Article updated on October 13th, 2025 to include information about the September 30th Affordable Housing Stabilization Fund Meeting.
On July 30th, in a unanimous vote, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors allocated $1.8 billion of Measure W funds, including a historic investment of more than $1.4 billion to homelessness solutions. This is the largest commitment the County has ever made to address homelessness.
On July 22nd, EBHO joined over 100 community members at a press conference with Restore Oakland, Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, where we shared a collective vision for an Alameda County in which housing is truly seen as a human right.
While we are proud of this win, our work is not over yet. The Board will hold a future meeting to approve a $15 million Emergency Stabilization Fund which would provide critical financial support to nonprofit affordable housing providers who suffered demonstrated, unrecoverable losses in their Alameda County portfolios. There was disagreement about the designation criteria regarding which providers would be covered and excluded.
Please stay tuned to ensure that only Nonprofit Affordable Housing Providers that serve low-income residents receive the $15 million Emergency Stabilization Funds, not for-profit and market-rate landlords.
EBHO’s work on Measure W dates back to 2020, when we joined homeless service providers, permanent supportive housing (PSH) developers, and advocates to pass a 10-year, one-half percent (0.5%) Alameda County general sales tax to enhance essential County services for those experiencing homelessness. Keep reading to learn more about the specifics of the recent Board votes and our long journey to this Measure W win.
Background: 2020 ballot measure and a challenge in court
In 2020, EBHO joined homeless service providers, permanent supportive housing (PSH) developers, and advocates to pass a 10-year, one-half percent (0.5%) Alameda County general sales tax to enhance essential County services for those experiencing homelessness – including: supportive housing, mental health services, job training, and other safety net supports financed by the general fund. Advocates who supported Measure W were responding to the urgent need to address homelessness in Alameda County with this sales tax which would generate an estimated $150 million investment annually. General taxes like Measure W only need a simple majority of 50% + 1 to pass, and Measure W passed with 50.09% of vote in November 2020.
Alameda County Taxpayers’ Association, a 501(c)4 organization, sued the County of Alameda arguing that Measure W was a special tax and therefore needed a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote to pass. Despite the lawsuit, tax collection began in July 2021, and the funds were held in escrow.
Meanwhile, in late 2024, the Board of Supervisors directed the County Department of Housing and Homelessness Services (H&H) to develop initial plans for using Measure W funds for the homelessness response system in ways that were aligned with the County’s Home Together 2026 Plan. EBHO was excited to see H&H begin developing a request for proposals (RFP) process in order to deploy funds quickly and start helping people experiencing homelessness in the county.
Unfortunately, in April 2025, the Board then reversed course and instructed H&H staff to pause these implementation efforts so that the Supervisors could explore other potential uses for the Measure W funds as part of the County’s annual budget process. Because Measure W is a general tax, meaning funds can support any County service, Supervisors have had the authority to program the funds as they see fit.
The litigation was ultimately unsuccessful, and the Measure was upheld by the Court. As word of the litigation’s failure and the impending release of Measure W funds began to spread, our members urged EBHO to form a coalition to advocate for a shared position: Keep Measure W focused on Housing & Homelessness Response. EBHO and our members were weary of the Supervisors’ potential backtracking on their December 2024 commitments to allocate the estimated $650 million of accrued revenue towards the County’s homelessness response system.
Making Our Voice Heard: May 12 Board of Supervisors Joint Health and Social Services Meeting
With input from our members, EBHO drafted a letter urging the Board to direct the entirety of Measure W funds towards essential supportive housing and homelessness response programs. Our letter was signed by over 50 signatories of a broad coalition of aligned affordable housing, homelessness, housing justice organizations, and individuals. We turned out 50+ speakers in support of our request. In response to the public comment, Supervisor Nikki Fortunato-Bas suggested reaffirming the Board’s December 2024 commitment, but there was not sufficient support from the Board to do so. Ultimately, the Board chose to delay any substantive conversation about Measure W allocations until after the County budget was passed in July.
