Can tiny houses be an answer for students without a home?

In the morning, Armani Turner heads to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face. He makes his bed and tidies up—he likes his area to be neat. Gets dressed. If he’s got some food, he might have a quick breakfast. But, usually, he’s rushing. He goes to Laney College, a community college in Oakland, and doesn’t want to be late to class. His routine sounds typical, but where he’s doing that routine is far from ordinary.

Turner lives in a “Pocket House,” a prototype tiny home built by his fellow students at Laney. It sits on top of a 16-foot trailer bed in the parking lot of the West Side Baptist Church in West Oakland. 

ABC7 viewers jump into action to help Oakland woman living in her car despite two jobs

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- The life of an Oakland woman who is homeless despite working two jobs has been changed, thanks to ABC7 viewers.  ABC 7 News met Jane Parisi working two jobs and living out of her car in Oakland.  However, just as hope was beginning to fade for her, something great happened. ABC 7 News viewers responded to a call to action. "It's really important to recognize the humanity of the people who are living on our streets and sidewalks," Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland City Council Member At-Large, said. 

Kaplan watched Parisi's story, and that same night, Oakland's city council passed a measure allowing church parking lots to serve as safe spaces for people sleeping in their vehicles. That plan had been in the works for some time. Reverend Ken Chambers, Pastor of Westside Missionary Baptist Church, is now responsible for launching the program that will in turn help Parisi, and many others like her. 

Oakland partners with faith leaders to offer homeless safe parking for their vehicles

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - Oakland is partnering with faith leaders to offer safe places for the homeless to park their vehicles overnight. If all goes as planned, the program could be up and running in a few months.

City council members on the life enrichment committee approved the safe parking program Tuesday evening. 

Oakland Councilman Champions Tiny Homes for Homeless Students

Oakland City Councilman Abel Guillen is temporarily moving into a tiny home Tuesday to highlight a potential solution to student homelessness.

Guillen, who represents District 2, said he plans to spend two days occupying one of two 10-foot-long dwellings built by Laney College students with an $80,000 grant from Oakland.

Oakland councilman moves into tiny home to address homelessness

OAKLAND (BCN) Oakland City Councilman Abel Guillen moved into a tiny home for two days to underscore the homelessness crisis for local students.

Guillen, moved into one of two tiny homes in the parking lot of the West Side Missionary Baptist Church at 732 Willow St. at 2 p.m. Tuesday. He said he previously secured an $80,000 city grant to fund "Pocket Houses," the tiny home program for Laney College of Oakland.