Item 4.1: Informational Report on
Union City’s Homelessness Response Efforts
February 10, 2026 City Council Special Meeting
2 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Strategic Plan Alignment
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.
3 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Home Together 2026 and 2030
• 5-year strategic initiative that
provides framework to
addressing homelessness
• Outlines goals and strategies
over four categories
• Plan refresh for Home
Together 2030 currently
underway
4 Housing/Shelter Property Abatement Property Storage
City cannot forcibly
remove or cite
individuals for staying
on public property.
City must provide
reasonable notice (48
hours) to owners of
personal property for
abatement.
City must retain and
store personal property
for thirty (30) days so
that individuals may
reclaim.
Response Framework
Cities have limited options and face substantial legal barriers when it comes to mitigating homelessness and the impacts of encampments Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
5 City Manager’s Office
Coordination, direction,
and oversight
Public Works
Department
Property abatement and
clean up
Community &
Recreation Services
Safe Parking Program,
food/supplies distribution, case
management, outreach &
engagement
Police Department
Enforcement and
standby support
Economic & Community
Development
Rental assistance,
affordable housing,
public/private partnerships
Information Technology
Reporting system and
data collection/tracking
Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
HOMELESSNESS
TASKFORCE
6 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Point-in-Time Census – County Data
Summary of the 2024 Homeless Point-in-Time Count for Alameda County: Tableau Alameda County - HDX and Survey Data
7 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Point-in-Time Census – City Data
• Recent PIT Count was conducted January 22, 2026
• Preliminary findings will be released Spring 2026/Summer 2026 • Last PIT Count in 2024 identified 191 unsheltered individuals in Union City
8 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Homeless Management Information
System (HMIS)
• Alameda County’s Coordinated Entry (CE) system is unified entry point to connect residents experiencing or at-risk of homelessness to resources.
• It provides a standardized process to assess needs,
prioritize individuals for housing/services, and efficiently connect them to resources such as shelters and support
services
• Union City Homeless Program staff serve as a CE Limited Access Point to the HMIS.
9 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
2-1-1
• 211 Connects Bay Area residents with health and human service programs in their local community.
• Including basic needs, physical and mental health, employment assistance, seniors support.
• Operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with multilingual capabilities. total contacts total referrals
250 834
JANUARY 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 2025
10 Coordination with the
Homelessness Taskforce
and partner agencies to
address community
concerns and inquiries.
Response
Engagement with
individuals to connect them
to essential services that
promote well-being and
long-term stability.
Outreach
Personalized support through
individual assessments for
housing and shelter needs,
and connection to health
advocacy, social services, and
legal resources.
Case
Management
For individuals living in
vehicles who need a safe
place to park overnight, with
direct access to case
management and support
services.
CAREavan
Program
Homelessness Services
Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
11 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
CAREavan Safe Parking
• Five locations operate throughout the
week in Union City.
• Overnight parking from 8:00 PM-7:00 AM.
• Program participants receive case
management services, coordinated
support for long-term housing, etc.
• City collects information on program
participants.
57 vehicles 70 adults
10 children
22 pets
JULY 1, 2025 TO-DATE
As of July 1, 2025, there are 22
vehicles and 25-30 individuals
on average per evening
12 Outreach and Support
JULY 1, 2025 TO-DATE
435 Street Outreach
Contacts
1,150 CAREavan
Contacts
Assisted in Housing
7 CAREavan Participants
6 Family Members From
Outreach
Homelessness Services By The Numbers
4 Family Members From
CAREavan
Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
10 Significant Encampment Reponses (Property Abatement & Clean-Up 13 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Interagency Coordination
• Homelessness cannot be solved or addressed by any single agency or organization.
• The City has partnerships with local, regional, and County agencies, private property owners, non-profits, and
community/faith-based organizations.
14 1
Intake of Report or
Observation of
Encampment
4 Conduct Scheduled
Encampment Property
Abatement and
Cleanup; Followed by
Storage of Belongings
for 30 Days
2 Outreach Within 48
Hours to Connect
Unhoused Individuals
to Shelter and Needed
Resources
3 Evaluation/Assessment
of Encampment
Conditions; Followed by
Noticing for 48 Hour
Period
Item 7.a:
Informational Report on Homelessness in Union City
Encampment Response
15 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Old Alameda Creek – August 2025 To-Date
• Approximately 40 unhoused individuals resided in the area; 11 of which were in Union City’s jurisdiction
• All were offered relocation services to the Housing Navigation Center and designated motel sites.
