HomeMy WebLinkAbouthomelessness-in-alameda-county-2016-overviewHomelessness in Alameda County
PRESS KIT
June 2016
Alameda County Health Care Services Agency
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Table of Contents
Facts About Homelessness............................................................................................. 3
Case Studies ................................................................................................................ 13
General Obligation Housing Bond ................................................................................. 16
Backgrounder on Homelessness .................................................................................. 19
Causes of Homelessness ............................................................................................. 21
Our Approach to Homelessness ................................................................................... 24
Services and Providers ................................................................................................. 28
Health Care Services Agency ............................................................................ 28
Housing and Community Development Department .......................................... 31
Community-Based Clinics and Direct Service Organizations ............................. 34
Myths About Homelessness .......................................................................................... 36
Key Contacts ................................................................................................................ 38
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FACTS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY
EveryOne Counts
EveryOne Counts is Alameda County’s Point in Time Count (PITC) of persons experiencing
homelessness on a single night in January. Conducted every other year, the PITC is mandated
by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which uses the data to
allocate resources to communities around the country. In addition, county agencies and service
providers use the data to inform planning for housing and services and advocacy for policies
affecting homelessness. HUD’s definition (and therefore the county’s PITC) excludes persons in
precarious living situations, sleeping on floors or couches of families or others, living day-to-day
or week-to-week in motels or SROs, in tenuous overcrowded situations, or trading sex for shelter.
Persons in these homeless situations, defined as homeless by HRSA and Department of
Education, are not represented in these counts.
The estimated number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons in Alameda County
on January 28, 2015.
Total number of persons experiencing homelessness in Alameda County (2015) 4,040
Bi-Annual Point in Time Count (2009-2015)
TOTAL NUMBER OF HOMELESS IN A YEAR
Extrapolation is used to estimate the number of people who will experience homelessness
throughout the year. According to HUD, multiplying the PITC number by 2.45 produces an
estimate of total persons experiencing homelessness as defined by HUD criteria. For Alameda
County in 2015, that number is 9,898 people. According to study published by the Urban Institute
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(2000), multiplying the PITC single night count by a low of 4.15 to a high of 5.18 can give a rough
estimate of yearly prevalence of homelessness, under an expanded HRSA definition. This
suggests that between 16,766 and 20,927 people experienced homelessness (as defined by
HRSA) in Alameda County in 2015.
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Demographic Characteristics of the Homeless Population in Alameda County
The following tables show detailed demographic characteristics of the sheltered homeless
persons and estimates of unsheltered homeless persons. Just under half (44.2%) of sheltered
individuals were minor children and young adults aged 18 to 24 (25.8% and 18.4%, respectively),
compared to about 10% in the unsheltered population (4.9% under age 18 and 4.6% aged 18 to
24). About half of the sheltered persons were women, compared to less than one-third (29.0%) of
the unsheltered population. The lower proportion of women and children in the unsheltered
population reflects, in part, on an emphasis on sheltering homeless families, many of whom are
single mothers with children.
* Sheltered — People living in emergency shelters and transitional housing project
* Unsheltered — People living in a place not designed or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation
Source: Alameda County Homeless Count and Survey, 2015.
Sheltered* Unsheltered* Total Estimated Homeless
Count % Est. % Est. %
Age Group
Persons in All Household
Types
Persons <18 424 25.8% 117 4.9% 541 13.4%
Persons 18-24 303 18.4% 111 4.6% 414 10.2%
Persons 25+ 916 55.8% 2,169 90.5% 3,085 76.4%
Total Persons 1,643 100.0% 2,397 100.0
%
4,040 100.0%
Gender
Persons in All Household
Types
Male 804 48.9% 1,681 70.1% 2,485 61.5%
Female 833 50.7% 696 29.0% 1,529 37.8%
Transgender M to F 5 0.3% 21 0.9% 26 0.6% Transgender F to M 1 0.1% 0 0.0% 1 0.0%
Total Persons 1,643 100.0% 2,397 100.0
%
4,040 100.0%
Race/Ethnicity
Persons in Households with
at Least One Adult and One
Child
African American/Black 283 59.2% 105 43.7% 388 54.0%
Asian 9 1.9% 2 0.8% 11 1.5%
Latino 113 23.6% 83 34.5% 196 27.3%
Pacific Islander 11 2.3% 0 0.0% 11 1.5%
Multiracial 21 4.4% 2 0.7% 23 3.2%
White 41 8.6% 48 20.2% 89 12.5%
Total 478 100.0% 240 100.0
%
718 100.0%
Persons in Adult-Only
Households
African American/Black 443 59.5% 827 38.4% 1,270 43.8%
American Indian 8 1.1% 37 1.7% 45 1.6%
Asian 22 3.0% 41 1.9% 63 2.2% Latino 94 12.6% 154 7.1% 248 8.5%
Pacific Islander 5 0.7% 15 0.7% 20 0.7%
Multiracial 42 5.6% 92 4.3% 134 4.6%
White 127 17.0% 903 41.9% 1,030 35.5%
Missing 4 0.5% 83 3.9% 87 3.0%
Total 745 100.0% 2,152 100.0
%
2,897 100.0%
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Homeless Population Estimates by Age Group
Source: Alameda County Homeless Count and Survey, 2015.
25.80%
18.40%
55.80%
4.90% 4.60%
90.50%
Persons <18 Persons 18-24 Persons 25+
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Lack of Affordable Housing
The following charts illustrate how escalating rents are pricing people out of the housing market.
