Pastor Honored for Helping Tenants Defeat Slumlord

OAKLAND, CA (October 29, 2007) – A community development corporation recently honored Dan Schmitz, pastor of New Hope Covenant Church of Oakland, for his work with tenants in a local apartment complex that led to a successful class-action suit against the apartment’s slumlord and insured affordable housing for the residents.

Pastor

The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) presented Schmitz with its Community Service Award on October 3 during the organization’s 32nd Anniversary Celebration Banquet in Oakland.

Prior to the lawsuit that netted a $1 million judgment in 2000, residents of the Oak Park Apartments experienced raw sewage backups, crumbling staircases, mold and infestations of mice, rats and cockroaches so severe that some children slept with cotton in their ears to keep the bugs out, according to local news reports. The complex housed mostly Cambodian refugees and Mexican immigrants and had earned the designation of “the worst slum in Oakland.”

The EBALDC and another non-profit housing group, the Affordable Housing Association, paid $9 million to renovate the complex, which formerly consisted of 56 mostly one-bedroom apartments. Those were converted to 30 units of two- and three-bedroom townhouses that better suited the size of the families.

Schmitz once wanted to be an overseas missionary, but decided to move into the complex with his friend Russell Jeung, a professor at a local community college, in order to reach out to the community. They led tenants in the lawsuit that included more than 200 plaintiffs.

In his acceptance speech, Schmitz said, "When I hear the story (being told) of Oak Park Apartments and how Russell and I made great sacrifices to live there, what I don't hear is how much we enjoyed living there, how much we were welcomed by a community of refugees who had endured the bombing of their country by our country. And despite being completely broken and without resources, they welcomed us into their lives."

He concluded his remarks by saying, “As a pastor, I would be remiss if I didn't mention God, who long before I got there, had cared about these people and wanted something better for them."

For a previous Covenant News Service story from 2001, see Schmitz.

home | email to a friend
print this page | site map

Share this page on facebook

News Comments