The scale of Oakland’s homelessness crisis currently eclipses the resources the city can bring to bear on the problem. Oakland has fewer than 1,300 shelter beds and roughly 5,500 homeless people. In recent months, the city has made moves to shutter three shelters, including one of its only “safe-parking” programs.
Earlier this year, a city office created by Mayor Barbara Lee issued a strategic action plan for reducing unsheltered homelessness in Oakland by 50% over the next five years. But the plan identified a roughly $284 million annual funding gap to accomplish this goal.
Now, Councilmember Charlene Wang is proposing a way to raise money to pay for more shelter beds…