Average monthly rents in Alameda County increased 51% between 2005 and 2014 and 34%
between 2010 and 2014. In Alameda/Contra Costa counties, the hourly wage a household must
earn to afford a two-bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent has generally increased over the past
decade, peaking at a $30 hourly wage in 2014. This is 50% higher than the median hourly wage
($20.33 in 2014) and well above the minimum wage level ($10 in 2016).
Average Monthly Rent in Alameda County (2005-2014)
Source: ABAG with RealFacts data in “San Francisco Bay Area State of the Region, 2015” (Not adjusted for inflation.)
Housing Wage for 2-Bedroom Fair Market Rent — Alameda/Contra Costa Counties
Source: ABAG with Housing Wage data from National Low Income Housing Coalition in "San Francisco Bay Area State of the
Region, 2015"
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
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These changes have contributed to an increased percentage of households in the county paying
50% or more of their income for housing, putting them at a much greater risk for homelessness.
The darker colors on the map correspond to higher percentages of households spending at least
half of their income on housing. The chart clearly shows that the cost burden is highest in parts of
West Oakland, scattered portions of East Oakland, and portions of Berkeley, Albany, Castro
Valley and San Lorenzo. In 2013, there were about 108,000 households spending 50% or more
of their income on housing in Alameda County for an overall rate of 20.2% (1 in 5 households).
Rates of Severe Housing Cost Burden by Census Tract
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Alameda County Fair Market Rents (2016)
Final FY 2016 FMRs by Unit Bedrooms
Efficiency 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Bedroom
Monthly Income for Different Groups
Income Before Taxes for a Full-Time Worker at $15/hour = $2,400
Average Social Security Retirement Income Nationwide = $1,340
Maximum CalWorks Aid for a Family of 4 = $936
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in California = $889.40
General Assistance (GA) Grant in Alameda County = $336
Alameda County Area Median Income (AMI) Limits Summary &
Affordable Homes Per Income Group
Median
Income
Income Limit Category
(as percent of AMI)
Persons in Family # of Affordable
Homes per 100
Households in this
Income Range
(Oakland-SF-
Hayward)
1 2 3 4
$93,600
Deeply low income (15%) $10,250 $11,700 $13,175 $14,625 22
Extremely Low Income (30%) $20,500 $23,400 $26,350 $29,250 33
Very Low Income (50%) $34,150 $39,000 $43,900 $48,750 49
Low Income (80%) $52,650 $60,150 $67,650 $75,150 85
Alameda County has about 61,000 extremely low-income (30%) households and approximately
20,000 affordable homes for these households – an estimated shortfall of 41,000 affordable
housing opportunities
Nearly all households (>95%) experiencing homelessness in Alameda County in 2015 had
extremely low incomes (30%) or below
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A Racially, Ethnically, Economically Diverse County
Alameda County is characterized by high levels of social and economic disparity and a high level
of racial residential segregation. One in eight residents in the county live below the poverty level
(one of the highest percentages in the Bay Area, according to the 2009-2013 U.S. Census
American Community Survey), and 91% of the residents of very low-income neighborhoods in the
county are people of color. Noted for its geographical, economic and ethnic diversity, almost two-
thirds of the county’s population is ethnic minorities. The most recent U.S. Census data report
that non-Hispanic Whites make up 34%, Asian & Pacific Islanders 29 percent, Latinos 23 percent,
Blacks 13%, and American Indians and Alaska Natives 1% of the county population. Females
comprise 51% and males 49% of the population. Approximately 43% speak a language other
than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau 2012).
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Utilization of Homeless Resources
Another way to understand the scope of homelessness in Alameda County is to look at the use of
homeless services. Since 2003, Alameda County HCD has implemented a County-wide
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) as a requirement for recipients of HUD
funding. Many, but not all, county homeless shelters, housing and services providers input
utilization data into the HMIS.
Source: HMIS, 2014
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Number of People Permanently Housed by
Homeless Assistance Programs in Alameda County
Source: EveryOne Home Annual Performance Reports
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HOMELESSNESS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY — CASE STUDIES
Not everyone experiences homelessness in the same way. They don’t all come to it as a result of the
same circumstances, and they don’t all have the same experiences with it. Below are a few examples that
represent a broad cross-section of Alameda County residents who have experienced homelessness at
some point in their lives. All of these individuals are willing to speak to the media about their stories.
Jonathan A
Jonathan lives with his 18-year-old son who just graduated from High School, and his 12-year-old
daughter. Jonathan and his family became homeless when he suffered a brain tumor two years
ago. Since then they have lived through a lot of difficult and challenging situations. They are now
staying at a family shelter in Southern Alameda County, but Jonathan still does not know where he
and his family will end up living because even if he gets SSI disability, the amount he receives will
not come close to being enough to pay rent in the East Bay.
Bennie W
Bennie was one of the earliest members of the Oakland Dragons motorcycle club. And while
Bennie and his wife, Brenda have a home now, back in 2004, they experienced the challenge of
homelessness together. Bennie has been a long-time drug user and encampment dweller.
Kimberlee B
Kimberlee became homeless as a result of living in a domestic violence situation. She soon found
herself living under bridges and in van in Hayward. Kimberlee is currently housed and working with
other people experiencing homelessness.
