Check out our Volunteer & Event Calendar and join us!
From community cleanups to fundraising events, stay updated and join us in making a positive impact around the greater Bay Area.
Uniting for a Cleaner, Kinder Community
Urban Compassion Project (UCP) connects the Oakland and broader Bay Area community with their unhoused neighbors through weekly cleanups, rebuilding trust while discouraging illegal dumping.
We host weekly resource distributions and partner with people and businesses to connect those in need with clothes, hygiene items, haircuts, and hot meals. We advocate for the communities we engage with and work to link individuals with housing services if requested. We’d love to have you join our mission, here are ways you can help us grow our impact,
Make A Donation
Every dollar you donate helps us remove more waste, house more individuals, and extend our reach to those in need. Join us in creating a safer, cleaner, and more compassionate world.
Become A Volunteer
Volunteering with us means sharing compassion and building bridges. We have remote and in-person volunteer opportunities and are actively growing our team.
Support Our Wishlist
Our Amazon wishlist has super essential items that directly support our daily operations and those we serve. This is a great way to contribute and we appreciate the help.
Media Highlights
See How We’re Making a Difference One Project at a Time
At UCP, every initiative, big or small, contributes to our overarching mission of uplifting and supporting our community. As we grow and evolve, our website will too. Keep an eye on this space for the latest updates and stories of change.
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Housing for all of us.
Support our mission for universal housing through our case management programs.
What are ways I can help out?
Support our mission online or in the community!
Your support—donating, volunteering, sharing—directly uplifts those in need.
Read the latest news and hear community voices:
Urban Park Cleanup wins Jefferson Award
The Jefferson Awards Foundation was created in 1972 by the American Institute for Public Service. It is the country’s longest standing and most prestigious...
Oaklandside: How one Oaklander is organizing to clean up illegal dumping in Oakland
After seeing myself in the eyes of an unhoused boy, I decided to start cleaning up areas in West Oakland where unhoused people live. The work snowballed from...
A native of Oakland born at Highland hospital, at 6 months old, Vincent was placed into foster care. At age 9, he became unhoused, and would remain that way until he was 33. The whole time, Vincent cycled through the system of countless foster homes, group homes, juvenile halls, and mental health facilities, along with a 19 year drug addiction.
In 2019, after serving 4 years 8 months and 19 day on a 7 year sentence in the California Department of Corrections, Vincent was released, only to find himself unhoused again, with no resources, and afraid that he would find himself battling life on the streets again.
Vincent saw the state of his community, noticed the lack of care given to public spaces, and decided that he would focus on making them safer, humane spaces for all. His experience was one that told him that if there was any real chance for change, it would have to start with a model of individual care. So he began cleaning parks, and encampments, spending hours pulling tons of trash and debris out of these areas. He would involve the unhoused in these areas, and never left without making sure they had the tools and equipment needed to continue sustainability efforts themselves. And so was birthed Urban Compassion Project. Vincent’s vision for starting community based projects was to inspire the community in pitching in our public spaces. That everyone, regardless of age, race, sexual identity or economical class, had a safe space to be part of community.
Vincent now brings with him the knowledge he learned as Operations Manager and Benefits manager at The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. A center that he largely accredits to his personal growth and in helping him express himself through community based work with love and compassion.
Vincent has received commendations from the City of Oakland for his heroism and making the city cleaner, greener and culturally rich. He has also been awarded Person of the Year by The Coalition for a Better Oakland and received a Jefferson Award in 2021 for his community work. Vincent has a passion for selfless work in society and human rights. He is a champion for at-risk youth and a firm advocate for the rights and just treatment of people of color, as well as the unhoused.
To discuss public speaking engagements and district work and trainings, please contact Vincent at Vincent@urbancompassionproject.org to schedule a meeting.
People Housed
Tons of Trash Removed
Volunteer Participation
Frequently Asked Questions:
How will my donation be used?
Donations are crucial for funding our cleanups, resource distributions, and case management services. Your support helps us provide essentials like food, clothing, and hygiene products, and contributes to our efforts in rehousing.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, your contribution to UCP is tax-deductible.
Tax EIN 86-2807260
Can I volunteer my time instead of donating money?
Absolutely! We value the time and skills of our volunteers. There are many ways to get involved, from participating in cleanups to assisting in our administrative tasks.
Celebrating Community Support with a Shining Spotlight on Jen Cazeres and Livable Spaces
Livable Spaces has been a cornerstone in our community efforts, providing unparalleled support in mutual aid and resources. Alongside, Jen Cazeres stands out as our premier donor, whose contributions have filled many hearts with hope and aid. In 2023, her generosity accounted for nearly half of all distributed items, showcasing the strength of collaboration in driving meaningful change. Thank you Jen and Livable Spaces for being such a major impact in our community.
Discover the transformative work of Livable Spaces and how Jen Cazeres’s expertise as a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization® and Certified Virtual Organizing Professional™ is making a difference in our community and beyond. Explore Livable Spaces and see how organized spaces lead to transformed lives.
