Two Oakland Shelters Ready in Event of Inclement Weather

The City of Oakland’s Human Services Department has established two sites to operate warming centers in the event of inclement weather conditions, officials said Friday. The centers will be prepared to open if temperatures drop below 40 degrees or if there is a 50 percent or greater chance of rain.

The centers are located at the St. Vincent de Paul Society Community Center at 2272 San Pablo Ave. and the Henry Robinson Multi-Service Center at 559 16th St. The centers, which have capacities of 25 and 15 spaces, respectively, will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, officials said.

The Oakland/Alameda County area has some of the highest rates of unsheltered homeless individuals, families and veterans in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2013 annual homeless assessment report. The Oakland/Alameda County area had 2,922 homeless individuals, 1,342 homeless people in families, and 492 homeless veterans living outside of a shelter in 2013, putting it in the top five major urban areas with the highest rates of unsheltered homeless populations.

The Oakland/Alameda County area was also in the top 10 of major urban areas in the county with the highest chronic homeless population at 1,054 chronically homeless residents.

By Bay City News

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