Housing is a Human Right. Not a Privilege.
“I'm always facing homelessness and going without basic needs like food and clothing. I have no professional clothes and shoes to wear for meetings or interviews. Most of my stuff has holes in it. My family's house burned down during a fire and we lost everything we had. Most days I feel lost in life and I don't know what I'm going to do. I never have enough money and it's becoming harder and harder to pay for gas in order to get to school.”
2022 Survey UC Berkeley Respondent
Housing for Justice-Involved Students
Stable housing is the cornerstone of success for students in higher education, yet many marginalized communities face immense barriers to finding a secure place to live. Former foster youth and justice-involved individuals often encounter discrimination from both public housing authorities and private landlords, compounded by the severe shortage of affordable housing. These challenges leave many students struggling to focus on their education while worrying about where they’ll sleep at night.
At Cre8Innovations, we have witnessed firsthand how the lack of stable housing impacts the success and well-being of students striving to create a better future. Recognizing this need, we’ve embarked on a mission to provide a solution that not only bridges the gap but also creates a lasting impact.
Our journey began with a simple but powerful vision: to offer justice-involved students affordable housing options that are below market rate, yet do not compromise on comfort, size, or convenience. Today, that vision is taking shape through our flagship housing initiative—The Legacy House.
Legacy House
Our Legacy House is located in West Oakland, just a 15-minute drive from the UC Berkeley campus and conveniently situated near a BART station. This five-bedroom home offers single rooms for students, providing them with privacy and stability as they transition back into higher education and society. The house features a backyard and front yard, creating a welcoming and homely atmosphere for residents.
More than just a place to live, our housing program is designed to support students holistically. We provide wraparound services tailored to individual needs, ensuring students can focus on personal growth and academic achievement without the financial or habitability concerns that so often weigh them down. These services include:
• Academic Support: Tutoring, study groups, and guidance navigating college resources.
• Mental Health Services: Counseling and peer support networks.
• Financial Literacy: Training to help students manage budgets, savings, and loans.
• Mentorship: Access to mentors who understand the unique challenges justice-involved students face.
• Professional Development: Career workshops, resume building, and networking opportunities.
Want to help our Legacy House?
We offer our Legacy house to formerly incarcerated students in higher education in the surrounding Bay Area at $600 per month per person. It is our future goal to raise enough money so that we can provide free housing for all of our students.
Make a monetary donation today or contribute a household item for our legacy house below.
Cre8innovations Legacy House