April A
April Anthony experienced homelessness for more than 18 years. She spent the majority of that
time at the Albany landfill in a homeless encampment community before getting housed two years
ago through the Homeless Action Center based in Berkeley. She was in temporary housing
immediately once she made contact with HAC and was able to find permanent housing within a few
days. April and her partner, along with her two cats, are now in stable housing situation. April is an
outspoken advocate on issues of homeless civil rights and encampments.
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510-593-2345
aprilanthony7@gmail.com
Rosalyn C
Rosalyn has a beautiful family of four and was the first family East Oakland Community Project
housed through the Oakland Front Door. The family became homeless when they experienced a
loss of income. Rosalyn’s husband was working at a local grocery store but had to bury his
mother in Puerto Rico. He was in Puerto Rico for an extended period of time and when he
returned to work, he lost his job. Lacking sufficient income to sustain housing, the family was
forced to stay in their car, while going to relative’s homes to shower and clean themselves up.
Some of their biggest challenges were trying to secure housing on their own. They faced many
road blocks from landlords who frequently rejected their housing applications. Rosalyn became
depressed, her children were acting out, and her husband experienced additional trauma; being a
victim of a violent crime. The turning point came when R was aggressively calling different places
for family shelters, which resulted in her connecting with staff from the Oakland Family Front
Door. The family was linked to community resources, including employment service and
aggressive housing searches. Within four months of receiving support, the family secured
permanent housing. Although they secured housing in another county, the family was thankful to
have secured a place of their own that they could call home.
Stasha T
The most tragic event in Stasha’s life was becoming homeless. She and her partner were on bad
terms during her pregnancy, which led to a traumatic separation. Stasha recalls her and her infant
son bouncing between sleeping in cars and on the floors of friends’ apartments. Stasha says, “I
was so stressed out. I cried all the time. I kept asking myself how I could ever find a job with a
new baby, no support system, with no place to stay. I couldn’t think straight.”
In the middle of a California winter, Stasha reached out to several shelters for support. She says
her life changed when she contacted the North Oakland Family Coordinated Access System.
After more than a year of being homeless, Stasha qualified for Rapid Rehousing Support
provided by North Oakland Family Coordinated Access System. “When Stasha first arrived at the
“Call Center,” she was anxiety-ridden and without hope,” said Donneshia Anderson, Stasha’s
case manager. “She felt that she will never be able to provide a home for her son during her time
of hardship and our area’s housing crisis.” Stasha said that with the support from the Call Center
and Building Futures shelter staff,” she began to feel a sense of worth and relief. It was difficult
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adjusting to shelter living. “It took me quite a while to adjust,” recalls Stasha. “I just wasn’t used to
all the rules.”
Stasha has worked hard to address the issues that led to her homelessness. She enrolled in
school and was introduced to Alameda County’s AC Hire program, where she learned how to
look for work, create a resume, and successfully handle a job interview. Today, Stasha is doing
well and has successfully found a home with the support of case management services and Anna
Garcia, Building Futures’ Housing Specialist.
“My goals are to find a job in the medical field and enjoy life,” she says. “I enjoy getting up in the
morning and trying to see what I can achieve every day. My son is healthy, clean and growing in
a peaceful environment.” Donneshia sums it up. “As Stasha’s sense of accomplishment builds,
you can see her transform. She’s thinking, talking and acting more positively. She has flourished.”
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PROPOSED $580 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING
GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND
In November of this year, Alameda County residents will have a chance to make a significant contribution
toward ending homelessness in their county. The $580 million General Obligation Bond — which, if
approved on June 28th by the County Board of Supervisors, is expected to be on the November ballot —
will create new, affordable rental and homeowner housing units and assist existing low-income and
vulnerable residents. The bond will help people struggling with housing costs; people who are homeless
and other vulnerable populations in need of long-term affordable rental housing; and low- and middle-
income Alameda County residents seeking to buy homes.
Specifically, funds from the bond will be used to develop and acquire housing for a broad range of
populations who are facing an increasingly difficult time finding housing they can afford or affording the
housing they currently have. This includes people who are homeless, low-income seniors, disabled
homeowners and renters, families and working households, youth aging out of the foster care system,
incarcerated individuals re-entering their communities, veterans, and low and middle-income first-time
homebuyers.
Funds from the bond are allocated to both homeownership programs ($120 million) and rental housing
development programs ($460 million). To help those with the greatest need, the County has set a
minimum goal of at least 20 percent of the units
created with rental housing development funds will
be allocated to people experiencing homelessness
and people who are extremely low income —
below 20 percent of the area median income
(AMI).
The bond authorizes a variety of activities to meet
these needs, including:
Development of new multi-family and single-family housing opportunities for rental or ownership
Rehabilitation loans to low-income senior, disabled, and other low-income homeowners
Down payment assistance for middle-income first-time homebuyers
Acquisition and/or rehabilitation of existing apartment buildings
The bond will help people struggling with
housing costs; homeless and other
vulnerable populations in need of long-
residents seeking to buy homes.
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The bond was developed in response to the lack of affordable housing in the county, and with extensive
community input through over 15 public meetings, including two widely publicized stakeholder meetings;
eight Town Hall meetings held by the Board of Supervisors in each of the five districts across the county;
and six Board of Supervisors committee meetings. These meetings were augmented by an on-line survey
available to the public, as well as letters and emails submitted to the county between March and early
June 2016.
The 2016 Affordable Housing Bond proposes two categories of investments (delineated below), each of
which supports housing for Alameda County households at a range of income levels.
