Title
Status Report on Services for People Experiencing Homelessness, Housing, and Human Services in the City of Alameda
Body
To: Honorable President Scott Means and Members of the Social Service Human Relations Board
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Road Home: A Five-Year Strategic Plan to Prevent & Respond to Homelessness in Alameda (The Road Home <https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/departments/alameda/econ-dev-amp-comm-services/the-road-home-plan-adopted.pdf>) was developed by City staff in partnership with the Social Services and Human Relations Board (SSHRB) and City Council (Council). By acceptance of this plan in October 2021, the City of Alameda (City) committed to goals, strategies, and metrics to meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community. Housing and Human Services staff actively work to carry out Council directed initiatives in cooperation with other City departments and social service providers to serve individuals and families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness in the City. Every six months, staff formally reports on progress to SSHRB.
BACKGROUND
Together, Council and SSHRB have identified addressing homelessness as a key priority.
• In 2016, Council tasked SSHRB with reviewing City policies and procedures around homelessness.
• In 2018, Council adopted the Homelessness Report <https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/departments/alameda/econ-dev-amp-comm-services/community-services/alameda-homelessness-report.pdf> authored by SSHRB’s Homeless Action Plan Work Group in collaboration with Alameda Housing Authority and City staff.
• Next, the City supported the recommendations to align local priorities, ordinances, and policies in support of ending homelessness through expanding permanent and affordable housing as presented in the EveryOne Home 2018 Strategic Update.
• In 2018, Council declared a shelter crisis and the City gained access to State of California (State) funding, Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP), to serve individuals experiencing homelessness.
• In January of 2021, SSHRB began work on a five-year plan to address homelessness, culminating with the publication of The Road Home, which was approved by Council on October 5, 2021.
• On June 6, 2022, Council further endorsed through resolution the Alameda County Home Together 2026 Community Plan: A 5-Year Strategic Framework Centering Racial Equity to End Homelessness in Alameda County (Home Together). A side-by-side comparison of The Road Home and Home Together goals highlights a need for Alameda to acknowledge and address the disproportionate effects of poverty and racism on minority members of our community, understand the root causes of homelessness, use mass education to increase the compassion and understanding of homelessness, and foster cooperation between counties and cities to serve those in need.
• Effective July 1, 2023, the Housing and Human Services division of the City Manager Office was formed and reports to the Assistant City Manager.
• In 2024, SSHRB’s The Road Home work group was approved to move forward with an annual report detailing the progress on services.
• In November of 2024, City Council accepted the 2024 Progress Report on The Road Home.
The last Status Report of Emergency Response Services for the Homeless in the City of Alameda (Status Report) was delivered by staff member Marcie Soslau Johnson at the July 2024 SSHRB regular meeting (File #: 2024-4252).
DISCUSSION
Adopted by City Council on October 5, 2021, The Road Home outlines the following goals:
• GOAL 1: Secure a Housing Future for All Alamedans
• GOAL 2: Increase Access to Homeless Emergency Response Services
• GOAL 3: Mobilize Citywide Response to Homelessness
The primary purpose of The Road Home is to provide a roadmap to:
ü Prevent and reduce first-time homelessness;
ü Reduce chronic homelessness;
ü Shorten the period of time an individual or household remains homeless; and
ü Decrease returns to homelessness.
Programs that support the goals of The Road Home are housed in the Base Reuse and Economic Development Department, the Rent Program Department, and Housing and Human Services (HHS). This status report specifically reviews the ongoing progress of HHS strategies that support goals one through three of The Road Home.
Strategy 1.2 Protect and expand affordable housing through local policy
Below Market Rate (BMR) Homeownership and Rental Housing: In August 2024, a lottery was held for six moderate-income BMR units for sale at Alameda Landing’s Bay37 development. The City worked with the developer’s designated program administrator, HouseKeys, to review applicant files that were presented to the City for the BMR program’s eligibility. In September 2024, Rise Housing, on behalf of the City, began accepting applications for the City’s inaugural BMR homeownership waitlists to be utilized for future BMR homes offered for sale to very low-, low-, and moderate-income buyers. For BMR rental housing, the City worked with Launch’s and Alta Star Harbor’s designated program administrator, HouseKeys, to review applicant files that were presented to the City to identify eligible renters for their available BMR rental units that were available during this time. The City’s BMR homeownership waitlists remain open to accepting new applications until the California Department of Housing and Community Development (CA HCD) publishes the new state income limits. New lotteries will be conducted for the BMR homeownership waitlists annually after the newest state income limits are published by CA HCD. Based on construction timelines that the City has received, in the next six to eight months the City anticipates offering newly constructed BMR homes for sale at Bay37 by Pulte, Alameda Marina by LandSea, and Skyline by Trumark (subject to construction completion).
The Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP): The PIP is designed to reward local governments with Prohousing Designation with additional funding to accelerate affordable housing production and preservation. The program is funded through Chapter 364, Statutes of 2017 (SB 2, Atkins), which established the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund (Fund). The Fund utilizes real estate transaction fees collected at a county level to establish a permanent source of funding. Five percent of annual collections are deposited in a fund to be used for an incentive program. On August 15, 2024, California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released the NOFA for the third round of the Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP Round 3).
The PIP grant program complements the Prohousing Designation Program (PDP) and is designed to encourage jurisdictions to obtain a Prohousing Designation and by rewarding jurisdictions that pursue additional Prohousing Policies to earn a higher Prohousing Designation Score. Under the PIP, grants are available for a variety of planning or implementation activities related to housing and community development. On November 20, 2024, HCD officially designated the City of Alameda as a Prohousing Jurisdiction under the PDP with a total of 52 points, making the City eligible for approximately $1 million in funding. City staff brought the PIP Application for Round 3 Funds to City Council for approval on December 17, 2024. The PIP Application was submitted to HCD on December 23 and awarded jurisdictions are expected to be announced in May or June 2025.
Strategy 2.1: Develop flexible resources for diversion, prevention, and housing retention
Flexible Funding: As part of an ongoing and increased effort to address and prevent individuals and households from becoming unhoused, Council approved an additional $185,000 in funding for prevention. These funds will go towards a part-time case manager dedicated to working with individuals and families at risk of becoming unhoused and towards aftercare services for Dignity Village residents once they have been placed in permanent homes. Aftercare is defined as services and resources provided to help people transition out of homelessness and avoid future experiences of homelessness. Distribution was administered in fiscal year 2024-25. Continuing this fiscal year are contracts with service providers St. Vincent de Paul and Building Futures with Women and Children to administer and distribute one-time housing problem solving dollars to persons and households in need in the total amount of $75,000.
HHS Community Outreach Specialists: HHS has added two part-time Community Outreach Specialist (Specialist) positions for fiscal year 2024-25. One position will focus on street outreach and providing services to those experiencing homelessness and the second will focus on building a prevention of homelessness program. The Alameda Free Library has partnered with HHS to maintain one of the part-time City employees to serve as a case manager for the City. The Specialist acts as a case manager, serving individuals struggling with mental health, addiction, housing insecurity and homelessness. Both positions include responsibilities such as: direct constituent interaction in the office, street and at constituents’ homes and places where they receive services; accompanying individuals to connect with services when and if necessary; interfacing effectively with social service providers to triage cases and address unmet needs; system navigation; client advocacy and record keeping and administrative functions associated with securing social services. HHS is actively recruiting to fill both positions.
The Mastick Senior Center Senior Rent Relief Program (Rent Relief Program): The Rent Relief Program was developed and approved by City Council in November of 2024 to prevent homelessness and displacement by offering affordable rent in the two units at the Mastick Senior Center to seniors who are low-income, earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income.
Strategy 2.2: Provide low-barrier, housing-focused temporary housing
Day Center Services: Day Center services continue to be provided by our partner The Village of Love. The current active contract extends services through to August 31, 2025.
Day Center Services currently include:
• Up to 17 overnight, emergency shelter beds,
• Up to 25 safe parking spots that are co-located with the Day Center and where individuals receive comparable services, and
• Four City-owned trailers to house up to five individuals with priority given to the medically fragile
Day Center Services gives the service provider, The Village of Love Foundation (VOL), the ability to offer immediate shelter and build relationships.
Emergency Supportive Housing at Alameda Point (up to 20 beds): Four City-owned homes offer up to 20 beds for individuals and families experiencing homelessness with on-site supportive services available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provided by VOL staff. In the first two quarters of fiscal year 2024-25, 31 unduplicated individuals were served through the program.
