Around the Island: Alameda Community Stands United
Published on May 15, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to Alameda’s small businesses. The community created by the shops and restaurants around the island are what attracted many of us to Alameda and help make Alameda an exceptional place to live. Last month, the City Council approved $600,000 in small business relief grants to help maintain the businesses and quality of life we all look forward to enjoying again. The City received 238 applications for 80 grant opportunities, showing a tremendous need. Alameda’s community stands united to protect the health of our residents and our small businesses, and a new Citywide campaign is launching to allow individuals and businesses to show just how Alameda Strong we are! Stay tuned for more information.
The Alameda City Council has also taken action to protect Alameda residents who have had their hours and incomes cut due to circumstances arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. For rent controlled units, rent increases are not allowed until 2021. And for all rental units, there is a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent. The City’s website is updated with tenant resources at www.alamedaca.gov/tenantresources and additional information including filing for unemployment, access to benefits, and shared resources at www.alamedaca.gov/workers.
For Alameda’s unhoused residents, the impacts of COVID-19 can be catastrophic. The City is working with the County to implement Project Roomkey, a program of the California Department of Social Services that provides thousands of hotel rooms for unhoused infected or exposed residents and residents without symptoms or exposure, but who are at high risk for getting seriously ill from COVID-19.
Alameda County is working with the Comfort Inn, Radisson Hotel, and Quality Inn in Oakland and the Marina Village Inn here in Alameda to provide housing for this program. The Marina Village Inn, with 51 rooms, will create a safe community for women and children who are not sick with COVID-19 but who have no other place to go during the pandemic. The City of Alameda was also given four FEMA trailers to house residents who are not positive for COVID-19 but who are vulnerable to getting seriously ill. All four trailers are occupied with previously unhoused residents.
Building Futures works with the City to provide housing to Alameda’s most vulnerable residents. They are working with the Marina Village Inn and Operation Dignity to provide assistance now and permanent housing post COVID-19. They are working with the City, Operation Dignity, Alameda Point Collaborative, Alameda Food Bank, Alameda Meals on Wheels, and FAAS to provide services to residents housed in the trailers. And they are working with local businesses to provide meals and services to women and children in our shelters.
For Mother’s Day, the Cinema Grill donated 75 brunches and facemasks for the women and children at Bessie Coleman Court, permanent supportive housing in Alameda for women who are survivors of domestic violence and disabled. The Alameda community continues to provide strength to the people who need it most. If you’d like to help, you can donate directly here: https://bfwc.org/give-support/donate/. Thank you Alameda for all that you continue to do to help others. We are stronger together.
Link to article: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/05/12/around-the-island-alameda-united-to-protect-residents-businesses-health-well-being/
Sarah Henry is a public information officer for the city of Alameda. She can be reached at 510-747-4714 or shenry@alamedaca.gov.