Oakland Department of Human Services

About

The Department of Human Services builds strong communities by enriching the quality of life for individuals and families in Oakland.

A Rich History

The Department of Human Services has its origins in the 1960s. Under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, a Community Action Agency (CAA) office was established in Oakland to advocate for low-income communities and provide services designed to eradicate poverty. The CAA office became a city service, along with Head Start in the early 1970s. Eventually the two programs came under the management umbrella of the Office of Health & Human Services. Among other accomplishments, this department implemented the City’s Homeless Plan and its 5-Year Child Care Plan, and greatly increased the Head Start program. During the 1980s, the City worked with the community to develop multi-purpose senior centers. In the late 1980s, the City adopted the “Comprehensive Plan for Seniors.” The City met the first goal of the plan by establishing the Department on Aging in 1989.

In 1996, the Office of Health & Human Services and the Department on Aging were united, creating the Department of Aging, Health & Human Services (AHHS). With a renewed emphasis on policy and planning, AHHS increased the synergy among existing programs and expanded to bring in new grant initiatives.

Today, we are the Department of Human Services (DHS), providing a wide range of services to Oakland’s children, youth, adults and seniors in need of community support. We’re expanding our programs to respond to more of the City of Oakland’s diverse communities. Head Start is extending its reach to include homeless families with young children, and we now provide emergency and transitional housing support and services through our Hunger and Homeless Program. Senior Centers are becoming more proactive in serving monolingual seniors. We’re developing an intergenerational tutor employment program in partnership with the Oakland Unified School District; and we ve implemented a one-stop career center for older adults.

How Do We Do This?

Direct Services. DHS creates and manages programs for all ages – from early childhood and youth leadership to programming at Senior Centers. We support a range of activities such as family literacy, free meals, emergency housing, senior employment and volunteer programs, paratransit and case management for persons with disabilities and for frail seniors.

Big Benefits, Small Cost

The Department of Human Services tackles the hard issues that limited-income and other Oakland residents face daily. And the cost? Not much. Drawing only one percent of the City’s General Fund, we’re a high-yielding investment. For every $1 in General Fund invested, the Department of Human Services brings in $6.38 in grant funds. As a result, DHS contributes over $30 million in grant revenues each year to fund direct services to the City’s residents and supports more than 300 jobs.