Contra Costa County Housing Authority adopts 2025–26 budget as staff warn of possible federal cuts to voucher programs

The Contra Costa County Housing Authority on March 11 approved its annual agency budget for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, and unanimously received a report on workforce vacancies and recruitment efforts as staff warned of possible federal cuts to homeless assistance programs, including the Emergency Housing Voucher program.

Cherry Anderson, housing authority staff, told commissioners the hearing on vacancies was conducted in response to a state legislative requirement cited in the meeting as "AB 25 61," which, she said, requires public agencies to present vacancy status and recruitment and retention efforts at least once per fiscal year prior to adoption of the agency's final budget. Anderson said the authority has two bargaining units represented by AFSCME PEU Local 1 and reported vacancy rates below 20% in each unit. "We have less than 20% vacancy rates," Anderson said. She described steps the authority is taking to improve recruitment and retention, including changing minimum qualifications for some entry-level positions, updating job descriptions with overlapping duties and using new advertising channels. "We've shifted to keeping some key positions continually open for applications," she said.

Anderson also presented the budget and emphasized it must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to meet HUD requirements. She characterized the draft budget as a "best case scenario" and said it includes an $1,800,000 loss on the public housing side. "This budget has a $1,800,000 loss on the public housing side," Anderson said, adding that the authority's reserves are "a little less than 5%" and that HUD sometimes reallocates funds among housing authorities.

On federal funding for homeless programs, Anderson said the authority recently received a surprise cut to the Emergency Housing Voucher program. She said the county has 201 Emergency Housing Vouchers and that, in Contra Costa's case, the program currently has about 19 months of funding remaining. "We have 201 vouchers on this program," Anderson said. "We were told ... for us, we have about 19 months of funding left." She said the housing authority is attending legislative meetings in Washington, D.C., to seek clarity and that HUD headquarters has been tight-lipped about plans.

Anderson noted the authority had just received an award related to a foster-youth initiative for transitional-age youth administered with the county's Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) and that service partners for homeless programs include Hope Solutions and EHSD. She told commissioners the authority operates roughly 1,500 homeless-specific targeted programs with associated services. "All of these programs, we have about 1,500, homeless specific targeted programs that come with services," she said.

During the meeting, the housing authority also took routine votes. The commission approved acceptance of the investment report listed as consent item C1 and later approved the motion to receive the workforce vacancies and recruitment and retention report. The commission then approved the annual agency budget and adopted PHA board Resolution 5,267, which was submitted on a HUD form referenced in the meeting as "5,552,574." All recorded motions on the agenda passed on unanimous 7–0 votes.

The meeting included no public comments on the consent item, the workforce hearing or the budget. The housing authority adjourned after thanking representatives Cynthia and Joanne for attending and said it would proceed to a separate Contra Costa Fire Protection District board meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Consent item C1 — Receive investment report: motion passed 7–0 (mover: not specified; second: Commissioner Carlson). - Receive report on workforce vacancies and recruitment/retention (hearing required under cited "AB 25 61"): motion passed 7–0 (mover: not specified; second: Commissioner Segura). - Approve annual agency budget for fiscal year ending 03/31/2026 and adopt PHA board Resolution 5,267 (HUD form referenced as 5,552,574): motion passed 7–0 (mover: not specified; second: not specified).