Town Halls with Supervisor Nikki Fortunato-Bas: EBHO facilitates Homelessness Solutions discussions
Supervisor Nikki Fortunato-Bas announced her position on Measure W’s allocation:Invest 90% in Homelessness Solutions and 10% in critical safety net services at risk from federal and state funding cuts. Supervisor Fortunato-Bas also hosted two community town halls in Oakland and Berkeley on homelessness solutions and Measure W. The Supervisor’s presentation covered the current state of homelessness in Alameda County. Some key facts include: 9,450 people are estimated to be homeless according to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, 24,000+ people are served throughout the year, and Oakland is overrepresented in Alameda County’s homeless population. Oakland represents 26% of the County’s population, yet represents 58% of the County’s homeless population and 74% of the County’s Black homeless population. Jonathan Russell, Director of Alameda County H&H presented the Measure W Annual Impact Scenarios of the Home Together 2026 Plan. A major highlight of the conversation was the importance of centering Equity, “without addressing the impact of racism in our society, homelessness will continue to disproportionately impact African Americans and other people of color. Creating a mix of housing and services in order to reduce these enormous racial disparities is a major focus of this Plan.” As a part of the Town Halls, EBHO’s Senior Campaign Strategy Associate, Angelina Cornejo, and Chief Program Officer, Sophia DeWitt, – both Alameda County residents – were facilitators of two of the small group conversations. Nearly 400 people showed up to voice their views and help shape the County’s solutions to homelessness, setting the stage for advocacy at the Board of Supervisors’ upcoming Special Meeting.
Mobilizing our Members: EBHO’s Measure W position
EBHO met with Supervisor Fortunato-Bas’s staff, Supervisor Miley’s staff, and Supervisor Marquez to get a better understanding of their individual positions on how to best allocate Measure W funds. EBHO then convened two small group strategy sessions of core homelessness service providers, affordable housing developers, and permanent supportive housing developers to build greater clarity around our shared priorities and align our positions for a stronger collective appeal. After meaningful and thorough conversations, EBHO’s position was that the Board should direct 90% of Measure W funds to be allocated to homelessness services and housing supports to meet the urgent need in our community and allow the County to implement the HomeTogether 2026/2030 framework and consistent with the principle of working to reduce racial disparities in homelessness. Prior to the July 22nd Board of Supervisors meeting where Measure W’s allocation would be discussed, we drafted and submitted a letter with 120+ individual and organizational signatories unified under a shared position.
Decision Time: July 22nd Board of Supervisors Meeting – Direction on Measure W
On July 22, the Board of Supervisors were set to provide guidance on allocating Measure W funds.
EBHO, along with Abode Services, Faith in Action East Bay, St. Mary’s, and our allies, participated in a press conference hosted by Restore Oakland to advocate for the Board of Supervisors to allocate at least 90% of Measure W funds to Homelessness and Housing solutions. The press conference included Supervisor Fortunato-Bas, Mayor Barbara Lee, EBHO members, and residents with lived expertise and was well-attended by the press. Following the press conference, we all surged into the Board of Supervisors meeting.
While not everyone got the chance to speak because of the overwhelming attendance, we stood in solidarity with providers and, most importantly, our unhoused neighbors. We packed the Board Chambers and three overflow rooms all echoing the critical need to address our homelessness crisis with historic investment.
The Board provided direction on how to allocate Measure W funds – resulting in a $1.4 billion investment in homelessness solutions. This is the largest commitment the County has ever made to address homelessness – 80% of Measure W funds. The Board also allocated 20% to the Essential Services fund which will mean approximately $250 million for services to support the social safety net and other County programs. While this fell short of our advocacy of 90%, this historic investment represents a critical infusion of local, sustained investment in homelessness solutions and we should all feel proud of the work we did to get this. We did this!
The staff presentation can be found here and below is a brief breakdown of the Board’s guidance:
- As of June 2025, $810 million has already been collected (which is more than the ballot language estimated at $150 million annually) and $170 million is projected to be collected annually for the next six years.
- County staff recommended setting aside $170 million as a reserve, not for general use, but to endow the Measure W fund, ensuring we can continue to invest in homelessness even during economic downturns or revenue shortfalls. The Board will provide guidance on the use of the reserve in a later meeting.
- Of the funds already collected (excluding the reserve), 91% will go toward homelessness solutions, with the remainder supporting critical County social safety net services.
- Of the revenue that will be collected going forward (~$170 million/year for the next six years), 80% will go to homelessness solutions and 20% to essential County services. At Supervisor Nikki Fortunato-Bas’s request, the Board also agreed that any additional Measure W funds collected beyond projections – estimated to be up to $120 million based on historical trends – would also go to homelessness solutions. This decision could result in over $1.5 billion in total homelessness investments
- Essential County services include critical social safety net services impacted by state and federal budget cuts, such as: food assistance, healthcare access, mental health programs like prevention and early intervention, senior services, and utility assistance. Many of these services also directly support people who are unhoused or facing housing instability.
The Vote: July 30th Board of Supervisors – Vote on Measure W Allocation
On July 30th, in a unanimous vote, the Supervisors allocated $1.8 billion of Measure W, including a historic investment of more than $1.4 billion to homelessness solutions.
