37 Oaklanders were displaced after a fire at The Village Homeless Encampment Monday night.
Crews searching for victims, hotspots. Very difficult work, several makeshift structures and tents involved. pic.twitter.com/RTzoWMmK1O
— Oakland Firefighters (@OaklandFireLive) September 11, 2018
Oakland At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan released this statement:
“Dear Friends,
As you may have heard, there was a fire last night at “The Village” homeless encampment, that destroyed the shelters of many homeless residents in our community.
This tragedy calls us to do more to protect everyone in our community, and speaks to the importance of funding solutions to our homelessness crisis. Today, the Life Enrichment Committee will discuss Staff’s follow up report to my Resolution calling for expanded housing options across the City of Oakland to address homelessness, provide dignity, privacy, and disease control.
I am also calling on all responders to provide displaced residents with no less services than they would provide to housed people displaced by a fire. We must come together, to ensure