
Written by Nancy Lin and Christina Chang
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
On September 2, 2024, Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region’s Oakland Service Center volunteers held a second disaster relief distribution at the Asian Cultural Center in Oakland for those impacted by a recent fire in a low-rent apartment building in Chinatown. Nearly 100 affected residents came to the event, where Tzu Chi not only provided cash cards to address their daily needs but also extended mid-term care, helping them find suitable transitional housing while collaborating with community organizations to speed up repairs in their former dwellings, thereby soothing the disaster survivors’ persistent fears and anxiety.

The crisis began three weeks earlier, on August 14, when an arson attack on the apartment building on Ninth Street in Oakland’s Chinatown affected 31 families, the blaze destroying the back wall in a matter of hours. The fire severely damaged several units and forced dramatic life changes onto their occupants, who had suddenly lost their homes. Although there were no casualties, most of the households, already economically disadvantaged before this disaster, were thrust into chaos and distressing uncertainty. After the fire, they could only temporarily rely on friends and relatives or look for short-term accommodations, and some families had to move farther away. Ascertaining when they can return to their former dwellings is an issue that will require external intervention and assistance.


Tzu Chi volunteers greet the disaster survivors who come to the distribution on September 2, 2024, with warmth and care, making them feel welcome immediately. Photo/Andy Chiang
Making Everyone Feel Welcome
Tzu Chi volunteers had rushed to the scene when the fire erupted on August 14 to get a sense of the disaster’s impact. They then quickly distributed cash cards two days later, on August 16, at the temporary shelter where many affected residents were staying to help them overcome their immediate difficulties. On September 2, they invited the survivors to a second distribution. There, besides giving cash cards, they inquired about their living situations and housing needs over the next three months to better understand how to cooperate with government departments and community organizations to provide adequate solutions.


Tzu Chi volunteers learn more about the living situations of the apartment building fire survivors as they wait to receive cash cards. Photo/Andy Chiang
Early that morning, some Tzu Chi volunteers welcomed the apartment building fire survivors at the entrance to the distribution site, and others accompanied them inside, where they listened to their sorrows attentively and offered encouragement. At the beginning of the distribution event, the volunteer team conveyed their warm wishes, then expressed solidarity in times of trouble by performing the Tzu Chi favorite “One Family” with sign language interpretation. Not only did the lyrics help soothe the care recipients’ distress, but the volunteers’ smiles also made them feel hopeful about the future despite their recent difficulties.


Tzu Chi volunteers, community representatives, and the care recipients themselves join together in singing the Tzu Chi favorite “One Family,” creating a heartwarming atmosphere that touches everyone’s heart. Photo/Andy Chiang
Recognizing the Plight of Chinatown’s Underprivileged Older Residents
The residents of Chinatown’s low-rent apartments for older adults have been the focus of Tzu Chi volunteers’ long-term, in-depth assistance in the community. For instance, the volunteers regularly invite them to the Oakland Service Center, where they can receive free medical care and food supplies. When this apartment building caught fire, the American Red Cross immediately asked Tzu Chi volunteers to come to the scene and subsequent post-disaster meetings. “The Red Cross said Tzu Chi must come so that the residents can feel at ease and we can have a way to communicate properly with the Chinese tenants,” Tzu Chi volunteer Jennifer Thai, the Oakland Service Center team lead, shared.
Thai added that Senior Assistance Foundation East Bay (SAFE) was also concerned about the situation facing those affected in the aftermath of the fire and took the initiative to contact Tzu Chi to collaborate in the relief effort, which had to address specific constraints. Of primary concern was that more than half of the apartment building residents are over 65, and many older adults living in Chinatown are already economically disadvantaged, relying on a meager income from part-time jobs to make ends meet. Moreover, as most have dishwasher or kitchen assistant jobs in Chinatown’s restaurants, they can’t move to some remote temporary residence the government might arrange; they must stay in the Chinatown neighborhood and be able to walk to work.


