Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Alameda Family Services in an Annual Amount Not-to-Exceed $218,000 to Provide Therapeutic Services at Dignity Village, the Emergency Supportive Housing, and the Day Center/Safe Parking Program for the term of March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 with the Option of Four One-Year Extensions in an Annual Amount Not-to-Exceed $264,000, for a Total Five Year Amount Not-to Exceed $1,274,000.
These projects are statutorily exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.10 (services for people experiencing homelessness), and categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense). (City Manager 10021833)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam W. Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Alameda Family Services (AFS) has been providing therapeutic services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Alameda at Dignity Village since February 2024 and at the Emergency Supportive Housing (ESH) and Day Center/Safe Parking Programs since 2025. AFS staff provide critical therapeutic services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Alameda.
Staff recommends approval of a five-year agreement with Alameda Family Services in the amount not to exceed $218,000 for the first ten months and $264,000 annually for the remaining up to four years. This agreement is to provide therapeutic services across Dignity Village, Emergency Supportive Housing, and the Day Center/Safe Parking Program.
BACKGROUND
On October 5, 2021, City Council approved The Road Home: A Five-Year Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness in Alameda (“The Road Home”), establishing homelessness as a City of Alameda (City) priority and outlining a comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to homelessness in Alameda. The Road Home reflects City Council’s recognition of the need for a coordinated, compassionate, and effective local response to homelessness.
Alameda’s ESH program consists of four homes providing a total of 24 beds for families and single adults. Families are sheltered in a single-family home, while single adults are provided private or shared rooms in homes designated for adults. ESH offers a safe, clean, and semi-private environment for individuals and families who were previously unhoused, coupled with wraparound supportive services designed to help participants secure and sustain permanent housing.
The Day Center and Safe Parking Program serves some of the most vulnerable populations in Alameda bringing people off the street and indoors to support their basic needs. This program is vital to the continuum of homeless services in Alameda. Services include emergency low-barrier overnight shelter, secure overnight parking, and indoor day center services with case management, therapeutic and life skills support.
Dignity Village is a 47-unit, 61-bed interim supportive housing program for homeless individuals and unhoused transitional age youth located at 2350 Fifth Street in Alameda and operated by Operation Dignity. Program participants are served in the City with dignity and receive housing navigation services, case management, facilities maintenance, 24/7 security services, and onsite clinical care.
On February 6, 2024, City Council approved a one-year agreement with Alameda Family Services (AFS) to deliver onsite clinical therapeutic services at Dignity Village. On March 18, 2025, City Council approved an extension of those services, given the success shown with the guests. AFS has been providing therapeutic services at ESH and the Day Center through an agreement directly with Village of Love, the current service provider for those facilities.
AFS has qualified staff with specialized knowledge, expertise, and experience working with people who have experienced homelessness. This expertise positions AFS staff to best support the mental health needs of people who are unhoused and being served at Dignity Village, ESH and the Day Center/Safe Parking. AFS clinical staff provide stability and security for many residents adverse to change due to trauma-related pasts.
DISCUSSION
In 2025, the Housing and Human Services Division expanded services within the City’s homelessness response system by adding ongoing mental health services to both the Emergency Supportive Housing and Day Center programs. Through a partnership with Alameda Family Services, clinicians now provide direct therapeutic services to program participants, ensuring that all City-managed homeless services programs include on-site or directly accessible mental health support. These services address trauma, behavioral health needs, and barriers to housing stability, and are a critical component of effective homelessness interventions. AFS has a proven record of high quality support of people in the City’s programs for individuals and families who are unhoused and this agreement provides continuity of those critical services.
Approval of Alameda Family Services (AFS) agreement will ensure the continuation of these essential mental health services across the Emergency Supportive Housing, Dignity Village, and Homeless Services Program. Maintaining access to consistent therapeutic support strengthens program outcomes, improves participant well-being, and supports successful transitions to permanent housing.
The City Manager’s Office, Housing and Human Services Division recommends Alameda Family Services to continue on-site therapeutic shelter services at Dignity Village, the Emergency Supportive Housing, and the Day Center/Safe Parking Program. Approval of the recommended agreements will support continuity of services while strengthening the City’s homelessness response system.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute agreements with Alameda Family Services to provide therapeutic services at the three City managed shelters.
• Not authorize the agreement with Alameda Family Services and direct staff to identify another qualified provider. This would create a gap in services for program participants.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This agreement extension does not require an additional allocation of funds because sufficient funding is available in the existing allocated budget. These programs are funded through a one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation approved by City Council on November 16, 2021 and budgeted general funds. The federal government requires that all ARPA funds be fully expended by December 31, 2026. Therefore, ARPA funds will be distributed among both shelters and expended first.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Social Services Human Relations Board Charter and Ordinance authority “to improve social services in the community” (Alameda Municipal Code § 2-11.5) and the Report on Homelessness Policies and Programs.
This action is consistent with Goal 2 of “The Road Home: A Five-Year Strategic Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness in Alameda.”
This program supports the City Strategic Plan Priority to House all Alamedans and End Homelessness, specifically Project HH2b to Implement the Homelessness Strategic Plan including providing the Emergency Supportive Housing.
This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
On a separate and independent basis, this project is statutorily exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.10 (services for people experiencing homelessness), and categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense).
CLIMATE IMPACT
The Social Vulnerability Assessment section of the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan states: “adaptation strategies should consider how [the homeless] will receive emergency communications and how they will be sheltered. Proper, safe housing for all is an adaptation and resilience strategy. Planning strategies should always consider these vulnerable populations in adaptation efforts.”
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute an agreement with Alameda Family Services in an annual amount not-to-exceed $218,000 to provide therapeutic services at Dignity Village, the Emergency Supportive Housing, and the Day Center/Safe Parking Program for the term of March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 with the option of four one-year extensions in an annual amount not-to-exceed $264,000, for a total five year amount not-to exceed $1,274,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Assistant City Manager
By,
C’Mone Falls, Housing and Human Services Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Agreement - Alameda Family Services