Claire’s House

2019 marks the twentieth anniversary of HomeAid’s Northern California chapter. Founded by visionary California Building Industry Association hall-of-fame homebuilder Dick Baker in 1999, HomeAid Northern California has built or renovated over 40 shelters throughout the region, with completed projects located in Sacramento, San Jose, Antioch, Livermore, Hayward, Fairfield and other surrounding cities.

The need for this type of housing has never been greater. As the charitable arm of the Building Industry Association (BIA) of the Bay Area, HomeAid’s Northern California chapter endeavors to provide shelter for the homeless in an area that regularly sees some of the highest housing costs in the nation. Via their established network of service providers, HomeAid can quickly and efficiently navigate the jurisdictional approval process. By leveraging long-term relationships with local homebuilders, who maintain their own networks of sub-contractors and suppliers, HomeAid can then execute the required demolition and/or construction phases with similar efficiency and attention to detail.


WHA’s San Ramon office recently completed work on Claire’s House, a transitional housing shelter located in Oakland. In a unique partnership, HomeAid of Northern California collaborated with Catholic Charities of the East Bay (CCEB). HomeAid’s previous experience with shelter planning and construction were combined with CCEB’s community outreach and counseling expertise. Cheryl O’Connor, HomeAid Northern California’s Executive Director, then turned to WHA for architectural services and to long-time WHA client Signature Homes to serve as builder captain.

After selecting and confirming the feasibility of the site, the team undertook a complete remodel of a 5,200 square foot former rectory building on an existing church property. The remodeled, ADA-compliant facility includes (12) resident beds in single and dual-occupancy rooms, a group kitchen/dining area, a den, a computer lab/study center, staff accommodations, and a 2,000 square foot private courtyard with landscaping and planter boxes that will be used for community gardening.

CCEB will provide refuge and shelter at Claire’s House for young girls escaping sex-trafficking, part of a global problem that sees over 1.2 million children exploited annually around the world. Residents will receive the support and care needed to help them chart a path to self-sufficiency. Claire’s House would not have been possible without the support of local area law enforcement, city government, and the current district attorney, for whose mother the shelter is named.

WHA is underway on our next project with HomeAid Northern California, beginning with conceptual land planning for a 15-unit facility for the homeless in another Bay Area city. WHA is proud to continue our partnership with HomeAid America, its regional chapters, and other organizations to build on our firm’s history of community outreach and charitable giving, including professional services to assist those in need.

More information available at: http://www.homeaidnc.org/