Allen Temple Baptist Church

The Allen Temple Housing & Economic Development Corporation (ATHEDCO) is a faith based nonprofit organization whose mission is to address the pressing economic issues facing the residents and neighborhoods of Alameda County. ATHEDCO was established as a separate 501(c) (3) in 1989 by Allen Temple Baptist Church and The Allen Temple Development Corporation to serve along with. The Allen Temple Social Service Agency as chief economic development entity for the Allen Temple Church Family. Over the course of its history, ATHEDCO along with other Allen Temple affiliated non profits has developed, operated, and maintained five low-income housing projects for seniors and persons disabled due to HIV/AIDS.

In 2002, in response to an overwhelming need in the community, ATHEDCO established the Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Training Academy (DJASSTA), named in honor of the legendary pastor and humanitarian, Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Senior. This Academy provides comprehensive services to the community at large and specifically to those formerly incarcerated to gain and retain livable wages. The program was initially founded with funds received from the Governor’s Discretionary Faith-Based Initiative.

In 2003, ATHEDCO was chosen as one of only eight faith-based institutions nationally to receive funds through a joint program of Public/Private Ventures, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

In 2005, ATHEDCO was awarded a national demonstration grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, through the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative to expand DJASSTA services. This resulted in the provision of comprehensive wrap-around services to more than 500 individuals annually through various funded programs, including the City of Oakland’s Violence Prevention Measure Y Program..

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