The Board allocated 80% of the future Measure W funds to homelessness solutions, including prevention, interim shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services. The remaining 20% will be allocated for essential county services, including safety net programs threatened by devastating federal and state budget cuts.
Supervisor Nikki Fortunato-Bas also received a commitment from the Board to direct any additional Measure W revenue entirely to support homelessness solutions. This could mean up to an additional $120 million for homelessness solutions based on historical revenue collections. The 80% allocation and surplus revenue could result in over $1.5 billion in total homelessness investments. The Board voted unanimously to support Staff’s recommendations as follows:
- Adopt Proposed Measure W Guiding Principles
- Allocate Measure W Revenues as follows:
- One-Time Accrued Escrow Funds as of June 30, 2025: $810 million
- Ongoing Projected Revenues July 2025 – June 2031: $1.02 billion, approximately $170 million projected annually
- Designate Two Measure W Funds:
- Home Together Fund
- Essential County Services Fund
- Adopt the proposed implementation plan for the Essential County Services Fund and direct Staff to develop a recommended funding framework and program priorities for review and consideration at 9/30/25 Work Session
- Establish a Prudent Reserve of $170 million from one-time accrued funds as an interest-bearing designation.
- Interest earnings should be accessed first and only if the actual year-end accrued Measure W receipts are below budget, during a declared emergency, or an economic crisis
- Board approved use of the corpus of the prudent reserve prior to the expiration of Measure W will be considered a loan and require a repayment plan
- Establish fixed percentages for allocation of Measure W sales tax revenues received between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2031 ($170 million/year):
- 80% to the Home Together Fund ($136 million/year)
- 20% to the Essential Services Fund ($34 million/year)
- Adopt a policy that actual annual Measure W accrued sales tax revenue received in excess of the $170 million annual base will be allocated to the Home Together Fund at year end
- Reaffirm prior Board direction on allocations from one-time Measure W accrued funds:
- Home Together Fund: $395 million as approved by the Board in December 2024
- Essential Services Fund: $6.5 million as approved by the Board in June 2025
- $4.5 million for Food Procurement, Meal Preparation/Delivery, and Recovery
- $2 million for Senior Services through the Social Service Agency’s Area Agency on Aging
- Apply the same fixed percentages to allocate the remaining one-time Measure W accrued funds ($238.5 million) as follows:
- 80% to the Home Together Fund: $190.8 million
- 20% to the Essential County Services Fund: $47.7 million
- Designate the Measure A and Measure C Oversight Committee as the Measure W Citizens Oversight Committee in accordance with Measure W ordinance “lookback” requirements
- Authorize the Auditor-Controller to establish the Measure W program as a special revenue fund and make the related budget adjustments to increase appropriation by $980 million with offsetting revenue from Measure W general tax revenue
The Board approval of the $15 million Emergency Stabilization fund from one-time revenue in the Home Together Fund was tabled for a future meeting. The Stabilization Fund was borne out of advocacy from mission driven PSH developers to provide critical financial support to nonprofit affordable housing providers who suffered demonstrated, unrecoverable losses in their Alameda County portfolios and designed to preserve our affordable housing ecosystem ensuring that Permanent Supportive Housing is stable and that low-income residents remain in their affordable homes. There was disagreement about the designation criteria – which providers would be covered and excluded.
It is important to note that there was a group of for-profit landlords demanding that they receive a sizable portion of funds which is against the spirit of Measure W and the will of the voters. While only one Supervisor was publicly supportive of their request, it is possible that they may advocate to be included in the designation eligible for stabilization funds.
October 2025 Update: $15 million Affordable Housing Stabilization Fund Meeting
The Alameda County-based nonprofit affordable housing and service providers coalition led by East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) along with Abode, Eden Housing, Resources for Community Development (RCD), and The Unity Council continued to meet with Supervisors and advocated to bring back the item reaffirming the designation outlined by staff for a $15 million one-time Measure W emergency stabilization fund.
The item was agendized for a special meeting on September 30th. EBHO worked to gain support from regional organizations: Housing Trust Silicon Valley, Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH), All Home, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Bay Area, United Way Bay Area, and Enterprise Community Partners NorCal. On the day of the Board meeting, the Coalition presented the Supervisors with a letter with new supporters including the regional nonprofits, businesses, transportation groups, and community-based organizations, and mayors from Alameda County as signatories.
After a brief discussion and public comment, the Board passed the item unanimously!
Next Steps: Measure W Implementation
EBHO will continue to monitor the implementation of Measure W to ensure accountability and transparency.
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