Alameda County Affordable Housing Bond
Homeownership Programs $120,000,000
Down Payment Assistance Loan Program $50,000,000
Homeownership Development Program $25,000,000
Home Preservation Loan Program $45,000,000
Rental Housing Development Programs $460,000,000
Affordable Rental Development $425,000,000
Innovations Program $35,000,000
Total $580,000,000
Homeownership Program
Down Payment Assistance Loan Program — to assist middle-income working households to
purchase homes and stay in Alameda County, instead of having to move to outlying areas in
order to afford a home.
Homeownership Development Loan Program — to assist in the development and long-term
affordability of homeownership housing for Low-Income households to become first-time
homebuyers, while remaining in the County.
Home Preservation Loan Program — to assist Low-Income Seniors, People with Disabilities, and
other low-income homeowners to remain safely in their homes.
All three of these are deferred-payment loans so that there are no monthly loan payments that would add
to the housing cost burden of the households served, and the funds are returned to the program when the
house is sold so that they can be used to benefit other eligible homebuyers and homeowners.
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Rental Housing Development Program
There are two components to the Rental Housing Development Program. The first and the largest part of
that program is designed to assist in the creation and preservation of affordable rental housing for
vulnerable populations, including low-income workforce housing. Funds will be distributed across the
county in two ways, based on formulas that take into account different levels of need in various parts of
the county, this geographic allocation model will create a minimum allocation of funds for use in each city
and as well as regional funding pools that can be drawn on to support developments located anywhere in
that area of the county.
The Innovations Program is a unique approach that is designed to support the ability for affordable
housing developers to respond quickly to opportunities that arise in the market, to preserve and expand
affordable rental housing and prevent displacement of
current low-income tenants. These funds will be
available on a countywide basis.
A variety of fiscal responsibility measures have been
incorporated into the Housing Bond proposal including
the establishment of an Independent Citizen’s
Oversight Committee to ensure that bond proceeds
are being spent in compliance with the ballot measure.
As well, the county will evaluate programs as they are designed, implemented, and delivered, to ensure
effectiveness. Information will be evaluated annually and program modifications will be made as
appropriate, based on the data.
The first and the largest part of that
program is designed to assist in the
creation and preservation of affordable
rental housing for vulnerable populations,
including low-income workforce housing.
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HOMELESSNESS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY —
BACKGROUNDER
Tonight at least 4,000 people will experience homelessness in Alameda County. For many it will be their
first time being homeless. This year, as many as 10,000 people will find themselves homeless. Of those
experiencing homelessness in our county, nearly one in four are families, more than half are African
American, more than a quarter are Latino, four in 10 are living in emergency shelters or other transitional
housing, and 60% are living unsheltered.
Far from this being an isolated situation, our growing homeless population is part of a national crisis that
reflects a lack of safe, adequate, affordable housing in most of this country’s urban areas. This is
particularly true here in Alameda County, where skyrocketing rents and gentrification are cutting into the
area’s rapidly dwindling supply of affordable housing, and are threatening the health of the region.
The good news is that Alameda County’s efforts to end homelessness are among the most progressive in
the country, representing a collaboration between the County Board of Supervisors, local nonprofit
service providers, a wide range of county agencies, and city departments and officials. While the only
thing that will end homelessness here and nationwide is increased investment in safe, adequate, and
affordable housing, until then there is much that we can do and are doing to both combat and prevent
homelessness.
What is Homelessness?
One of the challenges we face in addressing the homelessness crisis in Alameda County is the
variety of definitions of the term homeless. Different organizations, agencies and branches of
government define homelessness in slightly different ways. The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of
homelessness is an individual who lacks a fixed,
regular, and adequate nighttime residence; or an
individual who has a primary nighttime residence
that is: 1) a supervised publicly or privately
operated shelter designed to provide temporary
living accommodations (including welfare hotels,
congregate shelters, and transitional housing for
the mentally ill); 2) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to
be institutionalized; or 3) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular
Adequate housing connects people
to their jobs, schools, services, and
community assets that create
opportunities for good health and
prosperity.
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sleeping accommodation for human beings (e.g. cars, parks, abandoned buildings, or on the
streets). At the same time, HUD also recognizes four categories under which people can be
considered homeless. They are:
1) Literally homeless (by HUD’s definition);
2) Imminent risk of homelessness;
3) Homeless under other federal statutes (for example, the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) has different definitions); and
4) Fleeing/attempting to flee domestic violence.
For the most part, the data presented in this press kit are reflective of HUD’s narrower definition
of homelessness, and do not include: persons living in housing that is substandard, in need of
repair, or overcrowded; persons living with relatives or friends; persons staying in a motel,
including pay-by-the-week motels; persons living in a board and care, adult congregate living
facility, or similar places; or persons being discharged from an institution that is required to
provide or arrange housing upon release.
Why It Matters
Adequate housing connects people to their jobs, schools, services, and community assets that
create opportunities for good health and prosperity. Without those connections and without the
security of permanent, long-term housing, people experiencing homelessness have much higher
rates of chronic diseases, mental disorders, substance use, communicable diseases and
functional and behavioral impairments than the rest of the population. In fact, according to a 2016
UC San Francisco study following 350 people experiencing homelessness in Oakland, people in
their 50s experiencing homelessness have more geriatric conditions than people decades older
who are living in homes. In addition, a substantial body of research documents that the costs to
communities of providing intensive and crisis services such as emergency rooms, medical and
mental health hospitals, jails and prisons to chronically homeless people primarily because they
do not have stable housing are substantially higher than providing modest housing linked to
appropriate support services.
