Find alternatives to calling the Oakland Police Department.
Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that offer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services.
These resources may be obligated to call police in the case of an immediate risk of harm to the caller or another, child abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult. Where we know or suspect that a resource may work in cooperation with law enforcement or involve them beyond what is required by law, we acknowledge that in the listing.
These resources are not intended to cover all situations, only to provide the services described. If you are in danger of immediate harm and feel safe doing so, call 911.
Housing
- Causa Justa
- Information, referrals, and advocacy on behalf of tenants. English and Spanish. Can assist with unlawful detainers and evictions.
- (510) 836-2687 (hotline, may need to leave a message)
- https://cjjc.org/
- Covenant House California
- Provides sanctuary and support for youth ages 18-24 facing homelessness and human trafficking. Emergency shelter programs.
- (510) 379-1010
- https://covenanthousecalifornia.org/
- Oakland Shelter Services
- City-run hotline to find shelter availability
- 1 (800) 774-3583 or (510) 537-2552
- https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/find-a-shelter
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Drop-in center for women and children. Showers and laundry facilities, infant care, referrals.
- Tue-Sat 9:30am-3pm (closed 1st Wednesday of the month
- 2260 San Pablo (& W Grand), Oakland
- (510) 444-3790
LGBTQ+
- CUAV
- Provides emotional support, safety planning, referrals, and limited case follow-up to LGBTQI people experiencing violence or abuse
- (415) 333-HELP (4357) (Safety Line)
- https://www.cuav.org/
- Transgender Law Center
- Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. The Legal Information Helpline provides basic information about laws and policies that affect transgender people across many areas, including employment, health care, housing, civil rights, immigration, prisoners’ rights, and identity document changes.
- (510) 587-9696
- For people in prison and detention: (510) 380-8229
- Para ayuda legal en español: (415) 296-2029
- Online form here
- https://transgenderlawcenter.org/
- Desi LGBTQ Helpline
- Offers free, confidential, culturally sensitive peer support, information and resources for LGBTQ South Asian individuals, families and friends
- 1 (908) 367-3374
- Supported by local non-profit Trikone
- http://www.deqh.org/
Mental Health
- ACCESS – a program of Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services
- The system wide point of contact for information, screening and referrals for mental health and substance use services and treatment for Alameda County residents. Staffed from 8:30-5:00 M-F by licensed mental health clinicians and administrative support. After hours calls are answered by Crisis Support Services of Alameda County.
- 1 (800) 491-9099
- http://www.acbhcs.org/providers/Access/access.htm
- Amber House
- A voluntary crisis stabilization unit and voluntary crisis residential treatment program. Amber House CSU is a 12-bed voluntary-only program to assess individuals who are having a mental health crisis and are in need of assessment, stabilization, and brief treatment. The service is available to individuals for up to 24-hours. Amber House CRT has up to 14-beds for individuals in crisis who do not meet medical necessity criteria for hospitalization and would benefit from treatment and supportive programming.
- 516 31st St, Oakland
- (510) 379-4179
- Bay Area Community Services
- Crisis treatment and counseling for people experiencing mental health difficulties. Provides four full-service programs in Alameda County. The HEAT Program provides services for severely mentally-ill folx at-risk for housing insecurity in the community for as long as they need it. Other programs address housing, mental health care and re-entry from psychiatric treatment, and ongoing case management. Operates crisis centers in Hayward and Oakland that provide short-term residential alternative to psychiatric hospitalization, or support following hospitalization, for individuals in active psychiatric distress who need support to cope and heal – clinician referral required, form is here.
- Hours and eligibility for programs vary, call for information
- 390 40th Street, Oakland, CA 94609 (HQ)
- (510) 613-0330
- Crisis Support Services of Alameda County
- Trained crisis intervention counselors are available to receive crisis calls and give supportive counseling 24 hours a day, every day. Translation is available in more than 140 languages. Also offers teletype (TDD) services for deaf and hearing-impaired individuals.
- 1 (800) 309-2131 (24/7)
- https://www.crisissupport.org/
- MH First
- Volunteer-based mental health emergency response team for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Can also be found on social media @mhfirstoak.
- 2 p.m. – 2 a.m., Fri. & Sat.
- (510) 999-9MH1
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- A Safe Place
- A Safe Place counselors are always available on their 24-hour crisis line. They can connect you with crisis counseling, information about domestic violence, and referrals to agencies throughout the Bay Area. Crisis shelter services.
- (510) 536-7233
- https://www.asafeplace.org/
- Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR)
- In addition to their 24-hr Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline, BAWAR offers in-person counseling for survivors, significant others as well as hospital, police and courtroom accompaniments. LGBTQ+ affirming. Expertise in issues of rape and incest.
- (510) 845-7273 (24-Hour Hotline)
- http://www.bawar.org/
- La Casa De Las Madres
- 24/7 crisis response line and emergency shelter for callers experiencing domestic violence. Confidential and toll-free. Shelter is in San Francisco.
- Adult Line 1-877-503-1850 (24/7)
- Teen Line 1-877-923-0700 (24/7)
- Text: (415) 200-3575 (not 24/7 and not confidential)
- https://www.lacasa.org/
- Narika
- Narika addresses the unmet needs of survivors of abuse by providing advocacy, support, information, and referrals within a culturally sensitive and linguistically diverse model. Services focused on immigrants from and members of South Asian communities.
- 1-800-215-7308
- https://www.narika.org/
- Stand! For Families Free of Violence
- The Stand! 24-Hour Crisis Line provides crisis intervention and peer support by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Emergency shelter for women and children (up to 18)
- (888) 215-5555
- Email: CrisisLine@StandFFOV.org
- https://www.standffov.org/
- W.O.M.A.N., Inc.
- 24-hour support line offers support via peer counseling, safety planning, and referrals for needed resources for survivors of domestic violence and their families/support networks.
- (877) 384-3578
- http://www.womaninc.org/support/
Youth
Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.
- California Coalition for Youth
- Youth Crisis Hotline – 24/7
- statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis with access to over 5,500 free or low-cost resources for youth and families in crisis
- 1 (800) 843-5200
- https://calyouth.org/cycl/
- Contra Costa County Youth Runaway Hotline
- (800) 718-4357
- Contra Costa Crisis Center
- School Violence Tipline
- (800) 863-7600
- https://www.crisis-center.org/
- Covenant House California
- Provides sanctuary and support for youth ages 18-24 facing homelessness and human trafficking. Emergency shelter programs.
- (510) 379-1010
- https://covenanthousecalifornia.org/
- Dreamcatcher Youth Services – a program of Covenant House California
- Safe landing for homeless and trafficked at-risk youth in Alameda County who are between the ages of 13-18. Short-term emergency shelter, food, and support services.
- 3 p.m. – 8:30pm
- (510) 379-0929 or 1 (800) 379-1114
- https://covenanthousecalifornia.org/dreamcatcher-youth-services/
Elders
Coming soon.
Crime
- Bay Area Legal Aid
- Provides low-income clients with free civil legal assistance, including legal advice and counsel, effective referrals, and legal representation.
- (800) 551-5554 (Legal Advice Line)
- (510) 663-4755 (Office)
- https://baylegal.org/
Substances
Coming soon.
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the Oakland Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention.
We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources.
Reimagine public safety. Don’t call the police.