COMMISSION ON HOMELESSNESS BRIEFING · JUNE 2026
Office of
Homelessness
Solutions (OHS)
Coordinating citywide strategy for Oakland's unhoused residents.
CITY OF
OAKLAND
Encampment Management
& Abatement Team (EMAT)Presented by:
Amauri Collins - McMurray
Deputy Chief of Office of Homelessness Solutions
Cupid Alexander
Chief Homelessness Solutions Officer
ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS
Four Actions Taken by EMAT (formerly EMT)
01 Deep Clean
Actions
Comprehensive
cleaning and
sanitation of
encampment sites to
address public health
concerns.
02 Partial
Closures
Targeted removal of
sections of
encampments
presenting
immediate safety
risks.
03 Full
Closures
Complete site closures
with coordinated
outreach, storage, and
relocation support.
04 Hygiene Units &
Garbage Runs
Ongoing delivery of
portable hygiene
services and waste
collection to active
sites.
SERVICES & OUTREACH
Operation Dignity (OD)
• Primary outreach provider for
encampment operations
• Manages three cabin shelter sites
• Outreach begins 2–6 weeks before any
abatement
• Coordinates with CHS and county health &
human service agencies
Outreach to Abatement Timeline
1 Weeks 1–2 Initial outreach & needs
assessment
2 Weeks 2–4 Ongoing service coordination,
referrals
3 Week 4–6 Notice of closure / partial
abatement + Outreach
4 Abatement EMT/EMAT team mobilizes with
full support
• Client Referrals
Encampment Management and Abatement Operations
EMAT Coordination and Priorities
• Monthly consultation with city
council offices
• Consultation with OFD, OPD, OPW,
and OPRYD
• Monthly consultation with external
agencies such as BART, PGE, Union
Pacific Railroad, Caltrans, BCDC.
• Coordination with Eastbay Regional
Parks, and Special Districts
• Citywide Construction Projects
• Protection of Critical Infrastructure
• Administrative Priorities
• High Sensitivity Zones
• Abatement of illegal or
environmentally hazardous conditions
EMAT Priorities
EMAT ACTIONS AND INTERVENTION TYPES
EMT/EMAT Operation and Intervention Breakdown
Action Type Total % of 78
Closure 57 73.1%
Deep Clean 14 17.9%
Partial Closure 5 6.4%
Closure & Deep Clean 2 2.56%
TOTAL 78 100.0%
73%
18%
6%
3%
Closure Deep Clean Partial Closure Other
OPERATIONS BY DISTRICT
Operations by District – Distribution
5 1
15 28
2 7
10 11
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
D1
D1&3
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
6%
1%
19%
36%3%
9%
13%
13%
District 1 D1&3 District 2 District 3
District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7
Encampment Management Team
Roles and Responsibilities
Effective January 1, 2021
Waste / Debris
Collection
Heavy
Equipment
Operation
Bag / Tagging
Storage of
Possessions
Tracking of
Public Facility
Encroachments
Tracking of
Encampments
and Operations
Emergency
Shelter
Management
Housing
Navigation
Management
Outreach
Management
w/CAO
Noticing of
Pending
Operations
Linkage to
Health, Human
& Social Services
Liaison to
Alameda County
Health &
Homeless
Agencies
Law
Enforcement
Public Safety
Risk Mitigation
Traffic Control /
Employee
Security During
Operations
Drug / Human
Trafficking
Monitoring
Closure Zone
Enforcement
Abandoned /
Stolen Vehicle
Towing
Liaison to
ALCOSO, CHP,
BART Police
Support OFD
Operations
Fire Code
Enforcement
Fire Risk
Mitigation
Public Health
Risk
Mitigation
Tracking of
Fire Service
Calls to
Encampments
Support OPD
Operations
Monitor Public
Transportation
Disruptions
Track Right-of-
Way Issues
Support Traffic
Control
Operations
Provide Barrier
Protection
Mitigate
Electrical Risks
at Encampments
in coordination
with OPW
Building Code
Enforcement
Support OFD
Operations
Monitor Park
Activity
Related to
Homelessness
Support OPW
Operations
Track Service
Calls
Forward
Complaints to
Appropriate
Departments
Support
OPD/OFD/HSD/
OPW Operations
Porta Potty &
Wash station
Services
Encampment Management Team
Roles and Responsibilities
Updated August 19,2025
Operations-Based
CAO
Logistics-Based
OPW HSD OPD OFD DOT PBD OPR 311
Waste / Debris
Collection
Heavy
Equipment
Operation
Bag / Tagging
Storage of
Possessions
Tracking of
Public Facility
Encroachments
Tracking of
Encampments
and Operations
Emergency
Shelter
Management
Housing
Navigation
Management
Outreach
Management
w/CAO
Linkage to
Health, Human
& Social Services
Liaison to
Alameda County
Health &
Homeless
Agencies
Law
Enforcement
Public Safety
Risk Mitigation
Traffic Control
Drug
Trafficking Mon
itoring
Abandoned
/ Stolen
Vehicle Towing
–Private
Property
Liaison to
ALCOSO, CHP,
BART Police
Support
OFD Operatio
ns
Fire Code
Enforcement
Fire Risk
Mitigation
Tracking of
Fire Service
Calls to
Encampments
Support OPD
Operations
Monitor Public
Transportation
Disruptions
Track Right-of-
Way Issues
Support Traffic
Control
Operations
Provide Barrier
Protection
Mitigate
Electrical Risks
at Encampments
in coordination
with OPW
Building Code
Enforcement
Support OFD
Operations
Monitor Park
Activity
Related to
Homelessness
Support OPW
Operations
Track Service
Calls
Forward
Complaints to
Appropriate
Departments
Support
OPD/OFD/HSD/
OPW Operations
Porta Potty &
Wash station
Services
Placing
Temporary
Closure
Signage
Dispatch
Biohazard
Contractor
Private
Property
Encampment
Referrals
Abandoned /
Stolen Vehicle
Towing
Employee
Security During
Operations
Human
Trafficking
Monitoring
MACRO
Trauma
Response
OAS EWD
Animal
Assessment
Owner
support
Temporary
Shelter
Retrieval of
stray animals
Land Selection
Lease
Negotiations
Lease
Execution
Jurisdictional
Boundaries
Encampment Clean Up Ups
Before -- 31st Ave b/t International & E 12th St.
After -- 31st Ave b/t International & E 12th St.
Encampment Clean-Ups
Before -- Lake Merritt Channel
After -- Lake Merritt Channel
Encampment Clean-Ups
Before – Old Greyhound Building/20th St and Castro
After – Old Greyhound Building/20th St and Castro