Mayor Lee Announces New Office of Homelessness Solutions and 5-Point Plan to Address Oakland’s Homelessness Crisis

Aug 26, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from: Mayor's Office 

Contact: Justin Phillips, Director of Communications

jbphillips@oaklandca.gov

Mayor Lee Announces New Office of Homelessness Solutions and 5-Point Plan to Address Oakland’s Homelessness Crisis 

Oakland, CA – Mayor Lee today announced the launch of Oakland’s new Office of Homelessness Solutions and unveiled a 5-Point Plan to address homelessness by preventing more people from becoming unhoused, connecting residents to services, and rapidly moving people into permanent housing.  

“Today marks a pivotal moment for Oakland as we take an in important step in our comprehensive, coordinated approach to address homelessness in our city,” said Mayor Lee. “The Office of Homelessness Solutions and our 5-Point Plan are about common-sense action – uniting our talented city teams, community partners, and regional allies under one strategic vision. With the pending resources from Measure W and our evidence-based approach, we are investing in what works. Oakland is positioned to lead the region increasing lasting solutions, and this new office reflects our commitment to every Oakland resident – housed and unhoused – that we build a city where everyone has a safe, clean place to call home.”  

Office of Homelessness Solutions 

The Office of Homelessness Solutions will: 

• Serve as the lead entity coordinating services across departments, community partners, and all levels of government 

• Track funding and leverage outcome data to guide policy and program decisions 

• Improve coordination, accountability, and equity outcomes across service provision—from encampment management to emergency shelters to permanent housing 

• Implement the forthcoming Oakland Homelessness Strategic Action Plan to guide resources into programs that are racially equitable and proven to work 

The new Office of Homelessness Solutions will be housed within the City Administrator’s Office and led by a Chief Homelessness Solutions Officer.  Sasha Hauswald will serve as the Interim Chief immediately responsible for establishing the Office. Hauswald has a track record of success in Oakland where, in her prior cross-departmental role, she advanced housing policies and legislative priorities for the entire housing continuum - from homelessness solutions to homeownership opportunities. Hauswald has held executive leadership roles in local government, state government, and non-profit organizations developing more effective strategies to end housing instability and homelessness. 

This announcement comes on the heels of Mayor Lee and partners across the region successfully fighting to secure over $1.4 billion in funding for homelessness under the legislation called Measure W, passed by the voters in 2020.  The Mayor’s plan will optimize the use of these funds by ensuring they fund what works – what works for Oaklanders, for Black Oaklanders (who make up 52% of the City’s unhoused) and for all people experiencing homelessness. 

“We are so grateful to Mayor Lee for her visionary leadership and her successful advocacy to bring critical new resources to this issue,” Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson said. “This new office will be phased in to provide reinforced structure for the City and our partners to make real progress taking on this complex challenge together.” 

5-Point Plan 

In addition to the Office of Homelessness Solutions, Mayor Lee also announced a 5-Point Plan to complement the Office’s launch and to ensure that Oakland and Measure W resources invests in proven solutions. Details of the plan will be released by years-end in a new Homelessness Strategic Action Plan for the city:: 

• Prevent – Scale up Oakland’s Keep People Housed Program to reduce the inflow of 2,500 people becoming homeless each year. 

• Connect & Assess – Deploy additional outreach workers to connect people on the street to services, treatment, and documents needed for housing. 

• Rapidly Divert – Provide new rental support funding to rehouse people quickly before homelessness becomes long-term. 

• Move – Create new shelter and interim housing beds with services to help people stabilize and transition into permanent housing. 

• Build – Catalyze development of new permanent housing units to ensure shelter turnover and long-term stability. 

“The homelessness crisis has had a disproportionate impact on District 3,” said Council member Carroll Fife, whose district has more encampments that any other district in the city. “I am grateful to Mayor Lee for her vision and leadership to address the crisis with urgency. The Office of Homelessness Solutions is a step in the right direction. This new comprehensive approach includes a stronger coordination framework between encampment management and services to better meet the needs of our community. I look forward to working closely with the Office of Homelessness Solutions team to ensure results are delivered in my district and across Oakland.”  

“Homelessness remains one of the most urgent challenges our city faces, with far too many Oaklanders struggling without the support they deserve,” said Councilmember Rowena Brown. “Mayor Lee’s establishment of the Office of Homelessness Solutions, along with her 5-Point Plan, aims to tackle this crisis head-on with clarity, compassion, and coordination across city departments. I look forward to partnering with this new office to drive meaningful solutions, facilitated through our City Council. This work will take all of us - city leaders, community partners, and residents - working together to ensure lasting solutions.” 

Addressing Illegal Dumping and Trash 

In addition to the 5 point plan, Oakland is also taking action on illegal dumping which will be addressed through:  

• Illegal dumping sting operations. 

• Legislation for a commercial special assessment 

• Community collaboration to enforce against those caught dumping on video 

• Expanded trash removal capacity for homes and small rental complexes