The Rosa Parks House
Oakland, CA

Transitional Housing for the Homeless

SUMMARY: This old apartment building required major rehabilitation and a reorganization of spaces in order to create 15 units of housing.

Located on West Grand Avenue, the Rosa Parks House provides transitional housing facilities to homeless people, helping them to make the move into mainstream housing. B.O.S.S. programs teach living skills and rotate residents into resident managers, and sometimes into B.O.S.S. employees.

The building, squatted in for over a year, was vandalized of every saleable material, requiring careful inspection and drawings to control the budget. The project is funded by HUD's Supportive Housing Program, the City of Oakland, and private entities.

Two ground floor apartments are opened to provide office and communal spaces. Public ground floor spaces and one unit were made fully wheelchair-accessible. An access ramp and decks in the back of the building provide outdoor spaces for the residents to gather and relax.

Project Data
Renovation Cost: $800,000

Awards and Publications:
Winner of an Oakland Historic Preservation Award

Project Team:
Client: B.O.S.S. Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency
Contractor: Oliver & Company
Principal Designer: Erick Mikiten, AIA
with Kodama Associates of San Francisco

Project Type: Renovation and Accessibility Upgrade

View from the Street

Floor Plan