CARES Act funds provided direct financial assistance to Oakland renters, homeowners, small businesses, artists, nonprofits, and home-based entrepreneurs through intermediaries with expertise in grant giving. Additional funds were used to provide technical assistance and support programs, enhanced food security, advanced health initiatives, supported displaced workers and addressed the City's ongoing public health and public safety impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City of Oakland received $36.9 million in CARES Act Funding allocated from the State of California. All funds were required to be spent by December 30, 2020. City staff worked quickly to stand up new programs to help Oakland renters, homeowners, small businesses, nonprofits, artists, displaced workers and others.
To quickly provide support to Oakland’s most vulnerable communities, the City used trusted intermediary community organizations to administer grant programs and provide technical support for Displacement Prevention, Enhanced Access & Resiliency Improvements, Food Security & Health, and Workforce Support, where possible.