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Alameda County staff to issue first Measure W capital RFP, aims to add shelter beds and speed housing
Summary
County staff told the Board of Supervisors they will issue a roughly $40 million capital RFP as the first release of Measure W housing capital funds to leverage state tax credits and add units for people experiencing homelessness; staff also outlined a two‑part plan to raise bed‑night rates and transition shelter operations.
Alameda County officials said Thursday they will seek developers for an initial $40 million capital round under Measure W to speed creation of permanent and supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. County Director Jonathan Russell said the first RFP could be released as soon as this week and is intended to help near‑shovel projects access tax credits and other state financing more quickly. "That would be approximately $40,000,000 released in this 1st RFP," Russell said during the Board of Supervisors’ Oct. 21 meeting.
The capital RFP is only one piece of a two‑part approach staff presented. County leaders said they will also increase the bed‑night rate used to pay shelter operators and transition administrative oversight for many county‑funded shelter contracts to Alameda County Health, Housing and Homelessness Services (H&H). Staff said about 300 interim beds are expected to come online between December and February, and that by January 2027 the county intends to be the full operational funder and contract holder for roughly 1,000 shelter beds when the new rate and structure are fully in place.
Why it matters: County staff framed the RFP as a time‑sensitive tool to make near‑ready projects more competitive for state tax credits and other capital sources. Russell and other staff argued the local Measure W dollars can be used as a “last‑in” source to close financing gaps and accelerate production, arguing a relatively small local investment can unlock substantially larger state and federal resources.
How it would work: The RFP will prioritize projects already in the pipeline and require local jurisdiction support letters; staff told supervisors the goal is to concentrate funding on projects that can break ground quickly and that can access tax credits in the 2026 application rounds. The county also plans additional capital rounds next year focused on acquisition and rehabilitation to bring units online faster.
Next steps: Staff said they will release the first RFP immediately if approved administratively, aim to complete awards quickly (staff estimated a 45‑day review window in some cases) and return to the board with more detail on award recommendations and project scoring. The board also asked staff to provide project‑level fair‑market and subsidy calculations for units funded by Measure W as RFP decisions are considered.
