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Alameda supervisors adopt Measure W spending framework; staff to return with 5‑year plan
Summary
The Board approved a one‑year Measure W spending framework to deploy onetime and FY26 Measure W dollars for homelessness, affordable‑housing predevelopment, shelter stabilization, food security and immigrant supports while staff builds capacity and returns with a detailed five‑year plan early next year.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors directed staff to adopt a one‑year expenditure framework for Measure W on Tuesday, authorizing immediate, targeted spending for housing, shelter stabilization, food security and services for vulnerable residents while staff prepares a comprehensive five‑year plan.
The framework sets aside $64.35 million for immediate use this fiscal year from a mix of accrued Measure W receipts and the FY26 ongoing allocation. Key one‑time investments include capital predevelopment for county‑owned affordable housing ($18 million), additional capital for unincorporated‑area housing ($9 million), and $3 million as a flexible contingency to respond to urgent essential service needs. The plan also earmarks funds for supplemental food programs, senior services and immigrant supports and preserves roughly $23.85 million in accrued funds for the multi‑year strategy.
Why it matters: Measure W is a 10‑year half‑cent sales tax the county voters approved to fund homelessness and essential county services. County officials said the approach balances urgent short‑term needs with a deliberate buildout of administrative and procurement capacity needed to manage larger multiyear investments and to protect against federal and state funding disruptions.
Home Together Fund update: County health and housing staff reported progress on the Home Together Fund element of Measure W, including an executed contract for a flexible housing subsidy pool (up to $150 million over five years) and a procurement to add roughly 300 interim housing units next winter. Jonathan Russell, director of Alameda County Health’s housing and homelessness programs, told the board the flexible pool and interim housing procurements are already in motion and that staff plans to launch program activity as hiring and contracting allow.
Shelter stabilization: Supervisors asked staff to accelerate a proposed increase to the county “bed‑night” rate that reimburses operators for shelter operations. County staff estimated roughly $15 million a year would be needed to bring county‑funded shelter sites to a full cost‑of‑operations rate; the board asked staff to expedite a formal recommendation and implementation.
Budget, staffing and risks: Health staff said an additional 41 full‑time equivalent positions across the county’s housing and homelessness office would be needed to administer Measure W programs and monitor performance. Speakers also flagged emerging federal actions—particularly changes to Medicaid and HUD funding—that could reduce ongoing revenue for permanent supportive housing. Staff warned such federal shifts could create multi‑million‑dollar gaps and said the county will monitor developments and adjust allocations as needed.
Public input and next steps: More than 100 residents and nonprofit representatives urged the board to prioritize food security, senior meal programs, LIHEAP utility assistance, and prevention‑oriented mental‑health services for immigrant and other underserved communities. The board adopted the one‑year framework and asked staff to return with refined allocations and a proposed augmentation package for discussion at an October work session and a full five‑year expenditure plan in early 2026.
Attribution: Board actions and staff presentations are summarized from county staff remarks and public testimony during the September 30 Board of Supervisors meeting. Direct program names and funding numbers above are based on staff presentation and board direction given on the record.
