City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 14 February 10, 2026 Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 4.1
DATE: February 10, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Informational Report on Union City's Homelessness Response Efforts – February 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and accept this informational report on the City’s homelessness response efforts. City Council is invited to ask any clarifying questions and/or to provide direction to staff on the programs staff should focus on, especially if the focus is different than what has been outlined.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This informational report is in alignment with the following City Council Priority:
Goal C: Economic, Community Development, and Public Safety Strategy 3: Assess needs and identify appropriate services to support unhoused individuals and families in collaboration with community organizations and the County of Alameda, as well as develop internal response protocols and a communications strategy to provide regular status updates to City Council, commissions, and the general public.
BACKGROUND
The City of Union City adopted a five-year Strategic Plan in 2019. On September 26, 2023, the City Council adopted the Strategic Plan FY 2019-2020 through FY 2024-2025 Final Update, which served as an opportunity for the Council to review progress and establish priorities for the remaining two years of the Strategic Plan. The strategy to develop a multi-departmental approach to address homelessness through coordination with staff, community organizations, and Alameda County was initially adopted in the 2019 strategic plan and readopted in the 2023 final update.
At the City Council’s last Strategic Plan Session on August 23, 2025, it reaffirmed its priority goal area and strategic initiative to support unhoused individuals and families and to establish internal response protocols to address homelessness.
Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 14 February 10, 2026 Alameda County Home Together1 is Alameda County’s strategic plan for building a coordinated homeless response system that can meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness and reduce racial disparities. The Home Together 2026 Community Plan was adopted by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, the Conference of Mayors, the Oakland-Berkeley-Alameda County Continuum of Care, and cities across the county in 2022. The plan outlines strategies and action steps shaped by input from people with lived experience, system leaders, service providers, and partners in the homelessness response system.
Prioritized programs and projects2 include:
• Prevent homelessness for our residents
• Connect people to shelter and needed resources
• Increase housing solutions
• Strengthen coordination, communication, and capacity (across partners/systems) • One-Time Capital Investments
For the City of Union City, a similar policy framework is adopted while maintaining a person-centric service model. This is one of the hallmarks of an effective homelessness response system that focuses on those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, responds to their needs with dignity and respect, and identifies and addresses disparate access and results based on race, ethnicity, and other factors.
Legal Constraints, Response Framework, and Homelessness Taskforce As it relates to the homelessness response, the City recognizes the impact on public services, parks, and public spaces, including adverse effects on economic vitality and the overall community's environment and quality of life. The City has limited options and faces substantial legal barriers when it comes to mitigating homelessness and the impacts of encampments. For example, the City does not have the legal authority to remove unhoused residents from any property, regardless of whether it is public or private property. Therefore, Union City staff balance the need to abate homeless encampments with compliance with federal constitutional law, state policy, and local ordinances.
The Office of the California Governor released a model ordinance, Executive Order N-1- 24, in July 2024, to “address encampments with urgency and dignity” for local governments to adopt policies that include:3
• No person should face criminal punishment for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go.
• Encampment policies must prioritize shelter and services and ensure that people experiencing homelessness and their belongings are treated with respect. • Policies must not unduly limit the local authority from clearing encampments.
Officials must be able to enforce common-sense policies to protect residents' 1 Alameda County Home Together 2026, 5-year Plan to End Homelessness, https://homelessness.acgov.org/homelessness-assets/docs/reports/Home-Together-2026_Report_051022.pdf 2 Alameda County Health, Homelessness Prevention Framework A Companion to the Home Together Community Plan, https://homelessness.acgov.org/homelessness-assets/docs/ACH_Homelessness-PreventionFramework_021825.pdf 3 State of California, Office of the Governor, May 2025, Model Ordinance: Addressing Encampments with Urgency and Dignity, https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Encampment-Ordinance-formatted.pdf Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 3 of 14 February 10, 2026 health and safety and maintain public spaces.
Thus, City staff take a compassionate, integrated approach to addressing concerns about unhoused individuals. When the Homeless Program was established in 2022, a Homeless Program Coordinator was hired to manage client cases, facilitate outreach and respond to the concerns and needs of unsheltered individuals, coordinate resources and services through City and County partners, and organize action among Homelessness Taskforce members. The City now also has a dedicated Homeless Program Outreach Worker to support outreach and engagement with the CAREavan program, unhoused individuals, and encampments. These two positions are paid through grant funds.
