In recent weeks, city crews have been working diligently to demolish Oakland’s largest homeless camp, relocating over 70 residents to a newly converted hotel shelter.
For many who once called E. 12th their home, this move marks a significant milestone, with some experiencing indoor living for the first time in years.
However, experts caution that this transition is just the beginning of a complex journey toward stability.
Lucy Kasdin, director of Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless, emphasizes the misconception that moving from a tent to an apartment is a straightforward solution.
The adjustment can be fraught with challenges, including feelings of confinement and isolation, as well as the potential for ongoing substance abuse issues.
Oakland’s Mandela House, a newly opened 105-room shelter in West Oakland, is beginning to address these difficulties by implementing supportive services aimed at reducing harm.
Recent surveys reveal that 29% of Alameda County’s unhoused population reported struggling with substance use disorders.
These disorders can severely impact an individual’s health and wellbeing, leading to an increased risk of overdose—39% of deaths among the homeless population in 2023 were attributed to drug overdoses.
The challenges of drug dependency can be compounded by the transition from living in encampments, where a shared community often provides safety.
Kasdin points out that having even one person in an encampment equipped with the overdose-reversal drug Narcan can be life-saving, whereas an individual experiencing an overdose in solitude may go without assistance.
Recognizing these realities, harm-reduction advocates are developing initiatives to support safe drug use within shelters, alongside addiction treatment services.
At Mandela House, residents can expect access to essential health services provided by Health Care for the Homeless and LifeLong Medical, including harm reduction strategies.
To facilitate this transition, a variety of support organizations will be present on-site, offering supplies such as Narcan, fentanyl test strips, clean syringes, and a sharps disposal container.
Marichelle Alcantara, program director at the nonprofit HCEB overseeing Mandela House, described the introduction of the harm reduction program as an uncomplicated decision.
Her organization, along with others already engaged with encampment residents, aims to provide trusted services and support.
Engagement with these harm reduction services is seen as a crucial step in encouraging residents to seek additional housing assistance.
While harm reduction measures like Narcan and needle exchanges have previously faced backlash due to concerns they may normalize drug use, recent studies demonstrate their effectiveness in reducing fatalities and encouraging individuals toward treatment.
Alcantara asserts that drug use will happen regardless of acknowledgment, making it vital to offer assistance that lowers associated risks.
Some advocates are now exploring the concept of “safer consumption” sites, where individuals can use drugs under supervision, to further enhance safety for high-risk populations.
Despite a state bill proposing pilot programs for these sites in California being vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom, advocacy continues.
HEPPAC, which has provided harm reduction resources at other shelters, is also part of the team at Mandela House, ready to assess needs and offer support from day one.
Executive Director Braunz Courtney expressed the significance of building rapport with residents and delivering tailored support to help them maintain their health and well-being as they begin a new chapter.
The model at Mandela House comes at a crucial time as more people move into temporary housing, with many bringing complex needs related to addiction.
Kasdin suggests that an intensified focus on harm reduction services during the initial stages of residency can be critical for success as large groups transition from the streets.
“Non-congregate” housing options have gained traction since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting resources toward converting hotels and other buildings into interim housing solutions for the homeless population.
In conjunction with this movement, city officials have intensified efforts to clear encampments amid pressure from the state and local residents, culminating in the closure of the E. 12th encampment and others.
With significant investments, such as a $7 million state grant designated for “encampment resolution,” the city is acting swiftly to transition large groups into housing.
As this process unfolds, both risks and opportunities arise for harm-reduction advocates working in Oakland, who aim to support the health and wellbeing of those navigating the challenges of homelessness and addiction.
image source from：https://oaklandside.org/2025/06/02/oakland-homeless-health-services-harm-reduction-mandela/
