Former student dorm in Oakland could become shelter for homeless residents

REPOST VIA MERCURY NEWS

By ANNIE SCIACCA | asciacca@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: March 30, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. | UPDATED: March 30, 2021 at 11:02 a.m.

OAKLAND — The city of Oakland plans to take over a vacant former student dormitory near Lake Merritt to shelter homeless people during the pandemic.

The City Council passed a resolution Tuesday to allow the city administrator to lease the building at 2332 Harrison St. at least until Sept. 30 to provide emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness who are most at risk of being sickened by COVID-19.

The building is the Lake Merritt Lodge, a one-time hotel and YWCA built in 1929.

In 2013, entrepreneur Mahnaz Khazen bought the lodge and transformed the six-story building into a dormitory it leased to the Hult International Business School for several years.

TO READ MORE: https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/03/30/oaklands-former-lake-merritt-lodge-will-become-covid-19-shelter-for-homeless-residents/