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CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS
Individual factors that push people towards homelessness include poverty, mental illness, substance use,
disability, injury and illness, and family instability. But the primary cause of homelessness is a lack of
affordable housing, particularly when coupled with inadequate incomes and insufficient access to social
services.
Lack of Affordable Housing
In the 1980s, the federal government began a process of steadily disinvesting in safe, affordable
housing nationwide. At the same time, national and global market forces combined with urban
renewal and gentrification were driving down income and driving up housing costs. The safety
nets put in place in the 30s as part of the New Deal and in the 60s as part of the Great Society,
were eroding, with the result that homelessness reemerged throughout the United States. Without
the previously available federal subsidies,
Government at all levels has underinvested in the
creation of quality affordable housing, and has
failed to control the price of housing, making it out
of reach for many. This is particularly true in
Alameda County, where the high cost of housing
both increases homelessness, and is itself a
barrier to preventing and ending homelessness.
According to the National Low Income Housing
Coalition, Alameda County is one of the 10 least
affordable counties in the nation. As rents throughout the county have been rising, and the supply
of affordable housing has been falling, low-income renters are increasingly finding themselves at
risk of homelessness.
In 2013, according to Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless 2014-2015 Homeless
Population Needs Assessment, the county had an affordable housing shortfall of 58,480 units,
meaning that there are only 36,000 low-income units available for the 100,000 neediest
households in the county (60,905 extremely low-income and 40,000 very low income). From
2013-2014, only 2,000 new housing units were built countywide (almost all not affordable), while
between 2010 and 2014, more than 100,000 new residents moved to Alameda County, many
drawn by high tech jobs or forced out of San Francisco. Rising rents and Bay Area-wide
gentrification increased the burden on low-income renters: Oakland had the highest rent
As rents throughout the county
have been rising, and the supply
of affordable housing has been
falling, low-income renters are
increasingly finding themselves at
risk of homelessness.
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increases in the United States at 9.1% in 2014, with mean one-bedroom rents now at $1,934, a
41% increase since 2010. 13.2% of the county population (208,413) lives below the federal
poverty level. This includes 53,547 persons living on SSI ($877/month) and 21,000 persons
receiving cash assistance such as General Assistance or TANF. Recession-related foreclosures
resulted in 25,000 homes lost in Oakland between 2007 and 2012, not just affecting
homeowners, as 40% of persons evicted due to foreclosures were tenants.
Poverty
Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. And while not all poor people are at immediate
risk of homelessness, poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare,
health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only
some of these necessities. It is no surprise, then, that individuals and families experiencing
homelessness tend to come from communities of concentrated poverty—neighborhoods that
typically have the highest rates of unemployment, poor health, crime, family violence, low
educational achievement and overcrowding. In these situations, an everyday life issue that may
be manageable for individuals with a higher income could end up being the final factor in forcing
those in poverty onto the street. A broken down vehicle, a lack of vehicle insurance, or even
unpaid tickets might be just enough to render someone homeless.
Lack of a Support Network
Many of those who are homeless were discharged from institutions (such as jails, prisons, or
hospitals), recently left military service, are fleeing domestic violence, or have aged out of the
foster care system (one in five homeless adults in Alameda County was in foster care or a group
home when younger than 18). People facing such transitions are often without any type of
support network or financial resources, putting them at considerable risk for homelessness.
Another fast growing segment of those experiencing homelessness is older adults. The number
of adults over 50 who have become homeless is increasing nationwide. Again, largely as a result
of poverty, increasing housing costs, and unpredictable health care costs, this population is often
disconnected from their support network and at the mercy of a fixed income.
Health Problems
Conditions experienced by homeless persons on the streets or in shelters often exacerbate
existing health conditions, or create new ones, and complicate medical treatment plans. It has
been well documented that homeless people experience health problems at rates higher than
housed people. Poor diet, substance use, chronic daily stress and exposure to the elements
increase displaced people’s risk for complications of chronic illness and premature mortality.
Health conditions requiring regular, uninterrupted treatment, such as diabetes, hypertension,
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tuberculosis, HIV, addictions, and mental illness, are extremely difficult to manage without a
stable residence.
A Fractured System
Alameda County is a large, diverse, and complex entity that is home to more than 1.5 million
people living in 14 incorporated cities (Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont,
Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City) and
six unincorporated communities and rural areas (Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview,
San Lorenzo, and Sunol). And while homelessness is an issue in every part of the county, it is a
bigger problem for some communities than it is for others. In addition, federal dollars from U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) flow to cities, rather than to counties. It’s
at the county level, however, that approaches to homelessness are coordinated.
Structural Racism
In Alameda County as throughout the United States, an ongoing history of discriminatory policies
tied to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status has produced differences in access to housing
resources, and opportunities for health across neighborhoods. Intentional policies and systemic
conditions — mental health deinstitutionalization, discriminatory mortgage underwriting, redlining,
income disparity, unemployment and underemployment, cuts to safety net and health programs,
unequal school systems, tremendous growth in the penal system targeting of communities of
color — have created the conditions for concentration of poverty, housing instability and
homelessness especially among poor communities of color.