Many of the people affected by the apartment fire are underprivileged older adults who rely on working in Chinatown restaurants to make a living. Photo/Andy Chiang
That’s why most households displaced by the fire sought accommodations in Chinatown after the disaster, either living in friends’ homes, finding low-cost rentals, or staying in cheap hotels. However, these were temporary plans of last resort rather than long-term solutions. According to Thai, this is why Tzu Chi chose to hold its second distribution at the Asian Cultural Center in Chinatown, making it more accessible for the disaster-impacted residents and easier for the volunteers to keep in touch with the affected families to provide continued assistance.
Additionally, Tzu Chi Oakland volunteers formed a team, each member responsible for contacting five to seven households. In the next three months, Tzu Chi will do its best to assist in solving the problems the care recipients face, whether these are living expenses, short-term rent needs, or even hotel expenses.
Tzu Chi’s care will continue until the affected families return to their original homes and have peace of mind.
Jennifer Thai
Team Lead
Tzu Chi Oakland Service Center


Jennifer Thai, The Oakland Service Center team lead, reassures care recipients at the disaster relief distribution that Tzu Chi will continue to assist as they recover. Photo/Andy Chiang
Cash Cards Deliver Practical Help
Derek Methu, whose apartment incurred fire damages, dragged his suitcases to the distribution site since his current living situation involves constant moving from place to place. Despite all his efforts, he hasn’t found suitable temporary housing. Therefore, he stays at an affordable hotel near his workplace to maintain his job during the week. And on weekends, he takes a long-distance bus and stays at his parents’ place. On the distribution day, Methu came to the site directly after getting off the bus, and he would later go to the hotel to rest before going to work early the next morning. “The current cost of accommodations is a big expense for me,” he shared. “I am very grateful to the Red Cross and Tzu Chi for coming to help us so quickly and letting us know that there are still many people who care about us.”
The cash cards have helped ease the financial hardships facing us fire survivors, and we are really grateful for this timely help.
Derek Methu
Care Recipient


Since the fire, life has been hard for Derek Methu, who has to commute between staying at a hotel near work on weekdays and his parents’ place on weekends, continually dragging his remaining belongings around. Photo/Andy Chiang
Another fire-impacted resident, Jackson L. Lam, has dementia yet is fortunate to have a kind landlord who has helped take care of him for many years since his mother passed away. On the distribution day, the landlord accompanied Lam to the site, where he thanked Tzu Chi volunteers for all their aid: “These cash cards are significant for the affected households, as they can buy some of the things they need to help alleviate the pressure.”
The landlord sincerely appreciated that in a convergence of community love and care, various organizations, government agencies, and Tzu Chi were coming together to assist those displaced by the fire. In addition to monetary assistance, he was grateful for everyone’s continued contact and effort to understand the survivors’ needs; this undoubtedly helps them feel that they are not alone in the recovery process.

The Community Pools Its Strength to Help the Fire Survivors
Tzu Chi Oakland’s second disaster relief distribution also received joint support from government agencies and community organizations. Dr. Kimberly Mayfield, Oakland Deputy Mayor; Nikki Fortunato Bas, Oakland City Council President & District 2 Councilmember; Lena Tam, Member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors representing District 3; and community representative Stewart Chen, President of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, all long-term partners in Tzu Chi’s community service activities, came to the distribution, expressing their care for the disaster-stricken residents through action.



As Tzu Chi volunteers provide cash cards, they patiently listen as the apartment fire survivors share about the current hardships in their lives, hoping to lift moods and soothe troubled hearts. Photo/Andy Chiang
Oakland City Council President and Councilmember Bas thanked Tzu Chi for its continued care for the community and this distribution activity, which immediately helped the disaster-stricken households. “We have seen the power of community unity, and we will continue to cooperate with Tzu Chi to work together to help disaster-stricken households rebuild their homes as soon as possible,” she said.

Stewart Chen, President of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, particularly emphasized the importance of joint efforts by the community and government:
Oakland Chinatown has always been a vibrant community, and this fire is a huge challenge for us. We are confident that with the concerted efforts of everyone in the Chinatown community, we will be able to weather the storm and rebuild our homes.
Stewart Chen
President
Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council

The fire that struck a low-rent apartment building on Ninth Street in Oakland’s Chinatown in August disrupted the lives of underprivileged residents who were already struggling in life. While each day after the disaster has been fraught with challenges, with the care offered by Tzu Chi volunteers and the community’s support, the survivors are better equipped to weather the duration it will take to fully repair their dwellings so that they can finally return to their normal way of life, at home.