After years of legal delays, Alameda County is moving forward with a sweeping $1.8 billion plan to tackle homelessness and support other essential services. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the spending strategy in July, marking the first time voter-approved Measure W funds can be used since the tax passed in 2020.
The half-cent sales tax, intended for housing, homelessness programs, behavioral health care, and other community services, began generating revenue in 2021. But a lawsuit from the Alameda County Taxpayers Association stalled spending until a court ruling in April cleared the way. The county has collected about $810 million so far and expects to raise another $1 billion before the tax expires in 2031.
Under the adopted plan, about $1.4 billion will go directly toward homelessness and housing, $260 million will support other county services, and $170 million will be set aside in reserves to protect against economic downturns and potential state or federal funding cuts. Most of the housing and homelessness money will feed into the “Home Together Fund,” projected to collect $136 million annually for prevention programs, shelter expansion, and permanent housing.
The urgency is clear: between 2019 and 2024, the county’s homeless population rose 18% to nearly 9,450 people, with Oakland accounting for more than half. The number of residents living outdoors or in vehicles nearly doubled during that time.
Community members and advocates packed the meeting to share support and concerns. Some argued the reserve should be smaller, pushing for more direct spending on homeless services. Others defended reserve funds and stabilization measures as necessary to keep affordable housing providers afloat.The board will revisit certain contested items, including a proposed $15 million fund to assist struggling nonprofit housing groups, at a later date.
