Alameda County is awarding $50 million in Measure W Home Together Funds, and it’s expected to help deliver over 900 new permanently affordable homes.<\/p>\n
Jesse Williams knows just how influential this will be for some people.<\/p>\n
“All of a sudden you’re sitting on a bench not knowing what to do,” said Williams, remembering the time he was unhoused and sleeping on a park bench. “Twenty years ago, but still a memory very fresh in my mind. Just ended up homeless all of a sudden. Some family issues, we lost some property and not knowing what to do. It was so sudden.”<\/p>\n
Now, Williams is housed and works at Saint Mary’s Center in Oakland, helping others who are living on the street find their way to housing.<\/p>\n
And on Wednesday, Alameda County awarded $50 million in Measure W Home Together Funds to 10 projects under the Multifamily Homelessness Solutions Program. <\/p>\n
“I think it’s really past due for that money to be released, so that people can benefit from it,” said Williams.<\/p>\n
Measure W was passed by voters in 2020. It’s a half-cent sales tax to support homelessness services, housing, health services and system infrastructure. Distributing that money was held up by a legal battle.<\/p>\n
It was last year that the county decided that 80% of the revenue would go toward homelessness. Collectively, the awarded projects are expected to deliver 900 new permanently affordable homes, including 346 for people experiencing homelessness.<\/p>\n
The projects are located throughout Alameda County, but half are in Oakland, including Liberation Park, Brighter Bancroft Senior Homes, 500 Lake Park, 3135 San Pablo, and East 12th Circle.<\/p>\n
Mayor Barbara Lee says the funding is desperately needed in Oakland.<\/p>\n
“Oakland is the epicenter of this crisis, and not by coincidence it’s a product of decades of redlining, disinvestment and displacement,” said Lee.<\/p>\n
The other projects are at 1247 McKay in Alameda, Downtown Livermore, Ephesian Legacy Court and People’s Park Supportive in Berkeley, and Thornton Avenue in Newark.<\/p>\n
“It will have a real and lasting impact on the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors as well as our neighborhoods,” said Lee. “Measure W is a lifeline for our town.”<\/p>\n
Alameda County says projects were selected based on their readiness to move forward quickly and leverage additional state and federal funding.<\/p>\n
The goal is to have all projects start progressing in the next few months. Williams is crossing his fingers.<\/p>\n
“I have to stay positive,” Williams stated. “I have to hope that this comes to fruition and it actually starts aiding the people it needs to aid.”<\/p>\n
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