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Dignity Village Transitional Housing Opens

Dignity Village, Alameda’s new transitional housing development near Alameda Landing, celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday May 3, with nearly 100 people in attendance. Elected officials, City staff, project partners, and members of the public gathered at the site at 2350 Fifth Street for speeches, refreshments, and a ribbon cutting.

Alameda Post - two women stand next to each other smiling and posing for the camera
Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and DignityMoves CEO Elizabeth Funk stand in front of some of the accessible units at Dignity Village. Photo Adam Gillitt.

In just over a year, the project has gone from approval to groundbreaking to completion. Dignity Village features 47 units of interim supportive housing that will serve up to 61 unhoused individuals, including five units for transitional-age youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The campus also includes parking and a dog run. The complex will be administered by DignityMoves and Five Keys Schools and Programs.

Alameda Post - the interior of a Dignity Village room, including a twin bed, dresser, and separate full bathroom
Each unit features a unique design and has a private, en suite bathroom. Photos Adam Gillitt.

Each unit measures 138 square feet and has a private, en suite bathroom. Additional community buildings in Dignity Village include a dining space, meeting rooms, private offices for support services staff, and storage for resident belongings. Those in need of housing will be referred through the Homeless Management Information System, which is managed by the Coordinated Entry Program of Alameda County’s Office of Homeless Care and Coordination (OHCC). For the initial housing placement, unhoused residents in the City of Alameda will be given priority.

Alameda Post - the courtyard with ramps, a bbq grill, chairs, and tents for the grand opening event
The common areas of Dignity Village will be available for guests to socialize and access support services. Photo Adam Gillitt.

Speakers at the event included Director of Community Development Lisa Maxwell, Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Timothy Lawless from California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD), City Manager Jennifer Ott, Dignity Moves founder/CEO Elizabeth Funk, and Five Keys Schools and Programs president Steve Good.

Alameda Post - a table full of lanterns
Multipurpose camping lanterns were handed out at the event. Although generally associated with camping, the devices are essential for the unhoused, providing both light and the ability to charge personal devices via solar power. Photo Adam Gillitt.

The final speaker was Velma Gay, one of the 24 people who will move into Dignity Village starting May 4. She learned about the housing development while she was staying at the warming shelter at Christ Episcopal Church this past winter.

The grand opening ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting that included many city officials and project leaders, followed by a tour of the rooms, showing the custom designs for each unit.

Alameda Post - Mayor Ashcraft cuts a ribbon at Dignity Village, surrounded by smiling and clapping people
Mayor Ashcraft cuts the ribbon with City and project officials for Dignity Village’s grand opening. Photo Adam Gillitt.

As the Post has reported previously, $2,555,844 in operational funding and $9,225,536 for the development of the project is coming from the State of California through the Housing and Community Development Department, and another $2,654,622 in capitalized operational reserves is sourced from the Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department. The City is contributing $10,855,995 towards the development and operations of this project. In addition, the City is promoting a GoFundMe on social media and their website. The fundraiser was set up by Public Information Officer Sarah Henry to support the project.

Adam Gillitt is the Publisher of the Alameda Post. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Adam-Gillitt.

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