— 24 —
OUR APPROACH TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS
IN ALAMEDA COUNTY
We are addressing homelessness in Alameda County through a collaboration among community
stakeholders, cities and Alameda County government agencies representing three separate care systems
— homeless services, public health services and mental health services — that share overlapping client
populations. EveryOne Home is the coordinating body and the backbone organization that is responsible
for the continuum of homeless services in Alameda County, as well as for the implementation of Alameda
County’s plan to end homelessness. EveryOne Home spearheads the collaborative work in the county
alongside such county agencies as Health Care for the Homeless, Department of Housing and
Community Development, Behavioral Health Care Services, and many others, as well as an array of
community health clinics and direct service providers. Partners include; the county Board of Supervisors,
city governments, homeless service providers, affordable housing developers, landlords, and concerned
citizens.
The collective knowledge, funding and expertise of the
collaborative, joined with extensive input and guidance from a wide
variety of community-based organizations and service consumers,
yielded the Alameda Countywide Homeless and Special Needs
Housing Plan, now known as the EveryOne Home plan. The plan
is a regional and multifaceted response to address the social and
economic issues of homelessness and housing instability that
affect the county.
EveryOne Home Plan
The EveryOne Home plan — which has been adopted by the County Board of Supervisors, all 14
cities in the county, and more than 70 non-profit homeless and housing providers — envisions a
housing and services system that partners with consumers, families and advocates; provides
appropriate services in a timely fashion to all who need them; and ensures that individuals and
families are safely, supportively and permanently housed. To achieve these objectives by 2020,
the plan is structured around five major goals:
Prevent homelessness and other housing crises. The most effective way to end
homelessness is to prevent it in the first place by making appropriate services accessible at
the time they are needed.
Like the triage desk in an
Emergency Department, a
Coordinated Entry System
assesses those who are in
need and prioritizes them for
assistance.
— 25 —
Increase housing opportunities for the plan’s target populations. Increasing affordable
and supportive housing opportunities requires creative use of existing resources, developing
new resources, and using effective models of housing and services.
Deliver flexible services to support stability and independence. Culturally competent,
coordinated support services must accompany housing.
Measure success and report outcomes. Evaluating outcomes will allow systems and
agencies to identify successful programs and target resources toward best practices.
Develop long-term leadership and build political will. The goals of the EveryOne Home
plan will only be achieved by developing a long-term leadership structure that can sustain
systems change activities.
Some of the initiatives that have been implemented to achieve these goals are as follows.
Coordinated Entry System
Like the triage desk in an Emergency Department of a hospital, a Coordinated Entry
System (CES) assesses those who are in need and prioritizes them for assistance,
including immediate shelter and a range of longer-term housing focused programs. The
advantages of the system include:
Well publicized, easily accessible, low-barrier entry points;
A standardized screening, intake and assessment process;
A referral process that matches people to services to resolve their homelessness;
Prioritization based on housing status and history, vulnerability, and service needs
(not “first come, first served”);
A shared data system among participating programs.
At this point, the CES has been implemented in two locations in Alameda County. There
is a single hub that has been up and running for six months, and that coordinates most of
the services designated for people experiencing homelessness in Berkeley. There is also
a hub in Oakland that has been operational for seven months. By the end of 2016 or
early 2017, it is expected that the CES will be implemented throughout Alameda County.
Operation Vets Home
In 2014, Michelle Obama put the issue of veteran homelessness high on her agenda, and
made it a priority for any community working to end homelessness. That year, in
partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the administration made a
— 26 —
commitment to end veteran homelessness because “even one homeless veteran is a
shame.”
To tackle the issue at the local level, Operation Vets Home (OVH) created a by-name list
of all homeless veterans in Alameda County. Operation Vets Home is seeking assistance
from additional agencies in an effort to be sure they are reaching all Veterans
experiencing homelessness here, particularly those who may not be connected to a
veteran specific housing assistance program like Supportive Services for Veteran
Families (SSVF).
Home Stretch
Home Stretch is Alameda County’s strategy to prioritize permanent supportive housing
(PSH) opportunities to homeless and disabled people with the highest needs in order to
maximize the impact PSH can have in ending homelessness. Home Stretch will
establish a countywide registry of people who are homeless and disabled, and a
centralized process for linking high need individuals and households with PSH
opportunities. In addition, Home Stretch will include housing navigation services for
people prioritized for PSH in order to provide a supportive process that includes
assistance obtaining necessary documentation for move-in. Home Stretch is a
community partnership led by EveryOne Home and Alameda County Health Care
Services Agency (HCSA) and is expected to launch July 18, 2016.
Oakland PATH (Permanent Access to Housing) Rehousing Initiative
A companion to EveryOne Home, Oakland PATH is a rental assistance program
designed to provide housing placement and ongoing subsidies and supportive services to
people living on the street or in emergency shelters, and people exiting foster care or the
criminal justice system. Developed as a partnership between the Oakland Housing
Authority, the City of Oakland, Alameda County, and multiple non‐profit agencies in
2010, OPRI connects some of Oakland’s most vulnerable and at‐risk households to
housing and the services needed to increase housing stability and self‐sufficiency.
— 27 —
Policy as Prevention
While the housing crisis that threatens Alameda County is devastating for people experiencing
homelessness or who are at risk for homelessness, the negative consequences are much more
widespread. Safe, quality, and affordable housing is one of the most basic and powerful
determinants of health and wellbeing. According to a report from the Corporation for Supportive
Housing (Housing is the Best Medicine: Supportive Housing and the Social Determinants of
Health, 2014), “Supportive housing provides physical safety, protection and access to basic
needs. A clean, dry, safe home reduces exposure to harsh weather, communicable diseases,
infections, injury, harassment and violence; it provides a secure place to sleep and store food,
clothing and medications; and it is essential to promoting personal hygiene and recuperation from
illness.”
