November 19, 2024
HHS Manager C’Mone Falls
Social Service Manager Marcie Soslau Johnson
SSHRB President Scott Means
SSHRB Member Michelle Buchholtz
The Road Home • The Road Home: A Five-Year Strategic Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness
in Alameda (2021-2026)
• Mission: Prevent homelessness,
address disparities, reduce chronic
homelessness, and minimize time
spent homeless
• Challenges: Affordable housing
shortage, high cost of living, stigma,
and barriers to housing for vulnerable
populations
• Goals: Secure a housing future for all
Alamedans, increase access to
homeless emergency response
services, and mobilize the City
response to homelessnesss
Goal 1: Secure a Housing Future for All Alamedans
Key Strategies: Inventory of available land for reuse or development, expansion of affordable housing, development of local policy to protect housing, and landlord incentives Progress:
• Adoption of The General Plan and the Housing Element
• Inventoried unused, underutilized, and available properties • All residential and mixed zone districts permit multi-family and shared housing • Implemented affordable housing lottery preference points • Developed a landlord incentive program
• Added 226 new units of affordable housing, with 1,300 units authorized and in development Goal 2: Increase Access to Homeless Emergency
Response Services
Key Strategies: Flexible funding for prevention, diversion and housing retention, low-barrier shelter expansion, and outreach and engagement to the unhoused
Progress:
• Rise Up Alameda, a pilot guaranteed income program provides support to low-income households • Hired a Community Outreach Specialist to connect individuals and families to essential resources • Created street outreach and engagement programs
• Street Homeless Outreach Team now operates seven days a week • Alameda CARE team provides a 24/7 alternative response to all non-criminal individuals facing a mental health crisis
• Increased Temporary and Emergency Shelter Capacity
• Dignity Village 47 low-barrier, private, interim shelter units • 24 beds Emergency Supportive Housing
• Shelter capacity increased by 10 new beds at the Day Center Overnight program • Enhanced supportive services through shower and laundry provided at the Day Center Goal 3: Mobilize the City Response to Homelessness
Key Strategies: Strengthen the homeless response system, engage the community in workforce development programs, expand community involvement, improve data collection and coordination of services
Progress:
• Engaged 76 community volunteers for the 2024 Point-in-Time Count • Continued collaborations with local nonprofits and faith-based groups for meal services and warming shelters
• Implemented comprehensive data collection by all service providers through HMIS • Developed Coordination Meetings
• Coordinated Outreach Team (COT)
• Collaborating and Advancing Resources, Efforts, and Supports for Alameda's Homeless (CARES) Team
• Needs Assessment
Needs Assessment
Key Strategies: Focused on The Road Home goals and centered around the creation of the Housing and Human Services
division of the City Manager’s Office, the Needs Assessment coordination meetings help providers share resources and identify gaps experienced by people in need.
Progress:
• January 11, 2024, Director’s Roundtable
• January 23, 2024, Community Partner Breakfast Meeting • Commitment to continued conversations
Data Driven Services and Planning
Provider # of Beds Prior to
2021
# of Beds
2024
Day Center Overnight 7 17
Dignity Village N/A 61
Emergency Shelter Housing N/A 24
Midway Shelter 25 25
Total 32 127
• 100% of programs participate in HMIS
• 150 low-income residents were enrolled in Rise Up Alameda • 1,226 individuals have been served at the Day Center since 2020 • 94 people have been housed by Dignity Village since May 2023 Identified Needs and Challenges to Success
Challenges Identified: Increased homelessness, rising demand for affordable housing, staff shortages and the need for permanent supportive housing Continued focus:
• Expand community engagement to strengthen partnerships and expand educational opportunities
• Mental health services and resources
• Homeless prevention and permanent housing placement assistance • Additional staffing, training, and resources for service providers including sustainable wages or alternative supports
• Increased housing and non-congregate shelter capacity, especially for large families and seniors • Secure funding and resources to continue expanding supportive services Conclusions
• Achievements: Significant progress in housing solutions, shelter capacity, and emergency services.
• Ongoing Work: Address the remaining needs, including
sustainable funding and housing access.
• Final Note: Continued community and government
communication and collaboration is essential to meet long- term goals.