Under the City’s response framework, upon observing or receiving a report regarding the presence of homeless individuals in the public right-of-way, Homeless Program staff will conduct outreach within forty-eight (48) hours. The goal of outreach is to engage our unhoused residents to connect with services to address both housing needs and barriers that impact housing instability, as individuals cannot be forcibly removed or cited for staying on public property, such as streets and sidewalks. Should a particular instance require property abatement and clean-up, this forty-eight (48) hour period may also serve as reasonable notice to owners of personal property located on public property if the City plans conduct property abatement. Any personal property removed by the City is then retained and stored for thirty (30) days so that individuals can reclaim their property.
The City’s homelessness response is accomplished through the Union City Homelessness Taskforce, a coordinated interdepartmental approach. The Homelessness Taskforce meets monthly and as often as needed, and consists of staff from multiple City departments, including the City Manager’s Office, Community and Recreation Services/Youth and Family Services Department, Economic and Community Development Department, Information Technology Services Department, Public Works Department, and Police Department. These meetings are used to review and coordinate responses to public complaints and concerns; discuss upcoming abatements, cleanups, and capital or maintenance projects that may affect the unhoused community; and share relevant information on services, trends, and upcoming events.
The goal of the Homeless Taskforce is to facilitate greater interdepartmental collaboration as departments work collectively to address the impacts of homelessness in Union City.
These meetings provide an opportunity to develop coordinated action plans related to encampments, programs, and events occurring throughout the City. The City also recognizes the importance of working effectively with local partners, including the County of Alameda and community and faith-based organizations, to address some of the community's shelter and service needs.
DISCUSSION
To best serve the unhoused community in Union City, staff strive to understand the City's existing conditions and gather reliable data to respond effectively and efficiently.
A. Alameda County and Union City Point-in-Time Count (PIT Count): Every two years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to conduct a Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of individuals, youth, and Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 4 of 14 February 10, 2026 families experiencing homelessness and provide specific data about their demographics and characteristics. While it serves as a “snapshot” of homelessness at a given time, the data from the PIT Count can help inform programs, policies, funding, and decisionmaking, as well as measure the progress of collective homelessness efforts.
Union City Homeless Program staff, in coordination with Alameda County Housing and Community Development and Health Care for the Homeless, recently conducted the biannual event on January 22, 2026, from 5:00 AM-10:00 AM. To effectively engage the unhoused community in the morning hours, the effort relies on City staff and volunteers. This year, Union City had 26 volunteers and City staff participate. It is anticipated that Alameda County will release preliminary findings from the PIT Count at the end of Spring 2026/early Summer 2026.
As a reminder, for the City of Union City, the 2024 PIT Census identified 191 unsheltered individuals, a decrease of approximately 60.94% from 2022, when 489 were identified.7 This was 3.01% of the unsheltered population and 2.02% of those experiencing homelessness in Alameda County.
B. Homeless Management Information System (HMIS): Alameda County's Coordinated Entry (CE) system is the County's unified entry point to services for residents experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. HMIS is a local information technology system used to collect and manage data on individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as well as on services. HMIS provides a standardized process to assess needs, prioritize individuals for housing/services, and efficiently connect them to resources such as shelters and support services, ensuring equity and focusing on ending homelessness.
Homeless Program staff utilize HMIS to assess the needs of the unhoused population and CAREavan participants. Due to the structure of Union City’s Homeless Program, current staff serve as a CE Limited Access Point to the HMIS platform because the program is not designated as a Housing Resource Center by Alameda County. It should also be noted that the information logged into the County’s data collection system is confidential in nature and is not publicly disclosed.
C. 2-1-1: The City of Union City contracts with Eden I&R, Inc., which manages the 2- 1-1 Program, a free, non-emergency, confidential, 3-digit phone number that is a countywide service providing easy access to housing information and critical health and human services. 2-1-1 operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with multilingual capabilities, connecting callers with nearby community resources.
