Mandela House

Broken Promises. Misused Funds. Denied Dignity.

$70+ Million in Public Funding

Where Did the Money Go?

Residents of Oakland's Mandela House were promised dignity, support, and a pathway to permanent housing. Instead, they received broken promises, denial of basic necessities, and systematic violations of their civil rights.

The Situation

What Was Promised

  • 6 months of sustainability support
  • Clothing allowances
  • Housing vouchers and rental assistance
  • Refrigerators and cooking facilities
  • Community spaces with tables and chairs
  • Wraparound supportive services
  • Pathway to permanent housing

What Residents Received

  • Only 1 month support + deposit (not 6 months)
  • NO clothing allowances delivered
  • Vouchers withheld despite being allocated
  • NO refrigerators for food storage
  • NO cooking facilities (one shared microwave)
  • NO access to community spaces
  • Hostile treatment from staff
  • Rushed exits without proper support

Follow the Money: $70+ Million

The Extended Stay America hotel at 3650 Mandela Parkway was acquired and converted with massive public funding from multiple sources[1]:

$7,000,000
State of California Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF)
Received November 2024
$25,000,000
Community Care Expansion (CCE) Award
$4,600,000
City of Oakland Rapid Response Homeless Housing (R2H2)
$8,000,000
R2H2 Rehabilitation Funds
$2,640,250
CCE Operating Support
$6,035,445
Oakland Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA)
$5,239,939
Alameda County Local Housing Support Program (LHSP)
$9,447,969
Alameda County Supportive Services Funds
$564,730
Oakland Opioid Remediation Funds

Total Project Funding

$68,528,333+

Additional Measure W and other county/state allocations bring total over $70 million

The Question Residents Are Asking:

Where is all this money going if residents can't even get a refrigerator?

Documented Violations

🏛️ Federal Housing First Protocol Violations

Housing First is REQUIRED for federally funded programs and mandated by California law (SB 1380)[2]. It requires:

  • Immediate access without prerequisites - Instead: punitive conditions imposed
  • Consumer choice and self-determination - Instead: resources used as leverage
  • Voluntary services - Instead: hostile environment when asserting rights

Impact: Systematic violation of federal HUD regulations and state law[3]

⚖️ Civil Rights Violations

  • Denial of basic necessities (refrigeration, clothing, food storage)
  • Failure to honor disability accommodations (ADA violations)
  • Hostile and retaliatory treatment
  • Withholding allocated vouchers and funds
  • Denial of community spaces and dignity

Status: Federal investigation ongoing by HUD Office of Inspector General and DOJ Civil Rights Division[4]

📋 Breach of Contract

Promises Made at Enrollment:

  • 6 months sustainability support → Reduced to 1 month + deposit
  • Clothing allowances → Never delivered
  • Housing vouchers → Withheld despite allocation
  • Basic amenities (refrigerators, cooking) → Denied
  • Community resources → Access denied

Reality: Residents gave up all belongings trusting these promises - only to receive nothing

💰 Potential Financial Misuse

  • Staff purchased barbecue grill with program funds, used it themselves, denied residents access
  • Furniture and resources meant for residents either denied or misappropriated
  • $70+ million in funding with minimal oversight
  • Residents receiving drastically reduced support despite massive budget
  • No transparency in how funds are being spent

Questions: Where are the allocated vouchers? Where is the clothing budget? Why no refrigerators with $70M in funding?

The Evidence

Official Documentation

📄 Resident Formal Complaint

Date: September 23, 2025

Detailed documentation of systematic violations, broken promises, and demands for immediate corrective action[5]

"We will not be ignored, pushed aside, or treated as disposable."

📧 City Investigation Response

Date: September 16, 2025

Nicole Banks (Family Program Analyst II) acknowledges "serious concerns" and confirms investigation is ongoing[6]

"CHS does not tolerate any mistreatment or violations of clients' rights"

🏛️ Federal Complaints Filed

  • HUD Office of Inspector General
  • HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
  • DOJ Civil Rights Division

Investigating fraud, waste, abuse, and civil rights violations

Resident Testimonials

"We were assured of essential support when we entered this program, yet find ourselves stripped of basic necessities and dignity. This is not merely administrative failure - this is systematic abuse of vulnerable populations." — Mandela House Residents, Formal Complaint
"We are intelligent, committed individuals who placed our trust in this system. That trust has been systematically betrayed through broken promises, hostile treatment, and deliberate neglect." — Mandela House Residents, Formal Complaint

Stand With Mandela House Residents

Sign this petition to demand accountability, transparency, and justice for the residents of Mandela House.

