First North Berkeley affordable housing in over 30 years, Jordan Court, opens
Tenants began moving into the 34-unit affordable senior housing project in March after being chosen among 1,000 applicants.
Homelessness
Top Stories
800 homeless people died in Alameda County in 3 years
The main causes of death were overdoses and medical conditions, many “preventable,” according to a county report.
West Berkeley homeless occupants have 3 weeks to find housing
Six of the remaining people at the Ashby-Shellmound encampment have disabilities that make it difficult to find housing.
West Berkeley RV resident sustains minor injuries in fire
Jeffrey Edwards was able to escape mostly unscathed from the blaze.
South Berkeley Black churches are building affordable housing on their properties
The parcels are part of the ongoing Adeline Corridor Plan near Ashby BART.
Berkeley City Council
Berkeley looks at $7M earmark for expanded mental health services
Most of the money is for a new Specialized Care Unit that would respond instead of armed police to people in crisis.
‘The leadership that came from the streets has been decapitated’: Deaths of 5 homeless advocates in a year leave a void
The loss of so many leading Berkeley activists who worked to give unsheltered people a greater say in their living conditions is sorely felt, but the fight will go on, say advocates.
In brief
Barbara Brust spends her time helping those who are unsheltered. Now she needs the help
Brust runs Consider the Homeless which delivers soup, food and groceries to those living on the streets of Berkeley. She now has advanced cancer and needs funds for her medical care.
Berkeley launches new 3-site ‘respite program’ for unhoused people
The city of Berkeley is set to move dozens of unhoused people into 18 RVs and a rehabbed house as part of a new respite program approved by officials Tuesday night in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Affordable housing
City, university to lease Rodeway Inn as housing for displaced People’s Park residents
UC Berkeley is expected to begin construction at the park in the summer.
In brief
Applications for Berkeley Way affordable housing due Feb. 23
The project is the city’s largest, 100% affordable housing development and includes supportive housing.
The Golden Bear Hotel will become permanent housing for homeless residents
The state granted $16.4 million to convert the hotel into 44 permanent affordable housing units.
With $6.6M grant, homeless youth in Alameda County will design programs for their community
Young unhoused people in Berkeley and surrounding cities will lead the decision-making process about how to use the federal grant.
Coronavirus
Chloe Verron, who died in RV on 2nd Street, remembered as courageous, loving
Chloe moved from New York to California to find a safer, more welcoming space for her gender transition.
Berkeley’s biggest homeless camps were closed. Where are the residents now?
Twenty-five percent of West Berkeley encampment residents are in hotels, 17% were housed and 25% are still on the streets.
Berkeley emergency homeless shelter closes for the season, relocates some residents
The BESS ran from November to April this year, and remained open 24 hours a day with reduced capacity.
How to access your stimulus check if you’re homeless in Berkeley
If you do not automatically receive your payment via direct deposit or in the mail, this guide will help point you in the right direction.
RV living
Berkeley RVs at 8th and Harrison will transition to new ‘safe parking site’
RV residents are required to move by Oct. 6, but some plan to protest what they see as a rushed alternative.
‘Quarantine Diary’ captures the experience of living in an RV in Berkeley
Multimedia journalist Yesica Prado has spent the past year examining the local culture of vehicle living. She created a short film that documents her own daily life living in an RV.
Council votes to launch nightly RV parking program in some municipal lots
The city of Berkeley is moving ahead with a plan to grant three-month renewable permits to 25 RV dwellers so they can stay overnight at certain municipal parking lots once the program is up and running.
Related stories
Volunteers conduct long-awaited homeless count in Berkeley, Oakland
The pandemic likely worsened the homelessness crisis, but a crucial population count was delayed until now.
Osha Neumann, attorney for the disenfranchised, retires
Neumann, who came up in the counterculture 1960s, will continue advocacy through his private practice as well as his work as an artist.
‘It’s a godsend’: A seat for everyone to play chess on Telegraph Avenue
Grandmasters, students, children, passersby and local workers are all welcome at the Telegraph tables, organized by a community activist.
A pledge to ‘give meaning to every homeless death’ at Alameda County memorial
According to a forthcoming report, more than 800 unhoused people died in the county over a three-year period, significantly higher than previous estimates.
