In a recent meeting of the Family Human Services Committee, officials discussed the allocation of Measure X funding aimed at addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in the county. The recommendations presented align with priority areas outlined in the Request for Proposals (RFP), with a significant focus on renewal projects that received the majority of available funds.

The funding distribution revealed that new projects were allocated the next largest share, while capacity-building initiatives received approximately $250,000. The recommended projects are designed to serve a diverse range of vulnerable populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness, communities of color, families with minor children, transition-age youth, survivors of domestic violence, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Geographically, the projects are spread across the county, targeting areas with the highest rates of homelessness.

Notably, 100% of the capacity-building grants are directed towards small nonprofit organizations, many of which are led by Black and Indigenous individuals. These organizations have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving populations of color, with an average of 79% of their clients identifying as such.

Despite the comprehensive approach to funding, the committee acknowledged a significant gap between the demand for housing services and available resources. The Measure X funding request totaled over $11.4 million, yet only $3.8 million was available for allocation, resulting in 58% of new and capacity-building projects being deemed ineligible for funding. This underscored the ongoing challenge of addressing homelessness in the community, as even with additional leveraged funds, the resources remain insufficient to meet the growing needs.