NBC Bay Area
– by Velena Jones
Alameda County is making a historic investment in homelessness solutions.
Supervisors voted late Tuesday to allocate over $1.4 billion to address and prevent homelessness countywide.
“We are talking about helping to prevent thousands of people from becoming homeless, creating hundreds, if not more, interim housing units so that when cities close encampments there is actual shelter that we can move people into,” Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas said.
Of Measure W’s anticipated $170 million-per-year revenue, 80% will go toward homelessness solutions, including services and permanent housing, and 20% will go toward essential county services in the face of state and federal budget shortfalls.
Bas said homeless advocates and the unhoused population will have a voice.
“We need people with lived experiences in homelessness to see how do we implement these funds,” she said. “We want these funds to be accountable, transparent and deliver results.”
Bas wanted 90% of the money to go toward homelessness. The board went with 80% but agreed if Measure W brings in more than expected, any additional dollars will go toward homelessness solutions as well, which could turn into $120 million more.
Measure W funds come from a sales tax passed in 2020, promoted to help address homelessness. Fourteen mayors along with homeless advocates argue 90% – if not all 100% – of the money should go toward the homelessness crisis.
“I feel frustrated, and I feel like a lot of us are feeling pretty betrayed,” said Kari Malkki with Restore Oakland. “We’re going to keep fighting and we are going to try our best to have that 80% go towards actual evidence-based, equity-driven solutions that support our most marginalized communities.”
Despite a court battle, a judge ruled this year that the funds could be used for anything by the county. Homeless Action Center urged supervisors to reconsider.
“We think that in order to really make progress around getting people housed and off the street, we need the maximum amount of funding to go towards homelessness,” Homeless Action Center Development Director Jonathon Marley said.
Read the full article at NBCBayArea.com.