Rooted in equity.
Grounded in
community.
Affordable housing solutions for educators, so they can stay — and thrive — in the communities they serve.
From TRiO Plus to Rooted: A New Name for a Growing Program
TRiO Plus is now Rooted, a program of the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation. Our name and parent organization have changed, but the mission remains the same: equitable housing solutions for educators, ensuring they can live and thrive in the communities they serve. Reach out if you have any questions, or if you are interested in bringing Rooted to your school district!
Why housing? Why educators?
To put it simply: when educators can afford to live where they teach, students succeed.
Here’s some of our impact to date:
How It Works
Find Affordable Housing
The Rooted Housing Marketplace is the only place that provides educators with special discounts on quality rental housing. Savings on rent average over $2,000 per year.
Our collaborating housing providers offer discounted apartments to educators, bridging the affordability gap for educators, reducing vacancies, and leasing to great tenants.
Wraparound Financial Services
Educators who find housing through the TRiO Plus marketplace also have access to services that reduce the costs educators face when finding a new apartment, including security deposits and refunded application fees with participating landlords.
Free 1:1 Financial Coaching
Should I lease or buy a car? What’s the best way to manage my student loans?
Every educator in our partner districts has access to free one-on-one financial coaching. Build a budget and get all your questions answered with free financial coaching and wellness services from our partner, Trust Plus.
“Using TRiO [now Rooted] was really helpful because it helped me cut my commute time in half which has helped me have a lot more energy teaching…Working at a dual language school, it’s important that I’m a native Spanish speaker and that students have that representation.”
- E Valdes, 4th Grade Teacher at Global Family Elementary
“Without TRiO [now Rooted], I would probably still be looking for housing. It’s one of the major things I need to feel secure, and having that just changed my spirit, my stress level, and it prepared me to be a better teacher in the classroom…Every student deserves a Black teacher, and I’m glad my students get to learn from somebody who looks like them.”
- Ericka McCoy, English Teacher at Castlemont High School
