In The News
For media inquiries, contact (510) 923-9600 x222.
- Our recent feature on KQED Forum centered critical intervention and immediate housing support, September 30, 2025
- St. Mary’s Preschool awarded $50,000 of Measure C child care funding, ABC7, CBS5, Oakland North, KQED, September 22, 2025
- NPR asked St. Mary’s leadership and clients why Seniors are the fastest growing group experiencing homelessness, June 11, 2025
- Claudine Wong (KTVU2) talked with Senior members about our work to house the fastest growing segment of the unhoused population – Seniors 55+, June 13, 2024
- St. Mary’s Center serves as launch point for 2024 Point In Time Count, Cal Matters, SFGate, KALW, City of Oakland, January 25, 2024
- Oakland moving people from the street to hotel housing, Staff comments in Oakland North, November 18, 2023
- How painting your life story can promote healing, Oakland North, October 20, 2023
- The fastest-growing homeless population? Seniors, CalMatters, February 10, 2023
- 30 People Tell Us What Homelessness is Really Like, New York Times, February 2023
- Despite funding influx, California homelessness crisis grows in Alameda County, Courthouse News, May 27, 2022
- ‘Food is love’: After closing its winter homeless shelter, Oakland’s St. Mary’s Center tried something new, The Oaklandside, March 12, 2021
- COVID-19 leaves unhoused Oaklanders with few options for winter shelter, The Oaklandside, December 10, 2020
Updates
Thank you to the dedicated team of people and thought leaders that drive our mission at St. Mary’s Center. Check out these recent updates about their work.
- St. Mary’s Center partnered with The Center for ArtEsteem to implement Healing and Generative Inspiration Circles for unhoused and low-income seniors, see the art created and hear Senior’s reflections here.
- Several program participants shared their needs for an impactful study about care with the California Health Care Foundation, read the findings (June 2025)
- St. Mary’s Seniors Keith and Jesse recently appeared in a video about how housing justice begins with home, watch here (November 2023)
- Our team prioritizes good data systems to benefit homeless Seniors, learn more from our recent webinar (November 2023)
- Our very special Sacred Storytelling portraits are live in our Community Center, watch the videos (October 2023)
Facebook Posts
Signs of progress on our project with SAHA to build 73 new homes for Seniors at 3135 San Pablo Av / 967 32nd St. today! SAHA has posted the City of Oakland's required notice of availability for relocation of the storefronts prior to demolition.
If you are interested in relocating the storefronts, please contact:
SAHA
Attn: 967 32nd Street/3135 San Pablo Project Team
1835 Alcatraz Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703
Did you know? When the government shutdown cut off SNAP food assistance last fall, we were able to mobilize private donations and volunteers to pack grocery bags and distribute hot food to those in need. Our weekly outreach continues as a tool to greet people where they are and refer unhoused Seniors to services.
We welcomed City of Oakland - Local Government Mayor Barbara Lee and 75+ volunteers bright and early. Starting at 5AM, the Point in Time count is a massive effort to count the unhoused in Oakland so we have good data and know where to direct solutions for homelessness.