East Bay residents meet in Union City to discuss county homelessness

"UNION CITY - At the Ruggieri Senior Center on Monday night in Union City, East Bay residents and local officials gathered to discuss ways to weather the storm for homeless residents in the face of potentially millions of dollars in federal funding cuts for housing. Hosted by Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Marquez, over a dozen community members gathered to analyze the issues homeless residents and lawmakers face as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers chopping between $33 to $60 million in federal housing funding from the county's budget."

""We have a real risk when it comes to federal homeless resources," Jonathan Russell, director of the county's Health Housing and Homelessness Services department said at the senior center, which also provides safe parking for homeless residents living in vehicles at night. As the county faces the financial loss, officials and residents are left trying to figure out how to make up for that funding in a region that is in the middle of a housing crisis. Officials said that affordable housing and shelter beds continue to be some of the top needs for homeless residents in the county."

"With funds now available through Measure W, a controversial $1.4 billion, 10 year, half-cent parcel tax voters passed in 2020 to fund homeless services and resources, local lawmakers are expected to make significant strides to get homeless people housed. According to a 2024 count, there were 9,450 homeless people in Alameda County, including 6,343 people living unsheltered. Measure W is expected to provide the county about $153 million per year in homeless services funding, which sunsets after 2030."

County leaders and East Bay residents convened at Ruggieri Senior Center to confront possible HUD cuts of $33 to $60 million to local housing funding. County officials identified affordable housing and shelter beds as top needs amid a regional housing crisis and noted risk to federal homeless resources. Measure W, a voter-approved $1.4 billion parcel tax, is expected to supply roughly $153 million annually for homeless services until 2030 and recently had funds released after a lawsuit. A 2024 count found 9,450 homeless people in Alameda County, including 6,343 unsheltered; officials expect new shelter beds by February 2026.

Read at The Mercury News