Alameda
DignityMoves in Alameda
We're Ending Homelessness in Alameda and You Can Help
As of the most recent count, there were 264 people experiencing homelessness in Alameda, 180 of whom are unsheltered. Yet until now, there have been no interim housing available on the island other than a few rooms for women with children. People experiencing homelessness in Alameda are reluctant to leave the city for shelter, as they often have ties to the local community. In partnership with the City of Alameda and Five Keys Schools and Programs, DignityMoves is bringing a new 47-room interim supportive housing community to the city. Funding was provided by a grant from the State of California’s Project Homekey program and the CIty of Alameda.
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A Closer Look at Dignity Village
Site
Dignity Village features 47 rooms with the capacity to serve up to 61 individuals at a time. Construction commenced on October 24th and the site is scheduled to open in March 2023. Each resident receives their own private room with doors that lock, so they can bring their pets, and keep their belongings safe, and finally take a deep breath. Each ADA-compliant cabin features an ensuite bathroom, a desk to support their housing and job searches, and individually controlled heating and AC, and WiFi. Thoughtfully designed by Gensler, this two-story housing community also includes a dedicated building with staff offices and training rooms, a dining building, community gardens, pet relief area, guest storage, and an ample outdoor gathering patio area.
Services
Supportive services will be delivered by Five Keys Schools and Programs, with a particular emphasis on skills training and job placement. The community will be located next door to the Alameda Community College and will prioritize transitional age youth (“TAY”) for a portion of the rooms. Five Keys also utilizes a housing-first model to provide care that is client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, age appropriate, and gender responsive.
Community
The odd-shaped site had been affectionately known as the “bottle parcel” and was considered infeasible for any traditional development. The city had tried to sell it for years to no avail. By partnering with DignityMoves and Gensler, the City was able to optimize the site for Alameda’s first interim housing community. With an average estimated stay of 6-9 months this project will have the capacity to serve over ½ of the Alamedians experiencing homelessness in the first year alone!