Date: February 17, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2016
Contact: Isabel Alegría, ialegria@publicadvocates.org or 510 541-5428
David Zisser, dzisser@publicadvocates.org or 415 828-8722
Oakland Removes Barriers for Construction of Transitional and Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities
Oakland – Last night the Oakland City Council removed existing barriers to the building of transitional and supportive housing for people with disabilities from the Oakland Planning Code. Previously, the construction of transitional and supportive housing has been subject to conditional use permits in areas where residential development is permitted by right. In addition, under the previous provisions, transitional and supportive housing could not be located closer than 300 feet from any other such housing.
“The City Council has finally addressed an injustice which only serves to make it harder for some of our most vulnerable residents to find suitable places in the community in which to live,” said David Zisser, a staff attorney at Public Advocates who first identified the discriminatory provisions of the code. “The Council has sent a message that Oakland belongs to everyone, including people with disabilities,” Zisser said.
Supportive housing is a combination of permanent affordable housing that is linked to services for people with one or more disabilities, including HIV or AIDS, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, mental illness or other chronic health conditions. Transitional housing refers to temporary housing for homeless individuals that helps residents transition into permanent, affordable housing.
The changes approved by the City Council address concerns that Public Advocates, in coalition with other groups, raised in a March 2, 2015, letter to the Planning Commission regarding the development known as Coliseum City. The letter recommended that the City “allow supportive housing for people with disabilities by right.” It also noted that not only was changing the Code “the right thing to do, but both California statutory law and recent federal case law interpreting federal and state fair housing and disability rights statutes prohibit this type of discrimination, even if unintentional.”
On March 11, 2015, the Planning Commission unanimously passed a motion “to review the supportive housing policy throughout the city.” In early January 2016, the Oakland City Council adopted the supportive and transitional housing amendments to the Planning Code on the first read. Last night’s adoption of the amendments was the final vote on the proposed amendments, which are expected to take effect within 30 days, on March 17th.
