Sentinel Fair Housing Closing June 30th, 2008
For almost three decades Sentinel Fair Housing has assisted countless residents of Oakland and Alameda, and spearheaded efforts to end housing discrimination in these cities. We have kept many residents from becoming homeless, have provided valuable training and educational outreach to the community, including landlords, and have played a critical role in protecting tenants rights. We are immensely proud of the work that we have done over these many years as the only HUD qualified agency serving the cities of Oakland and Alameda.
Sadly, Sentinel Fair Housing regrets to inform you that due to a lack of funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Oakland we will be forced to close our doors by the end of June 2008. We think this is a great loss to the community and should you agree, we ask that you contact your City Council Representative to express your concerns.
It has been our pleasure to serve you and it remains our deepest hope that you will take up and continue the fight to end housing discrimination and continue our mission.
Sentinel Fair Housing will be assisting clients with fair housing and landlord-tenant questions until June 30th, 2008. If you have housing concerns after June 30th, 2008 please contact Bay Area Legal Aid at (510) 663-4744 for fair housing questions, East Bay Community Law Center (510) 663-4744 for landlord-tenant questions, and Eden I&R at 211 for other housing referrals.
Sentinel Fair Housing will be transferring its database, records, and case documents to the city of Oakland. If you would like a copy of your case file, Sentinel encourages you to make arrangements to pick up any desired copies from our office prior to closing on June 30th, 2008.
If you need access to your records after June 30th, 2008 about your case in Oakland, then you will need to get in contact with Catherine Firpo from the Community and Economic Development Agency at (510) 238-3015.
If you need access to your records after June 30th, 2008 about your case in the City of Alameda, then you will need to get in contact with the next fair housing service provider for the City of Alameda. The City of Alameda is committed to ensuring access to fair housing and housing counseling services for Alameda residents and landlords. The City has issued an Request for Proposals and will select a new Fair Housing & Housing Counseling service provider. The new provider is anticipated to begin work on or around August 15th. In the interim, City of Alameda clients should contact 211 for assistance with fair housing and housing counseling needs.
Important Phone Numbers
Landlord-Tenant Issues:
Eden Information & Referral 211
(service in multiple languages)
Oakland Rent Arbitration Board 238-3721
(for rent increases in Oakland)
Alameda Rent Review Advisory Committee 749-5800
(for rent increases in city of Alameda)
Small Claims Court 272-1393
(free advice for small claims)
City of Oakland Housing Inspections 238-3381
(for habitability violations in Oakland)
City of Alameda Housing Inspections 748-4564
(for habitability violations in Alameda)
(inspections for rats, roaches, or other vermin)
California Department of Consumer Affairs
(for landlords)
Legal Aid:
No Charge for Services:
(must meet income guidelines)
Bay Area Legal Aid 663-4744
East Bay Community Law Center 548-4040
Centro Legal De La Raza 437-1554
Legal Assistance for Seniors 987-7390
Sliding Scale for Services:
Eviction Defense Center 452-4541
Alameda County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services 893-3119
Fair Housing:
Center For Independent Living 763-9999
(for people with disabilities)
Bay Area Legal Aid 663-4744
(for counseling & investigation of discrimination)
California Department of Fair Employment & Housing 1-800-233-3212
(for filing discrimination complaints)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 1-800-347-3739
(for filing discrimination complaints)
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