1987
Oakland Union of the Homeless founded by Terry Messman, Andrew Jackson and others
December 24 - Twenty-four people from Oakland Union of the Homeless took over an empty house, partly to commemorate the Dec. 15 death of James Lee, a homeless man. Police evicted them on December 26.
1988
January - 50 people took over three Victorian houses in Preservation Park, in Oakland. (Glenna Jackson quoted in news articles.)
October 28 - 14 people arrested for refusing to leave Sen. Pete Wilson's office, after legislative director refused to commit resources for housing.
1989
April - Oakland Union of the Homeless part of Greenlining Coalition
1990
April - Union of the Homeless joins with other organizations in naming a "Slumlord of the Month"
April 23 - Oakland Union of the Homeless occupies two HUD houses. City Council votes days later to set up talks with HUD.
April 26 - Union takes over third house. Mayor wants to give some houses to non-profits to house homeless. Federal officials continue to say they will evict squatters.
June - Dignity Housing West receives $1 million as well as land valued at $300,000 from the state.
July 16 - 34 protesters arrested at sleep-in protest at San Francisco Civic Center
1991
April - Power struggle within organization. Portia Godfrey (and others, apparently with support of NUH) called board illegal and criticized director of Dignity Housing West, Dorothy King. The board had received $9 million in grants.
1992
February - Formerly homeless filmmaker Jerry Jones releases “Homeless Not Helpless: Opening Doors” – focuses largely on Oakland Union of the Homeless.
July - Oakland Union of the Homeless files class-action suit against Oakland and California police officers for raiding encampments under an overpass in March.
October - Oakland Union of the Homeless sues sued state transportation director, James van Loben Sels for raiding encampment under an overpass and destroying people's belongings.
1993
1994
August - Construction begins on Dignity Housing II.