Dignity Village - Interim Supportive Housing (47 units, up to 61 beds): Since opening, Dignity Village has served 112 unduplicated individuals. Program participants receive housing navigation services, case management, facilities maintenance, 24/7 security services, onsite clinical care, and are served in the City of Alameda. In July of 2024, staff brought a recommendation to City Council (Council) to remove Five Keys as the social services provider and approve an agreement with Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) as a temporary social service provider for up to one year while staff conducted a comprehensive Request for Proposal process to identify a long-term provider. Staff issued a Request for Proposal for a new, permanent provider in August 2024. Ten responses were received. Staff identified Operation Dignity, Inc. (Operation Dignity) as the strongest applicant and the most likely agency to serve individuals experiencing homeless in Alameda with professionalism, compassion, and care.
Alameda Warming Shelter and Winter Warming Services (25 beds and 6 to 7 hotel rooms): Christ Episcopal Church (Christ Church) has subcontracted Episcopal Community Services (ECS) to provide up to 25 winter warming shelter beds for the season. ECS staff will rotate to three different Alameda-based parishes to serve overnight guests seven days a week. The Alameda Warming Shelter opened its doors for the season on December 1, 2024, serving an average of 12 individuals a night during the month of December. Building Futures will place and offer case management for individuals living on the streets to shelter indoors in a hotel room for the duration of the winter months. Medically fragile individuals and seniors are prioritized to be housed through Winter Warming Services in the hotel program.
Strategy 2.3: Expand outreach and supportive services to unsheltered households
Showers and Laundry services: The City continues to contract with WeHOPE to provide weekly showers and laundry through their Dignity on Wheels program. Services are hosted at the Day Center in collaboration with Village of Love (VOL) services as well as the mid-County Housing Resource Center, which is staffed by Building Futures. Christ Episcopal Church (Christ Church) opens their shower program on a weekly basis, and twice a week during Winter Warming Shelter months.
Mobile/Street Outreach: VOL’s renewed agreement was approved in June of 2024 and extends through to September 2025. Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) services will continue to be available for seven days a week and an additional full-time position was approved for Mental Health Case Management for individuals living on the streets needing intensive care. VOL has been effective with identifying individuals in need, providing essential services like food and referrals, and getting individuals to accept services that help lead to housing and self-sufficiency.
Snacks & Support: Beginning in October 2024, Snacks & Support provides art therapy, coffee, and refreshments to adult library patrons experiencing trauma associated with the inability to afford and/or maintain housing or secure food on a regular basis. HHS works closely with Alameda Free Library staff to welcome regular library patrons to the program with the intention of developing trusting relationships that can lead to referrals for social services. Snacks & Support runs every third Wednesday of the month from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Coffee is donated to the program by Starbucks on Bay Farm and two volunteer art therapists staff the program with support from Library and HHS staff.
Strategy 3.2: Strengthen the homeless response system infrastructure
Housing and Human Services: Effective July 1, 2023, the Housing and Human Services division of the City Manager Office was formed and reports to the Assistant City Manager. The Housing and Human Services (HHS) Division facilitates the preservation, rehabilitation and construction of affordable housing in Alameda; supports residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by providing services and shelter, as well as offering flexible funding; implements the affordable housing requirements of the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance; manages grants that support the construction of new affordable housing; and collaborates with community and social service providers whose programs preserve safety net services for low-income residents, including, but not limited to children, youth, seniors and persons with disabilities. HHS staff also support the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) and the Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth and their Families (ACCYF).
Collaborative Process: City staff continue to support two reoccurring social service provider meeting spaces - Coordinated Outreach Team (COT) and Collaboration for Advancing Resources, Efforts, and Supports for Alameda’s Homeless (CARES). Both spaces are leveraged for the sharing of resources and coordination of services across the island. COT directly focuses on homelessness and homeless prevention.
CDBG Needs Statement: On December 3, City Council held a public hearing to consider approval of the housing and community development needs for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan. As an entitlement recipient of CDBG funds, the City of Alameda receives approximately $1.15 million each year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CDBG regulations require that an annual public hearing be held to obtain views on current housing and community development needs relating to the Action Plan. The public hearing provides an opportunity for public input for FY 2025-26 initiatives and will aid city staff in identifying local priorities and uses for two sources of federal funds: CDBG and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the status report on Services for People Experiencing Homelessness, Housing, and Human Services in the City of Alameda.
Respectfully submitted,
C’Mone Falls, Housing and Human Services Manager
Grecia Mannah-Ayon, Housing and Human Services Program Manager