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Petition Statement

We, the undersigned, demand immediate action to address the systematic violations and financial misuse at Mandela House (Project Homekey) in Oakland, California.

We demand:

  1. Immediate provision of all promised resources to residents (refrigeration, clothing allowances, full 6-month support)
  2. Complete public audit of all $70+ million in funding
  3. Review and potential replacement of Housing Consortium of the East Bay (HCEB) as contractor
  4. Transparent oversight with resident representation
  5. Federal investigation and enforcement of Housing First compliance
  6. Accountability for fund misuse and civil rights violations
  7. Restoration of dignity and respect for all residents

Our tax dollars funded this program. We demand they be used to help people, not line pockets.

Add Your Name

Join the movement for justice and accountability

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Demand Accountability

This is YOUR money. These are YOUR neighbors. This affects YOUR community.

Contact City Officials

  • Oakland Mayor's Office
    Demand answers about fund oversight
  • City Council District 3
    Carroll Fife (represents this district)
  • Housing & Community Development
    Emily Weinstein, Director
    150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612

Contact County Officials

  • Alameda County Supervisor
    Nikki Fortunato Bas
  • County Health Housing & Homelessness Services
    Jonathan Russell, Director
  • Demand: Full audit of Measure W spending

Federal Oversight

  • HUD Office of Inspector General
    Report fraud, waste, and abuse
  • HUD Fair Housing Hotline
    1-800-669-9777
  • DOJ Civil Rights Division
    civilrights.justice.gov

Support Residents

  • Share this information
  • Attend City Council meetings
  • Demand transparent accounting
  • Support resident organizing efforts
  • Contact local media

Key Demands

  1. Immediate provision of all promised resources - refrigeration, clothing allowances, full support commitments
  2. Full public audit of all $70+ million in funding - where did the money go?
  3. Review and potential replacement of Housing Consortium of the East Bay (HCEB) as contractor
  4. Transparent oversight with resident representation
  5. Restoration of original 6-month support commitments
  6. Federal investigation and enforcement of Housing First compliance
  7. Accountability for fund misuse and civil rights violations

References & Sources

All information on this website is sourced from official government documents, public records, and formal complaints filed by residents.

[1]
City of Oakland Press Release: "Oakland Finalizes Hotel Acquisition for Unhoused Residents"

Official announcement detailing all funding sources for Mandela House project. April 22, 2025.

View Official Document →
[2]
California Senate Bill 1380 (2016) - Housing First Requirements

State law mandating Housing First approach for all state-funded homelessness programs.

View Legislation →
[3]
HUD Housing First in Permanent Supportive Housing Brief

Federal requirements for Housing First model implementation in HUD-funded programs.

View HUD Guidelines →
[4]
Federal Complaints - HUD OIG & DOJ Civil Rights Division

Formal complaints filed by residents with federal oversight agencies investigating violations.

[5]
Mandela House Resident Formal Complaint

Comprehensive complaint filed by residents documenting systematic violations. September 23, 2025.

Official complaint on file with Oakland Community & Human Services and federal agencies.

[6]
City of Oakland Investigation Response - Nicole Banks, Family Program Analyst II

Official acknowledgment of resident complaints and confirmation of ongoing investigation. September 16, 2025.

Communication from Oakland Community & Human Services Department.

[7]
State of California Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) Grant Awards

Documentation of $7 million ERF grant to Oakland for Mandela House project.

View ERF Program Information →
[8]
Alameda County Measure W - Essential Services for Unhoused Residents

Voter-approved measure providing funding for homeless services including supportive housing.

View Measure W Information →
[9]
Oakland Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Program

State funding program supporting affordable housing development and preservation.

View Oakland Housing Programs →
[10]
Project Homekey - California Department of Housing and Community Development

State program converting hotels and motels into permanent and interim housing for people experiencing homelessness.

View Project Homekey Overview →

Document Transparency

All funding figures, dates, and official statements are sourced from publicly available government documents and official communications. Resident testimonials are from formal complaints submitted to city, county, and federal oversight agencies.

For additional documentation or to verify any information on this site, contact: