How You Can Help Our Unhoused Neighbors

There are many ways to help Alameda’s unhoused residents meet their daily needs and gain access to services and housing. The resources listed below reflect current opportunities where Alameda citizens can help. While these opportunities are somewhat limited at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be updating the webpage monthly as conditions change.

Last updated: 4/8/21

The Alameda Food Bank is a non-profit organization that helps Alameda residents in need by providing nourishing food in a compassionate and respectful manner with the support of dedicated volunteers and local partners. The Food Bank supplies the majority of the food items to prepare the meals that feed unhoused residents at Dine and Connect and provides grocery bags for the FEMA trailer residents and Mastick Senior Center clients.

Volunteer: The Alameda Food Bank is currently seeking volunteers who can make a regular, weekly commitment to volunteer work. Please click here for more information on how to volunteer or contact Teale Harden at 510-523-5850 or programmanager@alamedafoodbank.org.

Donate: Please click here to make a donation. 

Eden I&R serves Alameda residents in finding information, resources, and programs to support their health, social, and human service needs. Eden I&R runs the 2-1-1 call center and the Alameda Homeless Hotline.

Volunteer: Volunteer opportunities depend on the interests and skills of those who volunteer. Examples include administrative support, making quality assurance follow-up calls in the 211 call center, helping the Housing Department with updating the housing database, supporting the IT and data team, assisting with development and/or communications, etc. Please click here for more information, or contact Jeanette Mills at 510-537-2710 x503 or jmills@edenir.org.

Donate: Please click here to make a donation.

Located at the former Alameda Naval Station, Alameda Point Collaborative is a supportive housing community providing over 500 formerly homeless residents with the safety and stability of a place to call home. Please click here to donate. 

Village of Love operates Alameda’s Day Center, FEMA Trailers Safe Sheltering Program, and Safe Parking Program.

Volunteer: The Village of Love welcomes volunteers to assist with in-house activities and community events.  If the volunteer has a skill set or talent to share, they welcome that as well.  Please click here for more information, or contact Jerri Forriest at 510-827-5493 or info@thevillageoflove.com.

Donate: The Village of Love is open to all donations and in most need of bottled water, paper products, small blankets/sheets, arts & crafts materials, puzzles and games, and brand new pillows & pillow cases, underwear, XXL men’s clothing, socks, feminine items, and hygiene kit supplies. Please call 510-827-5493 to schedule a date/time for the donation.

 

Feed Alameda pays restaurants, who have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, to make hot and healthy meals for our unsheltered residents. Please click here for more information.

Volunteer: Please click here to sign-up.

Donate: Please click here to make a donation.

The Christ Church Homeless Shower Program provides shower facilities to pre-screened guests on Sundays from 2-4 pm. Please click here for more information.

Volunteer: Christ Church is looking for volunteers to join the team to help run the program on Thursday nights or Saturday mornings.  Please contact Pam Kruse-Buckingham at 510-220-7200 or Office@christchurchalameda.org.

Donate: In need of clean white towels, new undergarments, new toiletries, financial support.  Please click here to donate.

Building Futures operates the Midway Shelter and the Alameda Housing Resource Center.

Volunteer: Building Futures is accepting volunteer applications but cannot promise a volunteer placement during COVID.  Please click here for more information, or contact Emma Falley at 510-357-0205 x206 to sign up Volunteer@bfwc.org.

Donate: In-kind donations are sought for new apartment/house items for newly-housed clients. Other items are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Email efalley@bfwc.org to ask about specific donation items or sign up for an in-kind donation drive!  Please click here for more information.

Be a Dinner Donor: Building Futures is growing its Dinner Donor Volunteer program! Provide a monthly meal for one of its emergency service shelters, such as the Alameda Midway Shelter, for 20-25 women and children by providing them with a balanced, delicious meal! Email Volunteer@bfwc.org to learn more and sign up or check out Building Future’s website! 

Operation Dignity provides permanent and transitional housing to veterans at Dignity Commons in Alameda, and partners with the City of Alameda to conduct mobile outreach to homeless individuals living on the streets. 

Volunteer: Opportunities to volunteer from home/remotely include buying materials for bagged lunches/hygiene kits and assembling the kits. Volunteers to run donation drives for food, blankets, socks, etc. are also needed. Volunteers can collect and drop off donated items at Operation Dignity’s office and distribute lunches and hygiene supplies to homeless individuals. For more information, please click here, or contact Katie Derrig at (510) 287-8465 x109 or kderrig@operationdignity.org

Donate: Monetary donations as well as bagged lunches and hygiene kits mentioned above are welcome. New blankets, new socks, gift cards, masks, hand sanitizer are also needed. Please click here for our wish list and Amazon wish list.  Please contact Katie at the information above to set up a drop-off time for donations. 

Have you noticed the donation meters for the homeless on throughout Alameda?  These specially designed orange meters collect spare change and credit card donations at 20 sites to raise funds for homeless services. Businesses, individuals, families, and groups may also sponsor a meter. All proceeds go to homeless services. Please click here to view a map of the meters.

Assist Someone in Immediate Need

Are you or someone you know currently homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or need information about services? Call the Alameda Homeless Hotline at 510-522-HOME (4663) Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

For evenings or weekends, call 2-1-1 to access resources county-wide.

Participate in the Homelessness Strategic Planning Process

The City of Alameda is currently working on a five-year Homelessness Strategic Plan (HSP) to reduce and prevent homelessness in Alameda and strengthen the physical health, mental health, and social service supports for our unhoused residents.  Please click here to learn more.

 

Join our Mailing List

Want to stay up to date on the Homelessness Strategic Plan and other homelessness-related topics in Alameda?  Please join our mailing list for updates.

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