Oakland’s innovative “shallow subsidy” pilot program provides 200 households a portion of their monthly rent to stop their displacement from the city and prevent them from experiencing homelessness. The program focuses on families who live in Oakland’s most vulnerable communities and are at the highest risk for being displaced or becoming homeless. A “shallow subsidy” is a smaller portion of a household’s rent, compared to a larger subsidy — such as the federal “Section 8” Housing Choice Vouchers, which often covers the majority or all of a household’s monthly housing payment. Rent subsidies through the program average $726 a month for up to 18 months. Launched in November 2021, the pilot is being evaluated by researchers at the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI).
