Sister Thea Bowman Manor sits at 6400 San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville, California, right on the edge of Oakland in Alameda County, and it's meant for seniors 62 and older and adults 18 or up with physical disabilities who want to live as independently as possible. The place offers 56 HUD-subsidized apartments, some of which are specially designed for people in wheelchairs, with six units on the first floor set up for easy access and outfitted with bathroom rails and other supports. Residents get apartments with electric ranges and ovens, refrigerators, garbage disposals, carpets, blinds, cable TV hook-ups, and emergency call systems, and every apartment has either a studio or one bedroom, and you get a utility allowance every month-$20 if it's a studio, $30 for one bedroom-plus the water and garbage bills are covered, which can be a help for folks trying to stick to a budget.
Applications are open, but the waiting list is long, usually more than a year, though that can change depending on when units open up. All the apartments are for low-income seniors or disabled adults, and qualifying means going through a full income check and paying about 30% of income toward rent, though there's no credit check fee, and that's something a lot of places charge for these days. While parking is limited, the community lies near public transportation, making it easier for residents to get around the area without a car.
Sister Thea Bowman Manor is part of Christian Church Homes and is managed by St. Columba Development Corporation, with leadership like Gail Gilman as the President and CEO and Wendy Chan as the Director of Finance. Only three staff members keep things running at the time of writing, and folks who live there often mention that the staff are helpful and kind, and that counts for a lot when you need a hand. They provide memory care, assisted living, respite care, and services for daily activities, and they've been recognized with awards like Best of Senior Living and All-Star awards, especially for their dementia and Alzheimer's programs, which are set up to keep folks safe, keep confusion down, and help prevent wandering.
The community offers a community room for resident gatherings, scheduled activities, and meals prepared with thought to nutrition. There's also a community garden if someone likes to get their hands in the dirt, coin-operated laundry on-site, and basic social services coordination. Security includes emergency call systems in each unit and controlled access to the building, though medical services aren't provided on-site around the clock. Every apartment comes with features like accessible layouts, electric appliances, window coverings, and comfort flooring.
Residents are encouraged to join in social, physical, emotional, and mental activities, which can help keep life interesting and build a sense of community. The facility is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with its mission focused on providing affordable housing for low-income seniors and disabled individuals in the area. Prices aren't published, so interested folks have to get in touch for details or wait for their name to come up on the list. Amenities are practical and aimed at supporting residents' comfort, safety, and independence. The community stays committed to its mission of service, with an emphasis on advocacy, quality of life, and creating a caring and supportive place to live.
