E. 12th Street from 18th Avenue westward to 14th Avenue, Oakland
E. 12th Street from 18th Avenue westward to 14th Avenue, Oakland
Deep cleaning and partial closure
To mitigate negative public health and safety impacts at the E. 12th Street median due to encampment activity. The longstanding encampment along this median has long posed various health and safety concerns for those living nearby; business owners; encampment residents themselves; and has exacerbated traffic safety concerns.
From 2018 through 2020, Oakland firefighters responded to calls for 88 confirmed fires at this site, and fires increased significantly since then, with 53 confirmed fires in 2021 alone. In the last year, Oakland police have responded to multiple counts of assault, shootings, arson – and a homicide. Public works and transportation staff have responded to numerous, persistent reports that streetlights, traffic signals, and other essential safety infrastructure elements are frequently vandalized. The location is also a hotspot for illegal dumping and dumped, stripped, and/or stolen vehicles.
The City must provide holistic support services to existing encampment residents and then remove debris, restore public infrastructure, fortify and subsequently beautify the area to prevent re-encampment.
All of this work will be done consistent with the requirements of the City of Oakland’s Encampment Management Policy (City Council resolution 88341). This location is considered a high-sensitivity area as defined in the policy, as the encampment is obstructing the City’s essential right of way with illegal structures. The policy states that “high-sensitivity areas are locations where the health and safety impacts of homeless encampments are heightened due to the potential degradation of critical infrastructure, restriction of public amenities or services, or significant obstructions to… businesses.”
Additional regulations and guiding documents include, but are not limited to:
This will be a phased closure with multiple operations.
The City’s encampment management and outreach teams have been visiting this encampment weekly since its re-encampment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outreach visits include offering and distributing harm reduction supplies, including blankets, hygiene kits, food, water, and PPE supplies as a response to the pandemic.
Alameda County’s Health Care for the Homeless Street Medicine program also works to provide supportive services, client care coordination, and harm reduction when possible. The Street Medicine teams visit the site to engage with residents with medical needs. The services offered include, but are not limited to:
To learn more about how the City of Oakland is working to address homelessness, including how you can get involved and help, please go to the Oakland’s Response to Homelessness web page.
If you or someone you know is hungry, homeless, or housing insecure, please call 2-1-1.