Ken Houston

District Seven City Council Candidate

Ken Houston, known in District 7 as a proud “Son of Oakland” is just that.  Born and raised in Deep East Oakland, Ken has been serving the community he loves his entire life.  Ken founded the Oakland Beautification Council (OBC) in 2012, to take on the daunting task of cleaning up East Oakland’s homeless encampments and illegal dumping. 

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Over the years, OBC has expanded to take on encampments throughout the city. While doing so, OBC has created 364 jobs for the unhoused, justice impacted, and unemployed community youth.  His work has received recognition and praise from the Governor, and other high-ranking state, county, and local officials.

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In 2016, Ken voluntarily lived in a homeless encampment for two weeks, so he could fully understand unhoused people and their problems.  “It was one of the most difficult experiences I’ve had in my life,” said Ken.  “The hopelessness and despair were overwhelming.  It changed me.” Ken says the experience gave him something most people do not have, a fundamental understanding of the root causes and persistence of homelessness.  

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Ken says his major issues are public safety, homelessness, and clean streets. He dedicates his life to actively tackling these problems at their roots. “We need a war-time City Councilmember,” says Ken, “someone that will fight to make District 7 better.”