The Road Home: Alameda's 5-Year Plan to Prevent and
Respond to Homelessness (2021 - 2025)
This presentation provides an overview of the final progress report of the 'The Road Home', Alameda's strategic plan to prevent and respond to homelessness in Alameda
Overview of Needs Assessment
Causes of housing instability
and homelessness
Lack of affordable housing, high
cost of living, discriminatory
policies, barriers for vulnerable
populations
Seven primary needs to
prevent and end
homelessness
Increase affordable housing, provide
flexible financial resources, utilize low-
barrier shelter, enhance supportive
services, expand data collection, ensure
sustainable funding, improve
coordination
Stakeholder engagement
informed the plan
Identified key drivers of
homelessness through
collaboration with community
partners
The Road Home Plan was driven by a collaborative city-wide information gathering process leading to the development of a housing and homelessness needs assessment in Alameda Overview of the Road Home Plan
Roadmap to prevent and reduce
first-time homelessness
Reduce chronic homelessness
The plan aims to provide long-term, stable
housing solutions and supportive services to
help those experiencing chronic
homelessness break the cycle and maintain
permanent housing.
Shorten time spent homeless
By implementing low-barrier, housing-focused
shelter and services, the plan seeks to quickly
move individuals and families into permanent
housing, reducing the duration of their
homelessness.
The Road Home Plan provides a comprehensive and strategic approach to address the complex issue of homelessness in Alameda, with a focus on prevention, intervention, and long-term solutions to create a more equitable and sustainable future for all Alamedans.
The plan provides a comprehensive strategy
to address the root causes of homelessness
and help individuals and families avoid
becoming homeless for the first time.
Overview of the Road Home Plan
Address disparities for individuals
experiencing homelessness
Decrease returns to homelessness
The plan emphasizes the importance of providing
ongoing support and resources to help previously
homeless individuals and families maintain their
housing and avoid falling back into homelessness.
The plan addresses underlying barriers
such as affordability, discrimination, and
access to services utilizing county-wide
equity centered efforts.
Goals and Outcomes
Goal 1: Secure a Housing
Future for All Alamedans
• Adopted the Alameda General Plan
2040 and 2023-2031 Housing
Element to guide future
development.
• Built 82 low-to moderate-income
homes for sale and added 182
affordable rental units since 2021.
• Expected to produce 816 - 875
affordable housing units from 2027
- 2029.
Goal 2: Increase Access to
Homeless Emergency
Response Services
• Opened four shelter programs,
including three year-round and one
seasonal winter program increasing
the number of shelter beds to 140.
• Initiated outreach services and
transitioned to a five-person
Engagement Team.
• Provided shower and hygiene
services three times a week, with
plans for expanded services with a
new Day Center.
Goal 3: Mobilize Citywide
Response to
Homelessness• Developed the CARE Team in 2021
to support residents regardless of
income level and housing status
experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Held collaborative meetings with
service providers to ensure clients
receive relevant services and
worked with partner agencies
including ARPD, APW, APD, BRED,
AFD, and Library to support the
homeless and housed community.
• Prioritized local funds as match for
new and existing federal, state, and
county funding.
Increasing Access to Homeless Emergency Response Services Increased Shelter Capacity
The City opened 4 shelter programs,
including 3 year-round and 1
seasonal winter program, providing
a total of 128 beds as of FY 25/26
with plans to increase the Day
Center's capacity to 30 beds in
2026. In addition, HHS funds beds
at Midway Shelter for women and
children and a 25-space safe
parking program for adults living in
vehicles.
Expanded Flexible Funding
The city developed a homeless
prevention program in 2025 that
provides individualized case
management and flexible funds to
assist households at risk of
homelessness with expenses like
rental arrears. Doubled the cap on
one-time flexible funding grants to
$1,500 per household without
reducing the number served.
Strengthened Homeless
Response Infrastructure
Ensured local programs participate in
the Countywide Coordinated Entry
System and Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS), added
staff capacity to coordinate housing
and supportive services, initiating an
Engagement Team in 2025 to conduct
outreach and engagement services
across the City, including at the
Alameda Free Library, and coordinate
client support plans with partners.
Affordable Housing Efforts
82 low-to moderate-income homes
for sale
Since October 2021, the city has built 82 low-to
moderate income homes for sale as part of the Below
market Rate (BMR) Home Ownership Program.
Permanent supportive housing and
housing for seniors
The City has invested in permanent supportive housing
and housing for seniors and veterans operated by the
Alameda Housing Authority. This includes over 150
units at Linnet Corner and Estuary 1 and 2.
182 affordable rental units
During the same time, the city has added 182
affordable rental units to the BMR Rental Program as
part of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
Future affordable housing pipeline
The future affordable housing pipeline is estimated to
produce 816 - 875 units during 2027 - 2029.
Below Market Rate Units by Income
451
46%
50% AMI
377
38%
80% AMI
109
11%
60% AMI
45 5%
Number of Rental BMR Units
by Income Level
38 46%
120% AMI
22 27%
50% AMI
22 27%
80% AMI
Number of Ownership BMR Units
by Income Level
120% AMI
Funding
HHS manages millions of recurring funds
through federal, state, and county grants. The
division is responsible for receiving affordable
housing fees and reallocating this funds to
expand housing on the island. In addition, HHS
has secured over $15 million in one-time
funding for shelter to address homelessness
and continues to seek additional funding
opportunities. The city is working closely with
various partners, including Alameda County,
Alameda Housing Authority, and local service
providers, to leverage these funds and
implement strategies to prevent and end
homelessness in the community.
Highlight of People Served Through Unhoused
ServicesHHS has supported over 1,000 individuals through shelter services Category Number of People Served
Day Center 693
Midway Shelter 232
Seniors (55+) 332
Children (under 18) 173
Chronically Homeless 737
Veterans 44
Number of Participants Permanently Housed
Through Dignity Village
Dignity Village has served over 76 individuals
Alameda's comprehensive plan, The Road
Home, outlines a strategic approach to
address the complex issue of
homelessness in the city. The final report
highlights extensive accomplishments in
addressing homelessness as well as the
ongoing need for more affordable
housing, maintaining staff capacity, and
funding for services. The city remains
committed to working with partners,
leveraging funding, and implementing the
strategies outlined in the plan to prevent
and end homelessness in Alameda.
HHS is working on developing an updated
division-wide strategic plan for the next
five fiscal years.
The HUD Point in Time Count and How You Can Help
The HUD Point in Time Count
The Point in Time (PIT) Count is a
federally mandated annual survey that
estimates the number of people
experiencing homelessness on a single
night in January. The data collected
helps secure vital funding for the city to
address homelessness. This year the
count will take place on Thursday,
January 22nd.
Request for Volunteers to
ParticipateHHS is seeking volunteers to help
conduct the 2026 Point in Time Count
in Alameda. This citywide survey
provides crucial information to support
homelessness services and programs.
These numbers inform how HUD
distributes funds across jurisdictions.
Donation Drive for PIT Count
The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)
from the HHS led Alameda
Collaborative for Children, Youth, and
their Families (ACCYF) is collecting
donations to support the 2026 Point
in Time Count. Donated items will be
distributed to individuals and families
experiencing homelessness during
the survey to meet their immediate
needs.
The Point in Time Count is a vital tool for the City of Alameda to understand the scope of homelessness and secure funding to address this critical issue. The community's participation through volunteering and donations will directly contribute to the success of this important initiative.