Oakland Residents Raise Concerns Over Eviction Threats at Mandela House Transitional Housing

Tenants say promised case management and housing exits never materialized at city-run site

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:24pm

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A softly blurred, atmospheric photograph of a dimly lit hotel room interior, with muted tones of warm amber and olive green, conveying a sense of recent occupancy but an empty, uncertain space.The promise of stability at a transitional housing site in Oakland gives way to uncertainty and anxiety over possible evictions.Oakland Today

Residents housed in a converted Oakland hotel, Mandela House, say the promise of stability is giving way to anxiety over possible evictions. Advocates say the situation highlights a widening gap between City Hall's housing goals on paper and the reality inside converted hotels, with some residents describing confusion about case managers, next steps, and how long they could actually stay.

Why it matters

The concerns at Mandela House reflect broader critiques of the city's encampment closures and hotel conversions, with advocates arguing that meaningful offers and services are not consistently provided before sweeps. This raises questions about the city's ability to effectively transition unhoused individuals into stable, long-term housing.

The details

In spring 2025, the city and its partners converted the former Extended Stay America at 3650 Mandela Parkway into Mandela House to bring people from several large encampments indoors. The city said the site contains 105 units and can house up to 150 people, and officials have said it is slated to become 125 units of permanent supportive housing in the coming year. However, residents interviewed on camera later said they were never offered truly stable housing or that outreach to the encampments had been inconsistent.

  • In spring 2025, the city and its partners converted the former Extended Stay America at 3650 Mandela Parkway into Mandela House.
  • In May 2025, the city relocated roughly 70 people from the East 12th Street encampment into Mandela House.

The players

City of Oakland

The local government that converted the former Extended Stay America into Mandela House and is responsible for the transitional housing program.

Operation Dignity

One of the partners involved in case management and services at Mandela House.

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What’s next

Oakland officials say outreach teams are still registering and placing people as Mandela House approaches capacity, and that multiple partners remain involved in case management. Residents and advocates continue to argue that the city needs to back those assurances with clear timelines and written guarantees for moves into long-term housing.

The takeaway

The concerns at Mandela House highlight the challenges cities face in effectively transitioning unhoused individuals from encampments into stable, long-term housing, even with significant funding and partnerships. This raises questions about the city's ability to follow through on its housing goals and provide the promised services and support.