There is no way to end homelessness in Oakland anytime in the foreseeable future. Homelessness is a national problem. Until this is recognized, it’s pointless to talk about ending it on our own.
It is possible, on the other hand, to end unauthorized and illegal encampments in Oakland.
This can be done, as we have repeatedly suggested, by authorizing the creation of large, U.N. refugee-style camps, on lands the city either owns, controls or rents. For example, the Oakland Army Base, which I, and surprisingly Carroll Fife, both have argued on behalf of.
This can be done only by agreeing that, upon the establishment of such camps, no other encampments or even single tents will be permitted anyplace else. This will obviously involve the Oakland Police Department.
Campers who refuse to be relocated to city-sanctioned lots shall be removed, against their will if necessary, and subsequently arrested, if they continue to resist.
This does not mean the dismemberment or abandonment of MACRO. We are willing to fund MACRO, as long as these investments do not subtract from other city services that are more needed and likelier to succeed. MACRO can deal with the mentally ill component of our homeless population, but we demand that the definition of mental illness not be so broad as to include most homeless people.
We also are willing to fund the Department of Violence Prevention, but only to the extent that it can prove its effectiveness, as judged by an independent auditor. Otherwise, DVP is an endless black hole into which taxpayer money is poured, without provable results.
All this can be accomplished only if OPD is given the resources it needs. These include (1) a force of at least 900 sworn officers, and probably 1,100, as Chief Armstrong has said he needs; (2) the immediate disestablishment of the Oakland Police Commission, which has proved such a hindrance to effective law enforcement.
As for currently available shelters run or paid for by the City of Oakland, all existing contracts will be honored. However, a time limit of 6 months will be given to those residents currently occupying them. At that time, such housing arrangements shall be terminated; and anyone left unhoused will be given the choice of relocating to a city-sanctioned lot or leaving Oakland, their transportation costs to be paid for by the City.
All funding sources, including grants, that are still extant at that time, shall be invested instead in the ongoing maintenance and protection of the city-sanctioned lot or lots. All additional sources of funding, from whatever source, shall similarly be invested in the maintenance and protection of city-sanctioned camps. Such investments will be necessary because of the distinct possibility of city-sanctioned camps deteriorating, their residents probably incapable of self-governance.
Oakland police will be directed to immediately evict any camper/s within the city limits who attempt to establish a new site. This shall be done within 24 hours of the discovery of such a site. For each additional day the city fails to act, the City of Oakland shall be fined $10,000.
For mentally ill individuals, who cannot or will not participate cooperatively in this process, arrangements will be made (through MACRO?) with appropriate State and County facilities for the City to contract with the State Department of Health for individuals to be hospitalized for treatment of their mental illness, under so-called 5150 provisions as well as under the provisions of Gov. Newson’s CARE Courts.
Anticipating legal challenges to any or all of the above, the City of Oakland shall be required to bring on adequate staff to contest these frivolous lawsuits. Funding for these additional staff shall come from city-run programs that will be terminated, as determined by the city.
Under no circumstances shall the City impose new parcel taxes to pay for any of the above recommendations, unless current parcel taxes are cancelled on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
It is to be expected that additional details will be developed in the future, as the plan unfolds and further needs become identified. However, we believe this plan constitutes a good starting point to something that should have been done long ago. The longer we hesitate, the harder the problems will be to solve.
Steve Heimoff, for the entire Executive Team of the Coalition for a Better Oakland