MACRO growing ahead of busy summer in Oakland [Video]

If you’re ever near a MACRO team in Oakland, compassion can be heard in every interaction.

The street teams with the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) are a unique kind of first responders that show up to non-violent, non-emergency situations, meeting people where they are. More than 90% of their responses involve homeless people.

Community Intervention Specialist Josh Hayes and EMT Cora Schutz worked together Wednesday on their typical 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift. They spent the afternoon checking on people they know who live on the street.

“We’re going to come back as soon as I hear that bed is available,” Hayes said to an unhoused man at the bus stop on the corner of Grand Avenue and El Embarcadero. “You feeling OK today, no medical complaints?”

Across from the Safeway on Grand Avenue Eric sleeps in a tent. He’s familiar with Hayes and Schutz, having …