In 2025, The Unity Council (TUC) strengthened its role as a
trusted advocacy leader and coalition partner, advancing
systems-level change that the community rely on everyday
across housing stability, homelessness, economic justice,
health, senior services, and community infrastructure. Through
coordinated mission driven advocacy at the local, state, and
federal levels, TUC contributed to issue area discussions on
how public resources are allocated, structured, and sustained.
Health & Social Services
- Restored and increased funding for the Fruitvale–San
Antonio Senior Center, stabilizing culturally responsive
services for older adults and strengthening the system that
supports seniors aging in place with dignity. - Secured Measure W Essential Services Fund allocations
supporting food security, meal delivery, and safety‑net
services for seniors, unhoused residents, and
low‑income households in Alameda County. - Advocated for preserving Medicaid funding highlighting
impacts on California families and safety-net providers. - Joined a coalition of community-based organizations
urging inclusion of an Excluded Immigrant Workers
Unemployment Benefits Program which looked to
advance economic security for all. - Supported continuity of health and safety‑net services
for immigrant and refugee communities. - Supported local eviction prevention and housing
stabilization programs, including Oakland Housing Secure
and Keep People Housed, which helps avoid displacement
and serves as homelessness prevention strategies. - Supported a budget request to ensure BAHFA can prepare
a regionwide housing revenue measure, strengthening
long-term Bay Area housing finance capacity.
Property Management
- Elevated attention to insurance cost pressures that
impact affordable housing providers and housing risk
exposure, including support for statewide housing
insurance studies that inform future mitigation strategies. - Elevated advocacy for operating stability for Permanent
Supportive Housing, supporting full renewal of housing
assistance contracts and continuity of services for formerly
homeless residents - Supported sustained resident services funding as a core
component of housing stability, particularly for properties
serving seniors and vulnerable households.
Economic & Workforce Development
- Advocated for inclusion of Excluded Immigrant Workers in unemployment benefits, advancing economic security for immigrant communities.
Housing & Real Estate Development
- Monitored the creation of the newly formed California
Housing & Homelessness Agency, which is designed to
strengthen statewide coordination and accountability. - Supported issuance of Measure U Tranche II bonds to
fund affordable housing projects, including developments
serving low-income and formerly homeless residents. - Supported fair housing recommendations that look to
expand capacity for affordable housing development in
high-opportunity and transit-oriented areas. - Reinforced stable local and county housing investment
frameworks, including Measure U bond issuance and
tranche allocations that support affordable housing
development projects. - Participated in statewide and national coalition efforts
addressing affordable housing and homelessness funding
priorities in California and at the federal level. - Elevated county-level advocacy to ensure that new
revenues from measure W prioritize homelessness
response, essential community services, food recovery,
senior services and a Non‑profit Affordable Housing
Stabilization Fund. - Supported refinements to housing finance evaluation
frameworks (e.g., LIHTC and Opportunity Maps use)
reducing barriers for developments serving deeply
affordable and high-need populations. - Supported increased cultural infrastructure investment,
including staffing to strengthen Oakland’s Cultural District
Program and creative economy infrastructure. (explain how
this impacts businesses) - Advocated to protect and strengthen nonprofit
organizations by safeguarding the sector’s capacity to
serve communities.
Children & Family Services
- Supported continuity of childcare and preschool systems, including budget processes that protect rate stability and hold-harmless provisions. This helps childcare providers remain open and families maintain access to care without sudden disruptions.
- Reinforced disaster assistance and service continuity for
foster youth and vulnerable children, supporting stability
during emergencies and disruptions.
Youth Community Services
- Monitored the Oakland Unified School District during the 2025 budget restructuring process to understand its impact and mitigate disruption to youth-serving partnerships and student supports.
