City inspectors are determining the extent of the damage at Coliseum Connections. Last week, tenants held an emotional meeting with officials.
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 faces calls for more homeless shelters as storm bears down
It is unclear whether Oakland is increasing its shelter capacity as unhoused residents and advocates scramble for protection from a “bomb cyclone.”
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Flood displaces hundreds from East Oakland apartment complex
Residents of Coliseum Connections, a mixed-income community on 71st Avenue, were told to evacuate New Year’s Day after rainwater swamped the garage.
Posted inHow We Work
Oakland’s housing and homelessness programs faced scrutiny in 2022
Reporter Natalie Orenstein spoke about the past year of news on her beat, from rent caps to encampment sweeps.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Memorial honors the hundreds of unhoused people who died in Alameda County this year
A new effort to track every local homeless death has found that unhoused people are five times likelier than others to die.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
A lavish Christmas party caps a tumultuous year on Wood Street
Unhoused residents and friends gathered for an elaborate celebration this weekend, knowing the city plans to close the encampment in January.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Duplex housing law hasn’t had big impact on Oakland, so far
SB9 went into effect a year ago, to much fanfare and criticism. Its roll-out in Oakland has been very slow.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Election hands setbacks, wins to renters and landlords in Oakland and Alameda County
Rebecca Kaplan lost the District 3 race to Lena Tam, who could be the deciding vote to end the county’s eviction moratorium. But a renter-friendly majority controls Oakland City Council with an ally in the mayor’s office.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Flood advisory for Oakland on Thursday morning
The National Weather Service and city of Oakland have tips on staying safe and dry in the rain.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland spends $120 million a year on homelessness. Could it do more?
New estimates say it would cost a staggering $4.5 billion to house all homeless residents, but some officials say the city could be more creative.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Judge allows Oakland eviction moratorium to stand, for now
The order is a blow to landlords who sued Oakland and Alameda County this year, but the case is not over.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
East Oakland residents ‘fed up’ with dumping and safety hazards in flatlands
Community groups are pressing the city to clean up a blighted intersection, but their demands raise questions about the fate of homeless camps there.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Plan for ‘safe work zones’ around homeless camps alarms advocates
Oakland officials say the tool is needed to protect workers from harassment, but some say it would criminalize unhoused people and supporters.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland City Council races: Janani Ramachandran declares victory in District 4
Nikki Fortunato Bas and Kevin Jenkins maintain comfortable leads in districts 2 and 6, respectively.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Who’s leading the Oakland City Council races?
Three candidates have established large leads, but a majority of ballots remain to be counted.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland homelessness programs in danger after Newsom pauses funding
A surprise announcement from the governor puts a hold on a $1 billion statewide grant, including $24 million for Oakland shelters.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland explores new model for funding affordable housing development
The City Council voted to explore an “enhanced infrastructure financing district,” or EIFD, but it’s just the first step.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland loan program helps homeowners convert illegal second units into ADUs
The Accessory Dwelling Unit Loan Program is accepting applications from East Oakland and West Oakland homeowners.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
New film depicts life on Oakland’s streets—from homeless filmmakers’ perspectives
“We R Here” started as an experiment and ended as a revealing 55-minute portrait.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland’s election is heating up: Big spending by PACs, strategic alliances, and tweet backlash
A Kanye comment lands a candidate in hot water. Astonishing spending from unions and coal terminal developers. And more twists and turns.
