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What You Can Do to Help Reduce Homelessness

Posted: January 27th, 2021 12:30 PM

Last Updated: November 18th, 2022 9:56 AM

Advocate

Ask your County, State, and Federal representatives to fund local homelessness programs.

  • COUNTY: Fund health and safety net services.
  • STATE: Provide permanent funding for local governments.
  • FEDERAL: Permanent funding for affordable housing, plus subsidies, vouchers.

Donate and Volunteer with Key Organizations

Keep Oakland Housed

Fund Oakland's innovative program to keep Oaklanders from becoming homeless.

City Team

Volunteer with City Team to bring food to community cabins.

Abode Services

Volunteers can serve in a variety of roles, including: serving on our Board of Directors/committees, preparing and serving meals, tutoring and leading children’s activities, helping to sort and store donated items, performing yard work and other maintenance, providing office and front desk support, helping out during the holidays, and more.

Ariel Outreach Mission:

Fill out a volunteer form!

Building Futures with Women and Children

Administrative support; Shelter and Camp maintenance/repair, hygienic cleaning, serving meals, bulky clean-up; food drives, holiday programming.

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS)

Current volunteer opportunities: BOSS Bay Area Food Run, BOSS Bay Area Black August Block Party, Social Media & Marketing, Graphic Design, Video Editing, Fundraising & Collections/Drives

Courageous Women Association:

Join our dynamic team of volunteers in 3 easy steps: 1.Fill out our volunteer below, 2.Serve a minimum of 2 hours volunteer time, 3.Attend a brief volunteer training.

Diamond in the Ruff:

​​We serve those in our community who are at risk from being homeless, victims of domestic violence, in recovery, coming out of incarceration and those who may have one or more barriers due to mental health. Get in touch!

East Oakland Collective:

Working with everyone from families, schools, to corporations, we offer volunteer opportunities and ways to make an impact in Oakland. To explore tailored volunteer opportunities or for large groups, contact us.

East Oakland Community Project

Preparing and serving meals, administrative support.

Family Bridges

Social Services, administrative support

Housing Consortium of East Bay

Donating funds, items and supplies.

LifeLong Medical Care

LifeLong Medical Care offers a diverse array of volunteer opportunities and can work with you to find one that best fits your interests and availability.

Oakland Elizabeth House:

Whether you can volunteer once a week, once a month, or once a year, you can enhance and expand the work of the House in a variety of ways, including tutoring, childcare, cooking, office assistance , grocery shopping, special event planning, and more.

Roots Community Health Center

Fill out contact form and please include in message your desire to assist with homeless and unhoused community programing, administrative support, and other hygienic and community-related programs and await getting called back.

St. Mary’s Center

Volunteers staff our reception desk, or assist in the garden, kitchen, and preschool.

St. Vincent de Paul-Alameda County

Many volunteer opportunities in the Dining Room, at Help Desk, in the Drop-In Centers, or with facilities maintenance or merchandising at SVdP stores.

Urban University:

Dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers are a critical part of developing our “living classroom” and keeping our stores warm, welcoming, and organized. It truly takes a village to educate, employ, and empower our single moms. Your commitment of time and talent can make a measurable difference in the success of our work.

Youth Spirit Artworks

YSA is always looking for regular and one time volunteers to help organize events, make food for artists, assist with the art program, mentor youth, pick up furniture, and help with other administrative activities.