Title
City of Alameda’s Initiatives to Support its Unhoused Residents
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: City of Alameda’s Initiatives to Support its Unhoused Residents
BACKGROUND
Alameda has always had neighbors who are unhoused. Jean Sweeney Open Space Park had a large encampment of homeless individuals, a site tucked away from public view for decades where some occupants called it home for ten or more years. The breakup of the encampment in 2016 to make room for the construction of the new park resulted in our unhoused neighbors who were living at Jean Sweeney Open Space Park to scatter all over the island, despite attempts by the City, through a contact with a service provider, to connect impacted individuals to housing and supportive services. Spiking rents, coupled with a lack of affordable housing stock available for low-income individuals and families, have contributed to the issue of homelessness and created more unhoused residents in Alameda, the region, and the entire state of California. Alameda’s homeless is more exposed and visible than ever before.
The Point-In-Time (PIT) count is a federally mandated biennial accounting of the local homeless population conducted during the last ten days in January. Alameda County’s latest PIT count was conducted in January 30, 2019. According to the 2019 PIT, there are now 8,022 people experiencing homelessness in Alameda County, an increase of 43% from two years ago, and the highest increase among Bay Area counties. The City of Alameda’s homeless population had an uptick of 13% to 231 people, compared to the last count conducted in 2017.
DISCUSSION
Community Development Department staff will present to the Recreation and Park Commission (“Commission”) on the City of Alameda’s response to address homelessness in our community. The presentation will include an overview of the City’s investments in programs to support the homeless, including the projects that will be funded through Alameda’s $756,524 allocation from the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and other grants anticipated from the State. Feedback from the Commission on the planned projects and suggestions to tackle homelessness in our city are welcome.
RECOMMENDATION
To review and discuss the City of Alameda’s initiatives to support its unhoused residents.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Authored by,
Ana Bagtas, Community Development Analyst