Oakland nonprofit buys $12M building to give teachers a place to call home
Nonprofit buys $12M building for teacher housing
The Oakland Fund partnered with the city to buy a building to offer housing to OUSD teachers at affordable rates of about $1,100 to $2,600 a month.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland officials announced a new affordable housing program on Thursday aimed at helping public school teachers find homes in the city through a public-private partnership called "Rooted."
The initiative, led by the nonprofit Oakland Fund, seeks to purchase apartment buildings and rent units to teachers at below-market rates. typically between $1,100 and $2,600 a month, or about 30% of household income.
"We are seeing a depressed real estate market, and now is the time to buy these buildings at a fraction of the price they were five years ago," said Kyra Mungia, CEO of the Oakland Fund.
Program offers stability for teachers and families
What they're saying:
Melanie Turner, an OUSD teacher, is among 33 families living in the program’s first property, the Idora Building on Claremont Avenue in the Temescal neighborhood.
"This is the first time I’ve been able to have an apartment with just my name on it, just me and my son," Turner said.
Turner, who has a 10-year-old son, said she worked two jobs, teaching during the day and delivering food at night, to make ends meet.
"I wouldn’t see my son until morning because of the work," she said.
Now, she said stable housing has reduced her stress, allowing her to spend more time with her child and giving her peace of mind that she can afford rent.
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Expansion plans
What's next:
The Oakland Fund purchased the Idora Building for about $12 million, roughly half its previous market value, Mungia said.
The nonprofit received $7.6 million in one-time Measure U funding from the city and aims to raise $14 million to acquire 150 units over the next three years.
"This is an example of public-private partnerships," Mayor Barbara Lee said. "Your city supports you, we're there with you, and we want to see more of this."
Officials call it a national model
Big picture view:
Local and federal leaders say the program could serve as a model for addressing teacher housing shortages.
"We know we are just getting started," Rep. Lateefah Simon said. "Oakland is the city to invest in. Oakland is the city to teach in."
City Councilmember Zac Unger underscored the community impact.
"This is teachers grading papers on this patio. This is teachers running into their students at the park," Unger said. "This is how we strengthen our community in real, concrete ways."
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Housing tied to teacher retention
OUSD Superintendent Denise Saddler said the high cost of housing is a major factor driving teachers out of the district.
"They often opt to work closer to where they live, so this is important for the stability of the district," Saddler said. "We lose 60% of our staff in a variety of roles because of housing."
Applications open for future units
What you can do:
Mungia said applications are being accepted for available units, and the organization is seeking donors to support future building purchases.
More information on applications and donations is available through the Oakland Fund.