Residents of the E. 12th homeless community say lack of shelter leaves them vulnerable to crime on the streets.
Author Archives: Natalie Orenstein
Natalie Orenstein covers housing and homelessness for The Oaklandside. She was previously on staff at Berkeleyside, where her extensive reporting on the legacy of school desegregation received recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists NorCal and the Education Writers Association. Natalie’s reporting has also appeared in The J Weekly, The San Francisco Chronicle and elsewhere, and she’s written about public policy for a number of research institutes and think tanks. Natalie lives in Oakland, grew up in Berkeley, and has only left her beloved East Bay once, to attend Pomona College.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland Cannery artists are getting squeezed out by the cannabis industry
Residents of one of Oakland’s oldest live-work warehouses are facing an Ellis Act eviction.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
‘Warriors House’ owner Lloyd Canamore’s death leaves a void in West Oakland
After Canamore passed away in August, his beloved dogs were taken to Oakland Animal Services. The shelter is desperate to find them a new home.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
With insurers fleeing fire-prone California, what can be done in Oakland?
Councilmember Janani Ramachandran held a town hall this week to talk wildfire prevention and home insurance woes.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland sues sober-living homes over illegal evictions and sexual assault
The operator of One Rose of Unity said she provides a needed service to tenants who’d otherwise be homeless.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oak Knoll: Work continues on 900-home development in East Oakland hills
In the works for years, Oak Knoll has gained some public art and a restored creek—but no houses yet.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Billions for affordable housing? Voters may get chance to weigh in
A regional bond measure could fund affordable development in Oakland, Berkeley, and beyond at a size and scale never seen before.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Landlord says city is responsible for flood that displaced hundreds of East Oakland tenants
Developer Michael Johnson filed a claim for financial damages, while tenants gathered this week to reflect on eight months of loss, uncertainty, and stress.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
These sleek Lake Merritt condos have sat empty for years. Why?
The developer said a chain of unusual events thwarted his plans for the nine-unit Faraday property.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Bedbugs, break-ins plague Uptown senior housing, tenants say
Residents and organizers are pushing the city to launch a rental inspection program to catch habitability issues.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
‘Desperation’ and ‘bitterness’ in Alameda County eviction court
The end of the eviction moratoriums has brought an unprecedented wave of lawsuits as landlords and tenants attempt to resolve conflicts.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
At Alameda County eviction court, one judge tries to swim through a tsunami
With pandemic eviction moratoriums over, cases have shot up and the court is overwhelmed. Meet the sole judge handling the influx.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Peralta colleges ask state for $52 million for student housing
Students say a proposed 306-bed dorm in Alameda is not enough. Some faculty question the district’s decision to spend millions on the project.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Is this recyclable? Oakland tries to educate residents through trash bin audits
Oakland is taking an extra look at some recycling, trash, and compost bins. Your bin could be next.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Flooded East Oakland apartment building has cost city $5.7 million
Residents of Coliseum Connections have been uprooted for seven months. They recently protested outside their landlord’s home.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
It’s over: Oakland’s COVID-19 eviction moratorium expired Saturday
Tenants are bracing for another wave of evictions as Oakland’s policy ends. Landlords say the conclusion is overdue.
Posted inArts & Community
Nothing’s stopping Drag Story Hour at the Oakland Public Library
Drag queen Per Sia has read books to children at Oakland branches for years. She knows similar events near and far are increasingly under attack.
Posted inArts & Community
Weigh in on big changes to the Oakland Main Library
The city is asking for your ideas on whether and how to expand, rebuild, or relocate Oakland’s biggest public library.
Posted inArts & Community
Will Oakland’s movie theaters survive?
Movie houses have closed across the East Bay. We checked in on the New Parkway, the Piedmont Theatre, and the Grand Lake Theatre.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Doctors strike at East Bay clinics serving low-income, homeless patients
Healthcare workers at LifeLong Medical Care are calling attention to working conditions at Oakland and Berkeley clinics.