With this in mind, a just released policy brief by Alameda County Public Health Department and
Behavioral Health Care Services (Improving Housing and Health for All in Alameda County: the
Opportunity is Now, 2016) advocates housing solutions that not only provide and protect
affordability at all levels of need, but also ensure habitability; protect against unfair and unjust
displacement; and connect residents to the jobs, schools, services, and community resources
that create the conditions for health and prosperity. Specific recommendations include:
1. Protect existing residents from losing their housing
a. Rent stabilization
b. Just cause eviction
c. Tenant protection ordinances
d. Tenant counseling and legal services
e. Code enforcement
2. Repair and preserve existing housing
a. Acquisition and rehabilitation
b. Permanent affordability
c. No net loss
3. Produce new housing for all income levels
a. Prioritizing public subsidies
b. Coordination and leveraging of subsidies for deeper affordability
c. Mix-income and diverse neighborhoods
4. Remove barriers to housing access
a. Anti-discrimination policies
b. Housing formerly incarcerated individuals
— 28 —
SERVICES AND PROVIDERS FOR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY
(This is not a complete list of agencies and organizations providing services in the county.)
Alameda County
Health Care Services Agency (HCSA)
Behavioral Health Care Services
Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services believes that there is a direct link between
housing and behavioral health. Research shows that people with behavioral health issues are at
great risk of becoming homeless. Currently BHCS is working on the following projects:
Working with eight service programs to help individuals with serious mental health issues
move into independent, affordable housing
Funding the creation of 150 to 200 dedicated, affordable housing opportunities for people
with serious mental illness
Developing and implementing strategies for updating stakeholders on housing related
opportunities
Administering a homeless prevention/housing assistance fund for BHCS consumers
Managing dedicated emergency housing beds at East Oakland Community Project
(EOCP) Crossroads, BOSS South County Homeless Project (Hayward) and BOSS
Harrison House (Berkeley)
Supporting and participating in the EveryOne Home plan to end homelessness in
Alameda County
Health Care for the Homeless
Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) is a network that provides coordinated,
comprehensive care to people experiencing homelessness. HCH provides primary care, specialty
care, substance use recovery services, dental care, optometry, and care management. In
partnership with a variety of county and community-based organizations, HCH also delivers care
in mobile clinics, at the Trust Health Center, on the streets, and at health centers across Alameda
County. In 2015, HCH provided 35,374 medical and social support service encounters to 9,301
homeless people throughout Alameda County.
— 29 —
Trust Health Center
Opened in November 2015, the Trust Health Center is a partnership between the
County and Lifelong Medical Care designed to be especially welcoming to clients
with chronic housing issues. Many people who are homeless are disabled, but
have been unable to navigate the system of medical and financial documentation
needed to get the benefits they are eligible for. The health center is organized
so that every client/patient has a health coach as their primary advocate and
guide within the clinic. Referrals come from housing service organizations of
clients they believe are disabled, but not receiving benefits, and Trust focuses on
helping those individuals get comprehensive health assessments, necessary
health care, help getting federal disability and other benefits, and resources to
stabilize their lives including, housing case management. Over 200 individuals
are currently receiving care and services through Trust.
Mobile Health Vans
Mobile Health provides urgent care, brief social work assessments, and referrals
to community resources while visiting shelters, meal programs, and other
accessible locations in the community. Staff from Alameda Health System and
Health Care for the Homeless include a medical provider, medical assistant,
social worker, registration clerk, and van driver who work together to provide
friendly and accessible care to those who need it most, as well as linkages to
ongoing primary care at Alameda Health System or other community clinics.
Services are provided free of charge to people experiencing homelessness on a
first-come-first-served basis.
Street Medicine
Through a contract with Roots Community Health Center in North County and
Abode/TriCity Health Center in South County, the county provides medical
treatment and outreach services to chronically ill homeless people who face
barriers to getting care, including a lack of transportation and mistrust of health
care providers. A backpack doctor, outreach workers and housing specialists go
out to encampments and
shelters to find people
with medical issues.
People who may have
refused help when they
were well may accept it
The lack of opportunities for good health in
some Alameda County neighborhoods is
rooted in persistent injustices shaped by a
legacy of racism, segregation, widespread
disinvestment in communities of color, and
exclusion of people of color from decision-
making venues.
— 30 —
when they are ill. The program uses on-site medical care as a way to build
trusting relationships and as a vehicle to deliver outreach, benefits enrollment,
linkage to services and treatment, and medical care to homeless individuals.
Dental Care
Persons experiencing homelessness suffer disproportionately from dental
neglect that leads to unsightly missing teeth which gives them trouble eating and
digesting nutritious food. They also suffer from untreated oral infections that lead
to systemic illness. Poor oral health deeply affects a person’s physical and
spiritual health and chronic physical and mental conditions such as diabetes,
heart disease and depression are exacerbated by poor oral health. HCH provides
dental services by contractors Onsite Dental Foundation and La Clinica Dental.
Persons experiencing homelessness can also access urgent care dental services
at Highland Hospital Dental Clinic and other safety net clinics throughout
Alameda County.
