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The Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) has launched its new website, offering a modern, mobile-friendly platform designed to better serve residents, landlords, and community partners. The redesigned site provides an accessible, user-focused experience that makes finding affordable housing information, applying for programs, and engaging with OHA easier than ever before.

About the Client

The Oakland Housing Authority provides quality, affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities across the City of Oakland. Serving tens of thousands of residents through public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and community development programs, OHA’s mission extends beyond housing—it’s about fostering equity, opportunity, and stability in one of California’s most diverse and dynamic cities.

Project Goals

• Improve accessibility, usability, and navigation for all audiences, meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
• Strengthen communication with applicants, tenants, and landlords through centralized digital tools.
• Modernize the website’s structure, content, and visual design to reflect OHA’s community-focused identity.
• Enable multilingual access to key programs and resources in Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese.

Planeteria’s Solution

Planeteria partnered with OHA to create a fully custom, open-source website using WordPress. Built with behavioral-economics principles, the design simplifies complex housing processes through clear pathways and intuitive calls to action. The site integrates with Yardi Systems, Laserfiche, and ADP Workforce for seamless portal access and HR connectivity. In addition, Planeteria ensured full ADA/WCAG compliance, implemented multilingual support per OHA’s Language Assistance Plan, and delivered content management training to empower OHA’s staff for long-term site stewardship.

Key Features & Functionality

• Multilingual support in Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese for vital documents and web content.
• Integrated applicant, tenant, and landlord portals powered by Yardi Systems.
• Procurement, RFP, and job posting tools.
• Centralized calendar of events and board meetings with document archives.
• ADA-compliant design, color contrast, and keyboard navigation.
• Integration with Constant Contact for community newsletters.
• Secure hosting, nightly backups, and ongoing maintenance by Planeteria.
• Streamlined online forms and search-optimized content structure.

Project Highlights

This project represents one of the most comprehensive accessibility and multilingual initiatives among California housing authorities. From design through development, Planeteria worked hand-in-hand with OHA’s Communications team to align the site’s structure with resident needs and staff workflows. The result is a digital resource that strengthens public trust and demonstrates OHA’s commitment to transparency and inclusion.

Looking Ahead

With the new site now live, OHA is equipped with a scalable, secure platform that will grow with its programs and community needs. Planeteria continues to provide managed maintenance, hosting, and accessibility monitoring to ensure the site remains reliable, compliant, and user-centered for years to come.

Visit the new site

Explore the new digital home of the Oakland Housing Authority at www.oakha.org