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Alameda County approves $10.95M in Measure W funds for food security and immigrant services; staff to solicit shelter proposals
Summary
The Board approved an additional $10.95 million from Measure W for food security, immigrant/refugee coordination and shelter support, and directed staff to solicit provider proposals and return with contracts; officials outlined steps to mitigate delayed November CalFresh benefits.
Alameda County's Board of Supervisors on Oct. 28 approved an additional $10,950,000 in Measure W funding to shore up food security, immigrant and refugee coordination, and support for emergency shelters.
The vote — recorded as 'Aye' from Supervisors Marquez, Miley and Fortunato Bass, with Supervisors Tam and President Halbert excused — followed staff presentations from the Social Services Agency and Alameda County Health. County staff said the measure will augment existing contracts to close cost gaps for emergency shelter providers, fund pop‑up food distributions and support an interim immigrant-refugee coordination role.
"CalFresh benefits are funded for the month of October 2025. However, November 2025 benefits will be delayed," Andrea Ford, Agency Director for Social Services, said as she described mitigation steps including free food distribution pop‑ups at SSA office locations and referrals to home grocery delivery programs.
Anika Choudhury, interim director for Alameda County Health, said the Social Services Agency administers about 751 emergency shelter beds across 14 providers and proposed transitioning administration of SSA‑funded emergency shelters to AC Health's Housing and Homelessness team by January 2027. "The intent is that by January 2027, we would come back to the Board with that transition completion as well as new shelter standards," Choudhury said.
Board documents summarized Measure W’s overall allocations: an estimated $1.83 billion over the measure’s life, with $1.4 billion designated for the Home Together Fund, $258 million for the Essential County Services Fund and a $170 million prudent reserve. The $10.95 million approved Oct. 28 includes $8.3 million to the Alameda County Community Food Bank and $450,000 for interim immigrant and refugee services staffing.
Supervisor Fortunato Bass praised the allocations and noted the county's need to respond to elevated community fear and enforcement concerns: "The $450,000 ... is critical to making sure that we've got some interim staffing to support the community‑based organizations that are doing rapid response," she said.
Staff were directed to solicit provider proposals with composite budgets, negotiate contracts or amendments as appropriate, and return to the Board for formal contract approvals. A status update on responses to a recent state audit of the county’s Department of Children and Family Services is scheduled for the Board's Nov. 28 work session.
The Board's action also included a commitment to a five‑year strategic planning process and a needs assessment related to Measure W allocations; staff said estimated annual Measure W receipts allocated to essential services are approximately $34 million per year.
The matter passed on the roll call taken at the meeting; items requiring a four‑fifths vote were continued to a 2:00 p.m. special meeting per staff request.
