ST MARYS CENTER
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Mission Statement
St. Mary’s Center is a community of hope, healing and justice dedicated to improving the well-being of Seniors and Preschool Families in West Oakland by meeting basic needs for food, housing, and social connection. We build on a strong foundation of direct service provision with participant-led advocacy that amplifies the voices of people directly impacted by hunger, homelessness, and inequity, to create a more just and caring society.
About This Cause
Overview of Organization: An independent non-profit social service organization with headquarters and five service locations along the San Pablo Avenue corridor in West Oakland, California, St. Mary’s Center answers basic needs and offers hope for Seniors and Preschool families. St. Mary's Center is an entry point for adults aged 55 and older to access many vital resources. St. Mary's Center operates transitional housing facilities, offers case management and housing navigation to homeless Seniors, and hosts social and educational activities six days a week. We are situated in a high-density corridor with more than 1,000 Seniors living in 11 affordable housing developments within a one-mile radius. Every year, hundreds of Seniors come for a hot meal and stay for services, fellowship, and community. St. Mary’s Center is a cornerstone institution in West Oakland, a historically underserved community with higher rates of hunger, food insecurity, poverty, housing overcrowding and reduced life expectancy. Our Census Tract, 4014, is one of two in Alameda County experiencing both deep poverty and rapid change (Source: California Housing and Community Development AFFH Maps.) The CalEnviroScreen 4.0 rates our site at 925 Brockhurst Street, Oakland, 94608 between 80-90. Displacement has made this community the neediest area experiencing the highest rate of homelessness and street encampments in Oakland, which has the highest rate of homelessness in Alameda County. Poverty rose in 2023 for all age groups and is highest for Seniors at 20.6% according to a CA Budget & Policy Center Report. To stem this tide, the Center offers a range of robust programs to support low-income Senior wellness: • Case Management & Counseling: Case managers continue to hold one-on-one counseling sessions with Seniors and provide materials, strategies, and emotional support to assist in their recovery. • Housing Clinic: Low-barrier activity offering help with housing applications, document recovery, and referrals to medical and legal services. • Cooking Class: Cooking class provides skills, nutrition education, and recipe planning support while offering a space for fellowship and meal sharing over stories. • Computer Training: Trainers guide Seniors in computer fundamentals like connecting to Wi-Fi, checking email, joining Zoom meetings, and staying safe online. • Seeking Strength: Seeking Strength is a support group, facilitated under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, to find healthier and safer ways to handle life’s struggles. • Smoking Cessation: Ash Kickers is a six-session smoking cessation program based on the trans-theoretical model of behavior modification. • Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Primary Prevention: We delivered 460 hours of service to reduce isolation, depression, stress and other contributing factors. • Tai Chi: Classes offer gentle movement exercises for Seniors to retain strength and flexibility while gaining a sense of increased emotional well-being and belonging. • Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE): The WISE program, a six-week session, empowers older adults to advocate for their own health, make healthy lifestyle choices, and navigate the use of medications and substances like alcohol.