St. Mary’s Center

St. Mary's Center is a social service that primarily caters to underserved Seniors and Preschool Families in West Oakland, California. Their robust foundation of direct service supports individuals impacted by hunger, homelessness and substance dependence.

They stand as a beacon of hope, healing and justice for those courageously confronting hardship and forging a renewed path toward lasting resilience. They’re dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and well-being of community members by meeting essential needs for food, stable housing and meaningful social connections.

A Pathway Toward Housing Security and Independent Living

St. Mary’s Center offers social and community services across five locations including Senior Housing Services on Brockhurst Street in Oakland, just over two miles north of the Fox Oakland Theatre and Preservation Park.

This program supports adults over 55 who are homeless or at risk of losing their housing. Most residents rely on government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which supports low-income individuals who are elderly, blind or disabled.

A dedicated interdisciplinary team works closely with clients to set meaningful goals and break down barriers to success. Services encompass coordinated intake assessment, outpatient substance use therapy and comprehensive case management. All residents of St. Mary’s Center transitional living program and even folks within the community who have primary substance use issues can benefit from this outpatient therapy.

Case Management and Long-Term Support

Case managers help residents assess and navigate key psychosocial issues. Support includes help with applying for or renewing financial entitlements and IDs as well as connecting residents to transitional housing, senior living and primary medical care. Where necessary, they follow up on medication safety and offer support with prescriptions and medical appointments. They can assist with medical insurance as well including Medi-Cal and Medicare re-certification.

I even noticed that St. Mary’s Center facilitates intake into Alameda County’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Coordinated Entry System (CES). This allows them to track services across agencies and better support seniors in accessing urgently needed resources. The center enjoys overwhelmingly positive feedback from past clients for the life-changing services they offer. One client noted, “ St. Mary's has provided me with excellent case management that enabled me to begin stabilizing my life…I am grateful for their being such a major part of my recovery from homelessness.”