PFAH – Partnership for Affordable Housing in Oakland, California

About PFAH – Partnership for Affordable Housing

Partnership for Affordable Housing or PAH in Oakland, California plays a critical role in the support ecosystem for people facing substance use challenges. While PAH does not offer detox, residential clinical therapy, or medication assisted treatment, its transitional housing services and essential life sustaining support can be crucial first steps toward stability.

A Housing First Approach

The mission at PAH is grounded in providing holistic, housing first support, which means that they prioritize helping people build housing and stability in their lives to support their recovery, and that they recognize that getting sober is far less likely if a person is struggling with daily survival. They emphasize helping low income families, seniors, veterans, and those experiencing homelessness build a roadmap toward self sufficiency and recovery.

PAH’s services begin with transitional housing and essential support services. Clients generally first engage with PAH through securing a housing unit and receiving non-medical services to stabilize their living situation and manage life essentials.

Counseling Available Alongside Housing

While PAH does not provide clinical addiction treatment, intervention counseling is offered to address immediate behavioral or emotional needs, and clients are connected with external treatment and recovery organizations for more intensive care. The organization focuses on life skills, referrals for substance use treatment, and building pathways to longer term recovery supports.

Licensed clinical social workers manage PAH as well, focusing on intervention counseling, housing first philosophy, and referrals rather than clinical treatment of addiction if necessary. While PAH does not offer formal aftercare, it bridges clients to specialized service providers for further addiction treatment and ongoing recovery support.