In the latest 2-1-1 report for 2025 (through September 2025), 250 contacts were made, of which 74 unduplicated clients identified themselves as Union City residents experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis. 2-1-1 reports that a total 7 Alameda County Health, Housing and Homelessness Services, 2024 PIT Count Infographics by Jurisdiction, https://homelessness.acgov.org/homelessnessassets/docs/infographic/Union%20City%20PIT%202024%20Infographic.pdf Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 5 of 14 February 10, 2026 of 834 referrals were made, whether that would be to the County’s Coordinated Entry System, CAREavan, or any other local services.9
The City offers several programs and support services for the unhoused community and those at-risk of homelessness, which align with Union City’s Strategic Plan and the Alameda County Home Together Plan, including:
A. CAREavan Program: Since June 2016, a cornerstone of Union City’s homelessness efforts is the CAREavan Safe Parking Program, which provides families and/or individuals residing in their vehicles a safe place to park overnight.
The CAREavan program is funded through Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant funds and the General Fund.
Safe parking is available seven days a week at five locations throughout the City:
three community centers and two churches. Participants receive case management services to address psychosocial and health needs (medical and mental health care, access to public benefits and support services), coordinated support for long-term housing, and encampment resolution support.
As of July 1, 2025, to date, the CAREavan Program has served 57 registered vehicles, which equate to 70 adults, 10 children, and 22 pets. On average, there are approximately 22 vehicles and 25-30 individuals per night. The number of CAREavan contacts or interactions made by Homeless Program staff is estimated at 1,150. Although not all CAREavan participants wish to be registered in HMIS, CAREavan Program participants still have access to basic resources and case management services provided by the Homeless Program staff.
B. Case Management: Personalized support is provided through individual assessments that identify each participant’s housing, shelter, and service needs, along with connections to health advocacy, social services, and legal resources.
Staff work closely with every CAREavan participant, requiring at least one case management meeting per month to ensure ongoing engagement and support.
Although City staff have limited access to the Coordinated Entry system, they can complete crisis and housing assessments specifically for CAREavan Program participants. In addition, all individuals served – including CAREavan Program participants and street outreach clients – are entered into the County’s HMIS system. This ensures each individual has a documented profile that demonstrates engagement and receipt of assistance, while allowing staff to track needs, services provided, and progress over time.
C. Outreach and Engagement Services: Staff actively engage with unhoused individuals to connect them to essential services that support immediate well-being and promote long-term stability. Through partnerships with Abode Services and Tiburcio Vásquez Health Center, clients are connected to critical health care, housing navigation, and supportive services tailored to their individual needs. 9 2-1-1 Alameda County Summary By City, https://edenir.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/City-Summary-September2025.pdf Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 6 of 14 February 10, 2026 Since July 1, 2025, the Homeless Program staff have had 435 street outreach interactions. Additionally, the City has assisted with the long-term housing placement of seven CAREavan Program participants, including one family of four (from CAREavan) and one family of six (from street outreach).
D. Rapid Response: After observing or receiving a concern or complaint regarding an unhoused individual, encampment, RV or vehicle, makeshift structure, or debris/illegal dumping, the Homeless Program staff conducts an on-site assessment within forty-eight (48) hours. In addition to responding to reports, staff dedicate outreach time each week to proactively engage with the community, identify potential concerns, and connect with individuals experiencing homelessness.
The Homeless Program also supports clients experiencing emergencies or crises that require immediate assistance. This rapid response service is a core part of the City's support. Staff work quickly to assess the client’s current circumstances, address immediate needs to help stabilize the situation in the short term, and then collaborate with the client to identify longer-term solutions and services. This approach ensures timely intervention while maintaining a person-centered and compassionate response.
E. Encampment Response (Property Abatement & Clean-Up): The City follows strict legal guidelines when conducting encampment abatements. The process begins with an evaluation of site conditions to determine possible timing, taking into account the City’s available resources, potential impacts on residents, and operational priorities. Once an encampment abatement is scheduled, the Homeless Program staff posts notices at the location to provide at least 48 hours’ advance notice, allowing individuals time to relocate and connect with available services. The Homeless Program staff and the Police Department may also use the period prior to concentrate several visits to aid a smooth transition. On the scheduled abatement date, it is standard practice to have Public Works, Homeless Program, and Police Department staff present on-site to carry out the activities.
Dependent on the circumstances, the City may also engage a contractor to assist with such activities and other agencies as necessary (such as the Alameda County Fire Department).
Individuals can securely store their personal and valuable belongings. The Homeless Program staff, in coordination with Public Works, assists with the careful collection of eligible items and transports them to a secure storage location, where belongings may be stored for up to thirty (30) days for retrieval. This process is intended to minimize loss of personal property while supporting individuals through the transition.
