OPINION: Black, Unhoused and Mentally Challenged: The Case for Housing and Health Care

d intersection across others. I’ m celebrating by participating in e vents uplifting that history and recognizingthechangemakersamongthe community. How is JPMorgan Chase making an impact to adv ance racial equity? D iversity, equality and inclusion have been a n important part of the culture at JPMorgan Chase and we wante d to take a look at what else we can be doing. While our work to advance racial equity has been lo ngstanding, in October 2020, we ma de a $30 billion, five-year commitment to advance racial equity that took a look at additional ways to address affordable housing, small business, financial health, am ong other critical financial needs withinunbankedandunderbankedcommunities. We’veopened14Comm unity Center branches — l ocally-inspired and built with extra space to host freecommunityeventsandfinancialh ealth workshops — across the c ountry and hired nearly 150 CommunityManagerswhoconnectcommunity members with the resour ces we’ve created to support f inancial health education, firsttimehomebuyereducation,andmany other resources. We also havea dedicated team of certified Senior Business Consultants arou nd the country who provide free one-on-one coaching and advice t o local Black, Hispanic, Latino a ndunderbankedsmallbusinessowners on everything from boosting c reditworthiness to managing ca sh flow to effective marketing. Additionally, Chase Home Lending A dvisors are available across th e U.S. — whether you want to click, call, or visit in-branch — tohelpyouprepareforhomeownership, including identifying the righ t financing solutions and any downpayment/housingassistanceavailable. How should other companies and individuals be thinking about advancing r acial equity? We all can make an effort to help advance rac ial equity within our community — including by investing in or shopping with local diverse-o wnedbusinesses,supportingphilanth ropic efforts in our community,andparticipatingincommunityeve nts. Consider looking for diver se initiatives and business resource groups with- in your company that focus on supp orting underserved or underrepresented communities and asking if there are opportunities to supp ort those initiatives or groups.

Forinstance,JPMorganChase’sAdvancing Black Pathways initiative w orks to support the economicempowermentoftheBlackcommunity globally. Through our Glo bal Supplier Diversity program , we’re using our purchasing power to build economic equity in diverse communities, foste r the success of underrepresented business owners, and promote equity, inclusion and sustainability across the wider business community.We also have initiatives focused on other communities, and business resource groups that share our company commitment to e quity and equality and create opportunities for employees tobe engaged. Whatareyourgoals for this year, and/or, wh at are you looking forward to in 2023? I’m looking forward to building upon the succ ess of Advancing Black Pathways, including taking our learning s since the initiative launched i n 2019 and applying them to our wor k in communities globally. Las t year, we added team members in Latin America and in the U.K., and I’m excited to work with them t o ultimately support the economic developmentofcommunitiesintherespective regions. I’m also excited about continuing to reach as many people as we can with the resources and information created by JPMorgan Chase to support their overall financial health and dreams for the future. Sponsored contentfromJPMorganChase&Co.

SEEKS SUBCONTRACTOR BIDS FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECT: THE PHOENIX OWNER: EAST BAY ASIAN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORP.

BID DATE: MARCH 13TH, 2023 AT 2:00 PM

Bernards is requesting bids for the construction of a 101 unit, 100% affordable, modular development. The site address is 811 & 821 Pine Street, Oakland, CA 94607. In addition to the residences, the development includes a mix of uses including amenity and community meeting spaces. You are hereby invited to submit a bid for the scopes of work shown and/or specified in the documents. Please note that California residential prevailing wages are required.

The goal for the Phoenix project is to use 50% City of Oakland L/SLBE authorized subcontractors, subject to City of Oakland completion of an Availability Analysis. For non-L/LSBE Subcontractors, please consider L/SLBE authorized firms when selecting sub-tiers and vendors to help utilizing L/LSBE firms.

The project will follow Section 3 HUD requirements, City of Oakland regulations, including the City of Oakland local hire requirement of 50% local workers or more per Subcontractor based on hours worked. Refer to the following Section 3 and City of Oakland resources for more information: https://www. hud.gov/section3 and https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/local-employment-program

A Job Walk will be held on Monday, February 27, 2023 from 9:00-10:00 AM at 811 Pine Street, Oakland, CA 94607. We strongly encourage all bidders and L/LSBE subcontractors/vendors to attend. Please RSVP for the Job Walk by emailing bid@bernards.com

In California, 43% of the Black Californians interviewed reported that someone close to them has experienced homelessness. Shutterstock photo.

By Dr. Lenore A. Tate

Special to California Black

Media Partners

Numerous studies have confirmed that homelessness and behavioral and mental health problems affect African Americans at disproportionate rates in California and around the United States.

On a very primary and personal level, homelessness affects an individual’s mental health. Looking at the data: approximately 30% of people who are chronically unhoused have a mental health condition, about 50% have a cooccurring substance use problem and 42% have a disabling condition such as a developmental disability, HIV/AIDS or injuries from combat such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

In California, 43% of the Black Californians interviewed reported that someone close to them has experienced homelessness — a rate much higher than any other racial group in the survey, according to a survey conducted by the California Health Care Foundation.

Black women in particular are at a higher risk for exposure to mental health stresses.

“A variety of circumstances put Black women at high risk for mental and emotional stress — economic insecurity, responsibilities of caregiving, neighborhood violence, lack of social support and physical illness or disability,” reads the website of the California Black Women’s Health Project.

Plans & Specifications: Plans and specifications are available now. You may view or purchase plans through our reprographics company at www.Bidmail.com and/or requesting a bid invitation by emailing bid@bernards.com.

“As a result, many are plagued by tension, anxiety, worry and fear. Because of the powerful and complex links between the mind, emotions and body, chronic states of stress and anxiety can have dangerous and sometime fatal, health consequences. In addition, the daily struggles of coping with racism and sexism further exacerbate mental and emotional stress,” the write-up on the website reports.

When these intersecting issues go unaddressed, they can compound and adversely affect individuals.

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By submitting a bid, subcontractor confirms they have reviewed Bernards’ Subcontract Agreement and will execute said Agreement without modification. Please review all Bernards’ Standard Subcontract documents and forms on our website: https:// www.bernards.com/industry-partners/.

Bernards is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to; and encourages the participation of MBEs, WBEs, DBEs, SBEs, DVBEs, LSAs and OBEs and requires submittal with their bid the certification form from the authorizing agency.

Participation in Bernards’ Prequalification process improves our ability to collaborate with Subcontractors while providing them with the benefit of inclusion in potential select project lists. Please contact SubcontractorPrequalification@bernards.com for Prequalification documents.

If you have any questions about this project, please contact us at: Bernards | 1798 Technology Drive, Suite 244 | San Jose, CA 95110 (818) 898-1521 | bid@bernards.com

Contacts: Diana Eberhard, Eileen Roe, Scott Huh, Lyle Fricke