Homeless Services & Solutions

Housing Is a Human Right

Why This Matters

Candice Elder with Ms. Elizabeth outside her tiny home

Oakland's housing crisis did not happen by accident. Rising rents, speculation, and decades of disinvestment pushed longtime Deep East Oakland residents out of their homes and onto the street — often within blocks of where they grew up.

Our Keep People Housed Oakland work treats housing as a human right. We meet unhoused neighbors where they are, stabilize what we can immediately, and organize alongside them for the policy changes that keep people housed in the first place.

Our Services

Street Outreach

Regular visits to encampments with supplies, hygiene kits, and trusted relationships.

Resource Referrals

Linkages to housing, health and other critical support systems.

Meal Distribution

Fresh, hot and healthy catered meals delivered to unhoused neighbors weekly.

Advocacy & Case Support

Follow-through with landlords, agencies, and the city until the case moves.

Who This Program Is For

Unhoused Residents

Neighbors living in encampments, vehicles, or temporary shelter in Deep East Oakland.

At-Risk Households

Families facing eviction, rent arrears, or housing instability.

Fresh, Hot and Healthy Catered Meals

East Oakland Collective is proud to provide fresh, hot catered meals to unhoused neighbors across East Oakland as part of our ongoing commitment to dignity, wellness, and community care. Through direct outreach and meal distribution, EOC is helping ensure vulnerable community members have access to nourishing food, human connection, and essential support. These efforts are rooted in our belief that every neighbor deserves compassion, respect, and access to healthy meals regardless of their housing status.

These meals are for any housing insecure person without access to a kitchen—persons living in encampments, RVs, cars, transitional housing, shelters, or couch surfing.

Meal Distribution to the Unhoused

Mondays and Tuesdays: Deliveries

Thursdays: Pickup at East Oakland Collective, 11 AM – 2 PM

Encampment Support and Outreach

East Oakland Collective conducts weekly outreach to unhoused neighbors living in encampments throughout Oakland, providing essential supplies and direct connections to supportive services. Through relationship-based outreach, EOC distributes items such as hygiene supplies, water, snack kits, clothing, and survival gear while helping connect community members to housing resources, health services, case management, and other critical support systems. Our outreach efforts are grounded in compassion, dignity, and a commitment to meeting people where they are.

Encampment Support and Outreach

Weekly: We deliver

EOC outreach team walking the railroad corridor with supplies for unhoused neighbors

Keep People Housed Oakland

The East Oakland Collective, in partnership with Bay Area Community Services (BACS), offers application support for the Keep People Housed Oakland Program. The Keep People Housed program provides direct help to Oakland residents who are experiencing housing insecurity and are behind in rent or facing eviction—ensuring eligible residents have access to financial assistance, legal services, and other vital services to prevent homelessness and displacement.

East Oakland Collective offers appointments and drop-in hours to assist Oakland residents with their needs.