Thus far this fiscal year, City staff have conducted 10 significant encampment abatements. Three abatements involved Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and two abatements involved Alameda County Water District (ACWD). The remaining were on City property. Staff also frequently receive requests and support UPRR, Caltrans, ACWD, Alameda County Flood Control District (ACFCD), and BART by Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 7 of 14 February 10, 2026 conducting outreach to residents in encampments within their right-of-way.
F. Fund Development/Grant Reporting: The Homeless Program Coordinator oversees grant compliance and reporting requirements for the City’s homelessness-related funding. This includes managing and entering required client and program data into the County’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), as well as completing all required reports and submitting grant funding reimbursement requests promptly.
The City currently administers two active grants – the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant and the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) grant. Each grant has distinct reporting standards, performance measures, and data-tracking requirements, all of which are monitored and maintained by the Homeless Program Coordinator to ensure compliance and continued funding. These grants cover the salaries of full- and part-time staff, as well as materials and supplies for the Homeless Program.
G. Interagency Coordination: Homelessness is a critical and growing concern for the City of Union City and has been identified as one of the City Council's top priorities. However, it is a complex social issue with many contributing factors that cannot be solved quickly or easily by a single agency or organization. Solutions require both immediate and long-term strategies, as well as partnerships with local, regional, and County agencies, private property owners, and community/faithbased organizations.
Staff continue to support and participate in the following multijurisdictional groups to ensure a coordinated approach to serving the unhoused community and to address any emerging regional and local concerns:
• Union City Homelessness Taskforce – Internal Interdepartmental Meeting (Meets Monthly and As Needed)
• Union City Collaboration Meeting – Union City Collaboration with Partner Agencies (Meets Monthly)
• Access Point Meetings – Alameda County Required Meetings for HMIS (Meets Monthly)
• Alameda County Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Meetings – Countywide Meeting to Discuss Unhoused Data (Meets Monthly and Continues to Meet Until Data is Released)
• Fremont Outreach Coordination – Collaborative Meeting with Tri-City Partners (Meets Every Other Week)
• South County Regional Housing Meeting – Regional Collaborative Meeting to Discuss Clients Possibly Being Housed and Case Conference with Different Agencies (Meets Monthly)
• Union City Family Center Collaborative – Collaborative Meeting with Tri-City Partners and Others to Discuss Local Resource Coordination and Support (Meets Every 3 Months)
• South County Partnership Meeting – Collaborative Meeting with Different Agencies on Events and Programs (Meets Monthly)
• Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless (ACHCH) Meeting – Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 8 of 14 February 10, 2026 Collaborative Meeting with County Departments and Other Collaborative Partners to Discuss Emerging Issues, Coordination of Services, and Local Support (Meets Monthly)
• ACHCH Trainings – County-Provided Professional Development and Capacity Building Training for County Partners and Providers (Trainings Offered Monthly)
• All City Meeting – Collaborative Meeting with Surrounding Cities to Address Unhoused Populations and Encampment Issues and Concerns (Meets Monthly)
Encampment Response in Fiscal Year 2025/2026
During Fiscal Year 2025/2026, through an interdepartmental approach, Union City’s Homelessness Taskforce collaborated with external organizations to address encampment abatement and blight concerns. City staff partnered with several organizations on an extensive response effort that has required significant staff time and resources. The following is a brief overview of a few encampment responses worth noting:
A. Old Alameda Creek (Arroyo Park/Isherwood Park):
• Since August 2025, the City of Union City has been working in collaboration with the City of Fremont to address Old Alameda Creek. Both cities had been providing resources and relocation support to everyone residing in the area, working closely with partner nonprofit service providers, including Abode Services and Bay Area Community Services, to address the encampment.
• Through the continued outreach efforts over several months, approximately 40 unhoused individuals in total have been determined to be residing in the area (11 of which were in Union City’s jurisdiction). Transitional housing and shelter options were identified (in Fremont’s jurisdiction) and were offered to all unhoused individuals who resided here. These options included the City of Fremont’s Housing Navigation Center and Winter Relief Program (which were two motel sites).
