Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Márquez and Alameda County’s health department hosted an event in Union City on Dec. 8 to address the county’s response to homelessness.
The event took place at the Ruggieri Senior Center, where the city designated the lot as part of the CAREavan Safe Overnight Parking Program for temporarily unhoused individuals/families living in vehicles. “I want to acknowledge the City of Union City for doing their part,” Márquez said.
Other safe parking locations include St. Anne’s Church and Holly Community Center. Our Lady of the Rosary Church and Centro de Servicios in Union City offer free meals for people experiencing homelessness.
Jonathan Russell, director of Housing and Homelessness for Alameda County Health, presented at the event. “Between just 2020 and 2024, the number of people served…increased by 44%. So, significant growth and need,” he said. The county’s homelessness plan will continue to the year 2030, where feedback about housing will be added. Russell said that includes accessible mixed housing.
Former and currently unhoused youth from the Alameda County Youth Advisory Board presented. They said the youth have multiple struggles when experiencing homelessness. They include being part of the foster care system, being formerly incarcerated, drug and alcohol abuse, and being a young parent.
Melissa Moore, with seven years of lived experience being homeless, said there is a huge need for behavioral health specialists, since mental health issues are exacerbated by homelessness. She said the process of encampment sweeping causes people to be “re-traumatized” over and over again because of the short notice and no place to put away their things. Shelters can also be difficult for people with conditions like schizophrenia, which can be affected by being around people.
