Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
As Oakland grapples with the complex issue of homelessness, a new policy allowing the removal of RVs and encampments without alternative shelter options raises concerns about the city’s approach.Oakland Today
The Oakland City Council has approved a new Encampment Abatement Policy that gives officials more authority to remove RVs and vehicles from public spaces without offering alternative shelter. Supporters say the change will improve safety and quality of life in neighborhoods, but homeless advocates warn it could deepen the crisis for people with nowhere else to go.
Why it matters
This policy shift reflects the ongoing struggle many cities face in balancing public safety concerns with providing adequate housing and services for their homeless populations. The decision to prioritize encampment removal over ensuring alternative shelter options could further marginalize unhoused residents and exacerbate the homelessness crisis in Oakland.
The details
Under the city’s previous rules, an RV parked next to a school could be treated as an encampment, limiting the city’s ability to tow it immediately. The new policy changes that, allowing the city to clear vehicles and encampments more quickly in what officials describe as high-sensitivity areas, including places near schools, businesses, and homes. Supporters say the change will help improve conditions in impacted neighborhoods, while critics argue it will simply displace people without providing them anywhere else to go.
The Oakland City Council voted to approve the new Encampment Abatement Policy on April 15, 2026.
The players
Rahima Walker
A local business owner who spoke in favor of the new policy, calling the homeless encampments “so dangerous” and a matter of “accountability”.
Charlene Wang
An Oakland City Councilmember who represents District 2 and voted in favor of the measure, stating that the burden of encampments has fallen disproportionately on working-class neighborhoods.
Ken Houston
The Oakland City Councilmember who introduced the legislation, saying the policy will help improve conditions in impacted neighborhoods.
Renee Hayes
A resident living in transitional housing at St. Mary’s Center in West Oakland, who said clearing encampments without offering an alternative is “inhumane”.
Sharon Cornu
The executive director of St. Mary’s Center, who warned that towing vehicles could strip people of important personal documents and make it even harder for them to get back on their feet.
Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›
What they’re saying
“The homeless encampments are so dangerous. It’s not fair to these neighborhoods.”
— Rahima Walker, Business owner
“At a certain point, we cannot tolerate this anymore. Where the encampments are, they’re always in our poorest, most working-class areas. It’s not fair to these neighborhoods.”
— Charlene Wang, Oakland City Councilmember
“Now we can move individuals to low-sensitivity areas, or we can direct them and say, ‘Go to this low-sensitivity area.’ It will start to improve. You will see improvement.”
— Ken Houston, Oakland City Councilmember
“If you’re telling people that they have to move away from where their things are, and without providing them a place to go, that’s inhumane.”
— Renee Hayes, Resident in transitional housing
“People with nowhere to go will still have nowhere to go, except vehicles will be towed. People will lose driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, and all of the things that help people become document-ready.”
— Sharon Cornu, Executive Director, St. Mary’s Center
What’s next
The new Encampment Abatement Policy is set to take effect immediately, with the city expected to begin enforcing the new rules in the coming weeks. Homeless advocates and service providers have vowed to continue pushing the city to address the lack of alternative shelter options before proceeding with encampment removals.
The takeaway
This policy change highlights the ongoing tensions between public safety concerns and the need for compassionate solutions to homelessness. While the city aims to improve neighborhood conditions, the decision to prioritize encampment removal over ensuring alternative shelter options could further marginalize unhoused residents and exacerbate the homelessness crisis in Oakland.