Berkeley will welcome tent and RV campers to take up residence on the grounds of Oxford Elementary, in District 5. The school was closed due to seismic concerns leaving a large, empty lot that will now serve as the Oxford Hope Center.
CM Sophie Hahn led the drive to bring compassion to her district, reversing a longstanding belief that “our homeless neighbors” should be confined to South and West Berkeley. “The Oxford Hope Center is an amazing opportunity to bring compassion for our homeless neighbors to District 5” said Hahn.
Hahn went on to note that with the school closure, the Hope Center is now a suitable location for housing registered sex offenders.
The Hope Center has restroom facilities that can accommodate up to 200 residents and a large lot to accommodate that number of campers.
Asked whether open fires would be permitted for warming and cooking, Hahn remarked that “it would definitely increase the risk of fire throughout the district, but let’s see how it goes. Our homeless neighbors are depending on us to make sacrifices.”
