Dear District 2 Residents,
As we pass five months of shelter-in-place, my office and I would like to thank you for your sacrifice, cooperation, and determination to see us through the COVID-19 crisis. On Friday, August 28, the County's new health order went into effect. The order allows for the reopening of outdoor swimming pools and outdoor beauty and salon services. It is important to note that although these low risk services have reopened, the pandemic is far from over; it is prudent to continue practicing safe distancing measures and wearing masks in the presence of others. For the latest updates on the County's COVID-19 response and recent health orders, visit https://covid-19.acgov.org/.
In the face of the ongoing pandemic, the County is launching several programs aimed to alleviate the hardships that our residents are facing. On August 4, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved the economic resiliency pilot program, The Alameda County Responsibility to Community Health (ARCH). The program aims to curb the spread of COVID-19 by providing economic assistance for self-isolating residents who tested positive for the virus. Learn more about ARCH in our story below.
Additionally, the County looks to tackle another critical need that affects the health and safety of our residents: housing. In an effort to keep all of our community safely housed, Alameda County is looking for property owners that have units available to lease to join our programs working to permanently house Alameda County residents. The program offers a number of benefits including guaranteed on-time monthly payments, resident support services and additional financial incentives. For further information, please call 510-777-2100 or email ACHomes@acgov.org. Learn more about the program in the flyer below.
Lastly, we at District 2 are working on a couple of exciting initiatives to uplift our collective spirits and stay connected during these trying times. Our office will be hosting a youth poetry slam competition, Slam in the Shutdown. This competition provides District 2 youth ages 11-24 an opportunity to get together virtually and express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in the form of spoken word/ performance poetry. Prizes will be awarded to all participants to help with the economic hardships incurred during the pandemic.
Mental health is another important topic to address during these stressful times. In lieu of our postponed Mental Health Summit, District 2 is looking forward to bringing the summit to you in the form of a virtual weekly mini series. We hope to give you tools and resources to address your mental health concerns, specifically as they might pertain to COVID-19 and the isolation of shelter-in-place.
Please stay tuned for future announcements of Slam in the Shutdown and our virtual mental health series in the upcoming newsletters.
We are making progress in combatting COVID-19, but we still have a long way to go. We appreciate your steadfastness and understanding during these unprecedented times. Please remain vigilant in public, and most importantly, stay healthy and safe.
Sincerely,
Richard
The Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA), in partnership with the County’s Health Care Services (HCSA), and Auditor-Controller Agencies, launched an economic resiliency program on August 24, 2020 to address the COVID-19 public health crisis. The Alameda County Responsibility to Community Health or ARCH, formerly referred to as the Pilot Stipend Program, is aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Alameda County by providing financial assistance to self-isolating County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. The pilot program funding and development was unanimously approved by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on August 4, 2020.
The ARCH will distribute approximately $10 million in economic assistance to an estimated 7,500 County residents who might otherwise, because of economic instability, continue working after testing positive for COVID-19.
The ARCH program targets COVID-19 positive residents living in designated high-risk neighborhoods that include: South Hayward, Ashland/Cherryland, East and West Oakland, and Fruitvale/San Antonio.
The ARCH program will provide a one-time stipend of $1,250.00 in the form of a VISA cash card through a partnership with First United Services Credit Union. An applicant’s immigration status will not impact their program eligibility. Other key program components state that applicants cannot currently be in receipt of Unemployment Insurance Benefits or paid sick leave.
For the full press release, please click here. Common questions can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page. For further info, please visit the County’s website at www.acgov.org and the ACSSA website at www.alamedasocialservices.org.
 Alameda County is looking for housing providers to join the County's efforts to battle homelessness. Interested property owners can apply for the program which provides financial as well as supportive services to ensure a smooth and mutually beneficial housing process.
Some points of interest include:
- guaranteed on-time monthly payments from nonprofit organizations
- financial incentives for property owner/housing provider
- a single point of contact to help with tenant issues
- resident support services
- 24-hour emergency phone number
If you're a property owner/housing provider interested in this program, please call 510-777-2100 or email ACHomes@acgov.org.
There's still time to apply for Round 2 of the Emergency Support Grant if you are a CBO operating in District 2 of Alameda County.
On August 14, Supervisor Richard Valle announced the funding to provide organizations with emergency financial relief due to the impacts of COVID-19, including, but not limited to: potential program closure, inability to see clients, difficulty meeting capacity for increased service needs, purchase of food and food delivery for clients, purchase of protective equipment and disinfectants. It is the intent of the grant program to support the sustainability of District 2 CBOs and assist in mitigating the impacts of the County’s shelter in place orders. The grant will consist of one-time funding ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, awarded to non-profit organizations located or doing work in Supervisorial District 2.
Deadline to apply for the Emergency Support Grant - Round 2 is September 8, 2020 at 4pm. Please contact our office at district2@acgov.org to learn more.
 |
|
Due to the recent extreme fire activity in the region, all Regional Parks were temporally closed, except for some shoreline parks and interpark regional Trails. As of Thursday August 27, most of the Regional Parks have reopened, except for those directly impacted by the fires. |
Note that park guidelines for COVID-19 continue to remain in effect.
- Wear a mask
- Use the restroom before you leave the house
- Keep a safe six-foot distance from others
- Avoid congregating in groups, gatherings or picnicking
- Keep dogs on leash
- Don’t leave trash behind – pack it in and pack it out
- Walk / hike nearby your home, at a local green space to limit virus spread regionally
For comprehensive list of park closures, please visit: https://www.ebparks.org/
With the recent fires raging through our region, it is more important than ever to learn about fire safety and have a solid evacuation plan in place.
The Good to Go! program by the Diablo FireSafe Council is designed to help you create your personal evacuation plan. In a series of five Good to Go! modules, you will learn how to get ready, stay informed, evacuate and return from wildfire.
The program builds upon existing CAL FIRE and local Alameda and Contra Costa fire departments’ accepted programs and outreach methods. It borrows from effective programs from around the United States and Australia. The program is designed to leverage community activity for incremental innovation.
To view the program and learn essentials in creating an effective evacuation plan, visit https://www.goodtogowildfire.com/.
Spectrum Community Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization, and they have four programs that help Alameda County residents. |
|
 |
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)—helping Alameda County residents who are on a fixed income with paying their PG&E or Alameda Municipal Power bill with a one-time payment per 12 months.
Weatherization Program—assisting Alameda County residents to keep their energy costs down.
Lunch Program—providing healthy nutritious meals to our seniors.
Fall Prevention—helping seniors to prevent falls and to stay active and fit.
Please visit their web site for more information about their programs at:
SpectrumCS.org or please call 510-881-0300
Ride through the canyon on a beautiful summer weekend day, afternoon or evening!
 |
|
The Niles Canyon Railway is pleased to be able to offer its first planned train rides since the COVID-19 pandemic and its shelter-in-place orders went into effect.
Please visit the Niles Canyon Railway website to order tickets and get more information about their COVID-19 Health and Safety Policy.
|
The Alameda County Proposition 47 Local Advisory Committee (LAC) is recruiting two Community Representatives. The purpose of this committee is to oversee the County’s Prop 47 Grant Project, which provides mental health, substance use disorder, and housing services to justice-involved clients with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders. The Community Representatives should be formerly incarcerated and/or have family who have been formerly incarcerated.
Please contact Sophia Lai for an application at Sophia.Lai@acgov.org. Applications are due by October 1 at 5:00 p.m.
|