• Several staff from both cities are involved to aid in the phased closure of the general area. Unhoused individuals had gradually relocated voluntarily and accepted the housing and shelter options offered. Out of the 11 individuals located in Union City’s jurisdiction, 9 individuals accepted assistance (four were placed in the Housing Navigation Center and five were placed in the Winter Shelter).
• By mid-November 2025, all relocation, property abatement, and cleanup efforts were completed.
• In December 2025, the Public Works Department worked with a fencing contractor to completely (temporarily) fence off access to the area along the Arroyo Park side and a small portion of the Quarry Lakes Drive side. The area was also signed with a No Trespassing notice.
• City staff continue to monitor the area to address any reoccupation actively. • Approximately 114 total hours were spent by Homeless Program staff onsite, in planning meetings to coordinate the response, and meeting with individuals who resided in the area to aid in their transition. This does not Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 9 of 14 February 10, 2026 include Public Works Department staff time or Police Department overtime costs.
• Total Hard Costs: $32,500.00 ($20,000.00 property abatement and cleanup; $12,500.00 fencing)
B. Transit Avenue (Union Pacific Railroad Property):
• Between August 2025 and November 2025, the Homeless Program staff conducted outreach to unhoused individuals along the track area between Pacific Street and Atlantic Street, along Transit Avenue. Partner organizations, including Abode Services and Tiburcio Vásquez Health Center, were also on-site multiple times, providing services in coordination with the City. Many of the individuals continue to engage with these agencies to this day.
• Several of the impacted businesses along Transit Avenue had installed fencing along the backside of their properties.
• An estimated 22 individuals were present at this location. Some individuals left the area voluntarily, while others relocated to the UPRR right-of-way across the street.
• In November 2025, the City worked in coordination with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) for a cleanup operation that spanned their property. The Union City Police Department provided additional support to UPRR during the cleanup and conducted area patrols to guide individuals out of the area and prevent the reestablishment of encampments. Animal Control Officers were also on hand to address any animal-related concerns. • Following this cleanup operation, the City also conducted property abatement and cleanup of debris that spilled into the public right-of-way. • The City continues to monitor the general area post-cleanup, and UCPD will continue its routine security checks to help prevent new camps from being established.
• The City is actively discussing with UPRR a new cleanup operation date to address encampments within their railroad right-of-way on the southerly side of Pacific Street, as well as potential long-term solutions that UPRR can take to restrict access into their right-of-way. Part of the discussion is also to facilitate the leasing or acquisition of inactive spurs by interested businesses that can maintain the property.
Approximately 72 hours were spent by Homeless Program staff on-site, in planning meetings to coordinate the response, and in meeting with individuals who resided in the area to support their transition. This does not include Public Works Department staff time or Police Department overtime costs.
C. Compost Hub (City Property by BART Tracks):
• The City had coordinated with BART to address trees that line the back of the Compost Hub (City property) that had become severely overgrown and posed a significant risk to BART service and the unhoused individuals and encampments that were located beneath the trees. Following an arborist report and evaluation, nine out of 24 trees were identified as highly compromised and required removal.
Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 10 of 14 February 10, 2026 • The Public Works Department managed two contractors to conduct the required work over a weekend in December 2025 to minimize impacts to BART service. This required the City to coordinate the relocation of any unhoused individuals and the property abatement/cleanup of associated debris to ensure safe access for the tree contractor. Six 40-yard bins, two 20-yard bins, along with an abandoned boat and trailer, were removed. • Approximately one-and-a-half days were spent on property abatement and cleanup, and approximately one day was spent on tree removal by Public Works Department staff and contractors. This does not include Homeless Program staff time or Police Department overtime costs. • Total Hard Costs: $69,062.53 ($47,562.53 property abatement and cleanup; $21,500.00 tree removal)
D. Others: The following locations have been identified for property abatement and cleanup in the near future:
• BART and Union Pacific Railroad: Throughout the year, City staff work with BART and Union Pacific Railroad to address emerging issues and concerns about encampments on and around tracks and property. Several track areas throughout the City have been identified as having existing encampments, and City staff is coordinating with the respective agencies for property abatement and cleanup, for which Union City Police Department support has been requested. Often, the Police Department is required to use overtime staffing to support abatement procedures. • Green Street Bridge (Near Platinum Street): Reports indicate that individuals may have been residing underneath the Green Street Bridge.
