighboring businesses and residents see the camps making a difference in cleaning up areas and providing dignified shelter to vulnerable populations.
  • Some encampments have re-emerged within vicinity of Cabin Communities due to capacity of only 20-30 beds per site vs. the scale of the problem.
  • City has codified the areas around Cabin Communities as high sensitivity areas to help enforce removing informal encampments.

• Development Uses Budget summarized as follows:
• • $132k for cabins (by Tuff Shed), $88k site work (wooden platforms, ADA ramps, electrical low voltage and full power to offices and community tent, fencing and gates), $22k for FFE (furniture, fixture, equipment)
• Cost to city for development of site was close to zero due to philanthropic donations:
  • Sutter Health bought the sheds and donated them to the city
  • Site work included many donated materials, but valued at cost above
  • Engineering, project management, and architecture fees were in-kind donations from private sector in Oakland community, thanks to connections made by Oakland Builders Alliance.
• Ground prep minimal due to paved lot, no plumbing and sewer hook-ups.
• For operations, City Council adopted the two-year budget for fiscal years 2019-2021 which includes $32 million in funding for homeless services that will allow the City to expand existing homeless programs such as Community Cabins and safe parking; enhance the health, sanitation, and safety of unsheltered residents; and provide employment training and opportunities to hire unsheltered people to assist with litter removal at encampments. The funding will also support rapid-rehousing, services, and interventions for homeless residents, including a mobile homeless outreach team, and create a $2.7 million fund for anti-displacement services and housing security improvements. In addition to this budget allocation, Oakland’s partnership with the San Francisco Foundation—Keep Oakland Housed—augments the City’s budget with $8 million in rapid anti-displacement assistance.

Additional Funding Notes

• HHAP – This year, as part of the State’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 Budget, the State set aside $650 million in one-time funding for the construction and expansion of emergency shelters and
  navigation centers, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, job programs, and for innovative projects like hotel/motel conversions. The Homeless Housing, Assistance, and
  Prevention Program (HHAPP) will make available $275 million to large cities, with a significant portion going to Los Angeles.
• HEAP – Prior state funds for emergency shelters were provided by the 2018-enacted HEAP funding allocations (link).

Overview

• The design includes 20 cabins (40-capacity), a manager’s unit, 3 storage containers, and one bathroom module
• Utilities: All bathrooms and showers off-grid, serviced 2-3 times per week. Showers serviced provided by Lava Mae (bus with permit to access septic dumping with the City)
• Cabins have continued to improve in design and quality, with the latest two sites – Mandela and London sites including R12 insulation, sheet rock, three double pane windows.

• • Tuff Shed delivered kit of parts, third party volunteer project manager managed the assembly process. Onsite services paid prevailing wage.
  • Via project manager and general contractor connections, cabins are California Shed, where they get customized designs built with dry wall and insulation and double pane windows, delivered to site ready to go with no foundation needed.

Roles

• Construction management done by third party provider, Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods,  a community-focused building and development company, who worked pro-bono GC and PM. Allowed for faster implementation, worked with state fire marshall, local fire, and building department for quick review –

Review / Approval Process

• Review process was expedited and cabins not up required to be up to full building code given the emergency ordinance and temporary intention of the site – all depts were collaborative and flexible in review/approval process given the alternative of people living on the street.
• Site reviews: Fire, ADA, structural reviews completed for site layout and cabin plans themselves.
• Fire Dept required extinguishers + smoke detectors in each cabin,  5/8-inch fire-code drywall, and appropriate spacing between each cabin for access and fire separation. Each fire nearby fire station tours the site and comments on egress, help create an emergency management plan.
• Building and Safety reviewed plans – materials, connections, framing detail – inspected by structural engineer
• Bureau of Engineering reviewed soils, mitigation plans

• Housing Consortium of the East Bay is a nonprofit that has done work with the City in the past
• Local preference policy at shelters – priority given to unsheltered people within close proximity of the site – a series of “invitation zones”
• Prospective residents were skeptical of the program and the first cabin community, however, after the first opened, unsheltered people were asking how to get admitted into the community
• While tenants are brought in to stay for 6 months as they find more permanent housing and work with their case manager, tenants tend to stay longer. Tenants only leave if break the rules of the Cabin Community.