Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) Homeownership Program Helps Two Oakland Families Buy Their First Homes and Expands Financial Education

April 16, 2026

Homeownership can be life-changing — not just for one person, but for an entire family. Through the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) Homeownership Program, Oakland residents are gaining the tools, education, and financial support needed to turn the dream of owning a home into reality. Recently, two Oakland mothers reached that milestone, purchasing homes for their families and creating new foundations for stability and generational wealth.

On December 26, 2025, a single mother of two and employee at a local children’s hospital purchased a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in East Oakland. Her purchase was supported by more than $180,000 in down payment assistance from the CalHome Program, making her dream of homeownership a reality.

Momentum continued into 2026. On February 28, the program celebrated its first new homeowner of the year, a single mother of three and proud graduate of OHA’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program. 

After more than six years working as a Customer Service Representative with the Internal 

After more than six years working as a Customer Service Representative with the Internal Revenue Service, she purchased a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath townhouse at the Mandela Gateway development in West Oakland through the City of Oakland’s Below Market Rate (BMR) homeownership program. Located near major transit and neighborhood amenities, the home reflects Oakland’s commitment to creating opportunity in high-access neighborhoods. Because BMR homes include long-term affordability restrictions, the same homes remain affordable to future eligible buyers — ensuring that multiple generations of Oakland families can benefit from homeownership.

“Homeownership creates stability not just for one family, but for future generations,” said OHA Executive Director Patricia Wells. “Oakland Housing Authority’s Homeownership Program helps ensure that Oakland families have the opportunity to build wealth and put down lasting roots in our community.”

Beyond supporting home purchases, the Homeownership Program also expanded financial educational opportunities for residents. In partnership with Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA), OHA hosted its first post-purchase workshop of the year, “Estate Planning Basics.” Ten OHA residents participated in the session, learning how tools such as wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives can help families protect assets and plan for the future. HERA also shared information about its sliding-scale estate planning services, helping ensure residents have continued access to affordable legal resources.

The Homeownership Program also partnered with East Oakland Works (EOW) to host a Homeownership Orientation, both in person at the East District Office and virtually via Zoom. The session provided an overview of program eligibility requirements and available supports. EOW also highlighted its employment and career development services, which help participants build the financial stability needed to pursue homeownership. Together, the partnership reflects OHA’s holistic approach — connecting housing stability with economic mobility.

These early milestones set a strong tone for the year ahead as OHA continues working with residents, community partners, and lenders to expand opportunities for Oakland families to achieve the dream of homeownership.