In response to the impending closure of two West Oakland shelters run by Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), an agreement was reached to extend their operations until June 30. The shelters, housing numerous homeless individuals, were set to close on March 31 after budgetary issues arose. City officials faced a $265 million deficit, complicating their ability to fulfill financial obligations to BOSS, which had been experiencing missing payments. Residents expressed concerns about becoming homeless again, advocating for the property to transition into a self-governed community.
"The city of Oakland is making us homeless again," said a group of former Wood Street cabin residents in a press release. They argued for the property to become a "self-governed sanctuary community" run by unhoused people.
Donald Frazier, the executive director of BOSS, told The Oaklandside last week that he'd long pressed the city to issue the back pay. And the money he was told was available for continued operations - $900,000 - would only cover through March, he said.
Solutions are in swift development to bring the City's outstanding payments to BOSS up to current, as well as identifying solutions to support the programs' operations to the end of June.
Oakland officials are currently scouring their budget for savings and anticipating having to make more painful budget cuts because of a looming $265 million deficit.
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