The Public Works Department had identified areas of compromised fencing/tunneling and a potential encampment. The Alameda County Fire Department and the Union City Police Department had also responded to the area because of reported smoke and fire under the bridge. Fortunately, there are no reported injuries to date, and the individual(s) that may have previously inhabited the area have not been seen recently. The City is currently evaluating options to secure access to the area beneath the bridge to prevent continued habitation. Additionally, debris has been observed nearby and will require cleanup. This debris is located on Union Pacific Railroad property and will require coordination with the agency. • BART Property (Between 13th Street and 11th Street, Near Emerald Packaging): BART has been working to address encampment-related issues in this area for several months. Cleanup efforts have been delayed due to weather-related challenges. The Homeless Program staff has conducted outreach at the site and offered services and resources to individuals previously staying there. At this time, the area is vacant; however, a significant amount of debris remains and is pending removal by BART.
• 7
th Street (Between Corporation Yard/Foxsemicon): For many years, the area between the City’s Corporation Yard and the Foxsemicon property has been an ongoing concern due to encampments and the accumulation of debris. Although cleanups have occurred, the presence of structures has led to ongoing reoccupation by different individuals. The encampment is Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 11 of 14 February 10, 2026 located on Foxsemicon property, with debris encroaching onto City property.
Recently, the property owners have expressed a willingness to work collaboratively with the City of Union City toward a long-term solution.
FISCAL IMPACT
This is an informational report, and there is no fiscal impact of receiving this report.
To provide support services and resources to the unhoused community and to address concerns or mitigate impacts stemming from identified encampments, sustainable funding is essential. In FY 2025/2026, $75,000 has been budgeted in the Public Works Department's Grounds Division, Contractual Services, Account No. 110-33024-54111 for homeless encampment response/property abatement and cleanup. Recognizing this as a priority for the City Council, to fund the homeless encampment response efforts that have already occurred and to maintain the same level of response for those anticipated in the near future, additional funding will be necessary. City staff is currently exploring available budget streams and will bring a recommendation to City Council for consideration at a future meeting.
Moreover, the City’s General Fund has absorbed the staffing costs associated with the City’s homeless encampment response efforts. Currently, staffing capacity is limited to two full-time staff members dedicated to the Homeless Program in the Community & Recreation Services Department. Other staffing costs, including overtime incurred by the Public Works Department and the Police Department, are directly absorbed by the department and affect operational priorities. The City will need to identify mechanisms to build capacity within existing staff and resources if it intends to maintain or expand service levels.
Aside from the General Fund, Union City relies on a combination of other funding:
• The Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program provides flexible funding to support efforts aimed at preventing and ending homelessness in California. Union City uses its HHAP funding allocation to support its CAREavan Program. HHAP funds support part-time staffing, supplies, the vehicle repair program, the secondhand store voucher program through Centro de Servicios, move-in assistance, the mobile shower unit, and janitorial services at all CAREavan locations.
In the previous HHAP Round 5, Union City’s funding allocation was for $230,529.
These funds will allow the City to continue operating the CAREavan Program through December 31, 2026.
Unfortunately, the criteria for future HHAP funding will change next year. The State recently revised its funding criteria for the upcoming HHAP Round 6, which is expected to be available in FY 2026/2027. Due to State pressure, the County has reprioritized funds and indicated that they may be directed only for transitional or interim housing or permanent housing. This change in criteria will make CAREavan ineligible for funding, as safe overnight parking is considered a form of emergency shelter.
Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 12 of 14 February 10, 2026 The County and Union City are instead proposing to pool Union City’s HHAP Round 6 allocation in the amount of $241,172 with the City of Fremont and City of Newark’s respective allocations to support the Housing Navigation Center to serve Southern Alameda County better. Part of the agreement would also allocate nine (9) motel rooms as temporary shelter for eleven (11) Union City residents relocated from Old Alameda Creek. The funding would provide approximately 5-6 months of temporary shelter, including case management services and oversight.
To effectuate this recommended reallocation, City staff will also seek formal action from City Council at a future meeting. This would also require the City to reevaluate how it can continue to fund the CAREavan Program in the coming years, given the uncertainty about future rounds of funding through HHAP. • The State’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) can be used to assist persons who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including, but not limited to, providing rapid rehousing, rental assistance, supportive/case management services that allow people to obtain and retain housing, operating and capital costs for navigation centers and emergency shelters, and the new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of permanent and transitional housing. Currently, Union City utilizes PLHA funds to pay for the two full-time staff. The City is in the fourth year of a five-year funding period for PLHA and has recently submitted a request for $434,349.
