As Bay Area winter rains began to fall on November 1st, the City of Oakland opened its latest in a series of community cabin villages, expanding on efforts to improve living conditions of more than 4,000 unhoused Oaklanders.

On a vacant 1-acre City-owned site where East 12th Street meets Lake Merritt, Lakeview Village now iterates and improves on the City’s tiny village model, providing potable water, flushing toilets, showers, on-site storage, and 65 single-occupancy, powered and heated cabins to serve primarily residents of an adjacent encampment. On-site wraparound services include healthcare, economic stability, and housing navigation. Residents have no limits on the length of stay and can keep pets and host visitors. A community council of residents and neighbors will meet to solve problems and build community through beautification projects. The result of a large coordinated effort, Lakeview Village is a precedent for relieving the staggering need for shelter in the Bay Area.

This year marks the fifth that PYATOK has worked with the Oakland city staff and service providers to address the homelessness crisis by contributing pro bono design services on community cabin village projects. Using our background in planning and urban design, we have helped create environments that provide unhoused residents with a welcoming experience and a sense of dignity. Initial feasibility studies have led to finalized site plans, ever prioritizing spaciousness, safety, and community, while maximizing resources and impact. Our service continues at other transitional village sites, furthering the progress and lessons learned at Lakeview Village.

The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing housing crisis makes these efforts even more important. We are humbled to work with the City to better support its most vulnerable residents while we collectively fight to secure equitable permanent living opportunities across Oakland and the region.