Berkeley Food and Housing Project

COVID Programming


The Safer Ground team works out of an office on-site at the Rodeway Inn in Berkeley.

Part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic has taken the form of new programs with the goal of providing people experiencing homelessness with a safe place to shelter in place. Clients can stay until the pandemic is over, or until they achieve permanent housing.  

Priority is given to people experiencing homelessness who are 65+ years of age and/or those with pre-existing medical conditions who are at risk of complications if exposed to the COVD-19 virus. 

Berkeley Respite 

The Berkeley Respite Program has been active since June 22, 2020. It is a partnership with the City of Berkeley to oversee and maintain 18 RV trailers and one single-family home. The RVs are at two separate locations in Berkeley, 701 Harrison Street and 1281 University Avenue.  

BFHP provides case management and operational services, including: daily wellness checks, the delivery of three meals a day, coordination of laundry services twice a week, and the provision of hygiene and cleaning supplies. 

Safer Ground 

Project Safer Ground, in operation since July 20, 2020, is a partnership with Alameda County, to utilize 69 hotel rooms at the Rodeway Inn and Quality Inn in Berkeley. Rooms are available to people experiencing homelessness in Berkeley, Emeryville and Albany. All individuals in the hotel rooms were previously living outside or in vehicles.  

Both programs are being overseen by Program Manager, Michael Hodges. He and his team provide support and services to people staying in the RVs, single-family home, and hotels, as well as working with each client individually to find permanent, sustainable housing.  

Roads Home Hotel Rooms

In partnership with Veterans Affairs we have been working to get vulnerable veterans and their families off the streets since the start of the pandemic. As of 10/15/2020 we have been able to place 164 veteran households into the safety of hotel rooms to shelter in place, in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, and Sacramento.  

We partner with County Authorities and local businesses to deliver meals to the individuals and families staying in the hotels.  

Case Managers work with all veterans to get them stabilized and into permanent housing as quickly as possible.