The five-year period for PLHA funds will end in FY 2026/2027. At that time, the City would need to go through the County of Alameda to reapply for additional funds once the program period ends under the five-year Affordable and Supportive Housing Operating Subsidy Program.
These funding options are specific to certain services and generally specify categories such as housing and supplies. Other costs related to homelessness response, such as policing, property abatement and cleanup, and outreach services, are not eligible uses of these funds.
Potential Funding Opportunities
Funding remains a challenge, but it is critical to maintaining or expanding services such as the CAREavan Program or directing funds toward other solutions. Staff will continue to monitor the State Budget and other grant funding opportunities as they arise.
Recently, the Governor released a Proposed Budget committing to the continued advancement of the newly established state Housing and Homelessness Agency, which oversees housing and homelessness and maximizes state resources.
The Proposed Budget includes $500 million in funding for the HHAP Program, subject to enhanced accountability and performance requirements. The sizable reduction in this proposal is half of what has been historically funded for the HHAP Program.
Additionally, the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), passed by the voters in 2024 via Proposition 1, takes effect in July 2026, establishing a $6.38 billion bond to finance Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 13 of 14 February 10, 2026 treatment facilities, residential care, and supportive housing for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness who may also be experiencing behavioral health challenges.
The Proposed Budget includes $1.6 billion to be allocated this year to support housing and supportive services. During the Governor’s State of the State address, he called on local governments to mobilize to prevent homelessness and help connect homeless individuals with services and housing. As such, the Governor is also proposing to establish a dedicated ongoing allocation of these funds for housing intervention programs, providing counties with much-needed, sustained resources to support housing stability.
Staff will be monitoring this closely should this be an available funding stream.
Other funding opportunities, such as Measure W, may also be on the horizon. Measure W was a countywide measure passed by voters in November 2020 that established an additional ½-cent transactions and use tax (sales tax) for 10 years throughout Alameda County. In July 2025, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors made investments in reducing homelessness by designating eighty percent (80%) of Measure W revenues, estimated at $1.4 billion, toward implementation of the countywide Home Together Plan.
Over the past several months, the Housing and Homelessness Services (H&H) team at Alameda County Health have been working to advance Measure W implementation by building administrative infrastructure, reconvening the City/County Technical Working Group, leading a Home Together Plan refresh (Home Together Plan 2030), and issuing commitments for more than $105 million in Measure W for interim and permanent housing expansions.
It is anticipated that Measure W’s Home Together Fund will provide funding opportunities for rental assistance, housing problem-solving, and stabilization services, which can prevent individuals and families from falling into homelessness. Funds will also go towards permanent supportive housing, flexible housing subsidies, and tenancysustaining services. Additionally, investments may also include emergency shelter, safe parking, medical respite, and new capital projects.
Next Steps
The Homeless Program Division proposes, at a minimum, quarterly staff reports that will be presented to the City Council to keep the City Council informed of current initiatives and trends.
City Council can also anticipate City staff seeking formal action at a future meeting to backfill costs incurred from the City’s homeless encampment response efforts from July 1, 2025, to date, and to fund those anticipated in the coming months.
Additionally, City staff will seek formal action from the City Council at a future meeting to recommend the reallocation of HHAP funds to support the Housing Navigation Center in the City of Fremont, which will better serve Southern Alameda County. This will also be an opportunity to discuss the impacts on the CAREavan Program and seek direction on how to address the uncertainty about funding through HHAP.
Agenda Item No. 4.1
City Council Staff Report Page 14 of 14 February 10, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council accept this informational report on the City’s homelessness response efforts. City Council is invited to ask any clarifying questions and/or to provide direction to staff on the programs staff should focus on, especially if the focus is different than what has been outlined in the report.
Prepared by:
Jennifer Phan, Deputy City Manager
Laura Buzo, Community & Recreation Services Director
Chastity Piedade, Community Services Manager
Jesus Garcia, Homeless Program Coordinator
Elaine Winnington, Homeless Program Outreach Worker
Submitted by:
Jennifer Phan, Deputy City Manager
Attachments
1. Preliminary Map of Point in Time Count (as of January 30, 2026)