• A phased closure was conducted for all relocation, property abatement, and cleanup efforts.
• Total of $32,500.00 was spent for property abatement and fencing
16 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Old Alameda Creek (Between Arroyo Park/Isherwood Park)
17 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Transit Avenue– August 2025 To-Date
• Approximately 22 unhoused individuals resided in the area. • City worked in coordination with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) for a cleanup operation that spanned railroad property. • Staff supported through outreach, standby patrol, and property abatement and cleanup into the public right-of-way.
• City is discussing with UPRR:
• New cleanup operation date on the southerly side of Pacific Street; • Potential long-term solutions to restrict access into railroad right-ofway; • The lease or acquisition of inactive spurs by interested businesses. 18 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Transit Avenue (UPRR Property)
19 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Compost Hub – December 2025
• Nine out of 24 trees that posed a significant risk to BART service and the unhoused individuals and encampments were removed.
• Six 40-yard bins, two 20-yard bins, along with an abandoned boat and trailer, were removed.
• Total of $69,092.53 was spent for tree removal and property abatement.
20 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Compost Hub (City Property by BART Tracks)
21 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Other Areas to Be Addressed
These locations have been identified for property abatement and cleanup in the near future (FY 2025/2026):
• BART and Union Pacific Railroad
• Green Street Bridge (Near Platinum Street)
• BART Property (Between 13th Street and 11th Street)
• 7th Street (By City Corporation Yard)
22 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Green Street Bridge (Near Platinum Street)
23 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
BART Property (Between 13th Street and 11th Street)
24 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
7th Street (By City Corporation Yard)
25 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Resources, Budget, and Staffing
• Regionally, there is a lack of shelter and interim housing options. • City relies on nearby partners and outside agencies for support. • City has limited staffing – two dedicated positions to the Homeless Program.
• City relies on a mixture of funding sources aside from General Fund (mainly grants such as HHAP and PLHA).
• Funding remains an ongoing challenge, but is critical to maintain, let alone expand services or to direct towards other solutions
26 • Block grant program designed to provide
jurisdictions with funds to support
regional coordination and to expand or
develop local capacity to address
immediate homelessness challenges
• PLHA provides funding to local
governments for housing-related projects
and programs that assist in addressing the
unmet housing needs of their local
communities
Grant Funded – Compliance and Reporting
Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Two active grants fund the Homeless Program (salaries,
programming, materials, supplies). Each grant has distinct reporting standards, performance measures, and data-tracking requirements.
27 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
HHAP Funding Round 6 – FY 2026/2027
• The criteria for HHAP Round 6 funding in FY 2026/2027 are being reprioritized and may only be directed to transitional or interim or permanent housing.
• CAREavan Safe Overnight Parking will be ineligible for funding.
• It is proposed that Union City’s HHAP Round 6 allocation in the amount of $241,172 be pooled with the City of Fremont and City of Newark’s respective allocations to support the Housing Navigation Center to serve better Southern Alameda County.
28 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Potential Funding Opportunities
• The City will continue to monitor the State Budget and any other grant funding opportunities as they arise.
• Measure W may also be on the horizon:
• Alameda County Board of Supervisors has allocated 80% into the Home Together Fund
• Alameda County is working on the funding framework
and program priorities
• Investment areas include:
29 Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Next Steps
• City staff will present quarterly reports to City Council. • City staff will seek formal action at a future meeting to:
• Backfill costs incurred from homeless encampment
response in FY 2025/2026 (exceeding budgeted
$75,000.00); and
• Reallocate HHAP Round 6 funds to support the Housing
Navigation Center to better serve Southern Alameda
County and obtain direction on how to address impacts
to the CAREavan Program.
30 Visit www.unioncity.org/homelessness for more information.
Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)
Homeless Resources:
2-1-1
Inquiries or Complaints:
Homeless Program Coordinator –
[email protected]
Reporting Criminal Activity:
Union City Police Department Non-Emergency –
(510) 471-1365, Option #3
31 Recommendation
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.
Item 4.1:
Homelessness Update (February 2026)