Place Matters
Where we live, our race, and our income shape how long we live. The lack of opportunities for
good health in some Alameda County neighborhoods is rooted in persistent injustices shaped by
a legacy of racism, segregation, widespread disinvestment in communities of color, and exclusion
of people of color from decision-making venues. The Alameda County Place Matters Team
recognizes that our environment – social, economic, political, built – shapes us, and works to
shape policy to provide for equity in: education, economics, criminal justice, housing, land use,
and transportation.
— 31 —
Alameda County
Housing and Community Development Department
The Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) plays a lead role in the
development of housing and programs to serve the county's low- and moderate-income households,
homeless, and disabled populations. HCD provides services through a wide-array of programs.
Shelter Plus Care Programs
HCD's Shelter Plus Care (S+C) programs provide on-going rental assistance accompanied by
community-provided support services to homeless families and individuals disabled by serious
mental illness, chronic alcohol and drug problems, and/or HIV and related disorders. Components
include tenant-based, sponsor-based, and project-based assistance. The program serves more
than 566 households countywide.
Supportive Housing Program Projects
HCD's SHP programs provide affordable housing operating subsidies and support services for
homeless individuals and families. SHP programs include: Lorenzo Creek (based in Castro
Valley); Spirit of Hope (located at the Alameda Naval Air Station); and Alameda Point Permanent
Housing (located at Alameda Point).
SHP Transitional Housing Programs
Transitional Housing is housing where program participants have signed a lease or occupancy
agreement, the purpose of which is to facilitate the movement of homeless individuals and
families into permanent housing within 24 months or less. HCD's transitional housing programs
provide affordable housing and support services to assist homeless individuals and families make
the transition to permanent housing. Transitional Housing services through HCD are provided by
Banyan House Transitional Housing.
Homeless Emergency Shelters
Homeless emergency shelters are safe, temporary housing that is designed to provide an
opportunity to connect people experience homelessness with housing service providers to
develop a plan for regaining permanent housing. HCD’s Emergency Solutions Grant provides
funds for staffing and support services in emergency shelters serving the five small cities and the
unincorporated areas of the county. In addition, HCD provides annual funding for cold weather
winter relief in North County in partnership with the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and
— 32 —
Albany, and in South County in partnership with the City of Fremont through a contract with
Abode Services.
Rapid Re-housing Programs
Rapid Re-housing programs provide move-in assistance, short-term rental subsidies, and
connection to support services to quickly transition homeless households to a permanent housing
solution. Rapid Re-housing programs assist clients by identifying barriers to housing stability and
linking them with services to address those barriers while the household is permanently housed.
Programs involved in Rapid Re-housing include the following:
Southern Alameda County Housing/Jobs Linkages Program: This seven-agency
collaborative program, led by HCD, provides transitional housing subsidies on permanent
housing units, job preparation and placement, case management and other support
services to homeless families throughout Mid, South and Eastern Alameda County. The
program serves approximately 80 families at a time. Partners include Abode Services,
FESCO, ESP, Building Futures with Women and Children, SAVE, and Tri-Valley Haven.
Realignment Housing Program: In partnership with Alameda County's Probation
Department, Social Services Agency, and three community- based organizations, HCD's
Realignment Housing Program provides a range of supports to people on Probation
supervision under Criminal Justice Realignment. The goal is to assist participants to
secure long-term stable housing that they can afford to retain. The program provides
immediate assistance to participants who are homeless or at risk.
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG): HCD funds community-based organizations to
provide emergency shelter and rapid re-housing services to the "Urban County"
(Berkeley Food and Housing Project, Family Emergency Shelter Coalition and Abode
Services). Services are provided to the cities of Albany, Emeryville, Dublin, Newark,
Piedmont and the unincorporated county.
Winter Relief: HCD funds a rapid re-housing program in conjunction with the North
County Winter Shelter program and in place of a previous South County Winter relief
program.
CalWORKs Housing Support (HSP): HCD, in partnership with Social Services Agency,
funds a rapid re-housing program for homeless CalWORKs families.
Homeless Prevention
Homelessness Prevention provides a broad spectrum of financial assistance to re-stabilize
households at risk of losing their permanent housing until the crisis is resolved. Provides
connections to other mainstream resources to maintain stability.
— 33 —
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Resource Development
The HMIS is a database used to record, analyze, and transmit client and activity data in regard to
the provision of shelter, housing, and services to individuals and families who are experiencing
homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The HMIS database captures data from more
than 45 community agencies providing support to those who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness. The database was implemented in 2005 and currently houses records for more
than 44,000 individuals served throughout the County.
In addition to managing the countywide HMIS, HCD is the Collaborative Applicant for the annual
application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Homeless Continuum
of Care funding (approximately $28 million annually).
— 34 —
Representative Community-Based Clinics and
Direct Service Organizations
Lifelong Medical Care — www.lifelongmedical.org
LifeLong Medical Care recognizes housing as a core health issue and together with community
partners has developed a robust permanent supportive housing program to improve the quality of
life for homeless adults. The LifeLong Supportive Housing Program (SHP) brings health and
social services into subsidized affordable housing so that tenants with histories of homelessness
can achieve housing stability and improve their quality of life. The Supportive Housing Program
offers services to nearly 600 tenants at ten different housing sites within Alameda County, as well
as to residents living in individual subsidized units scattered throughout the County.
Oakland PATH (Permanent Access to Housing) Rehousing Initiative
A rental assistance program designed to provide housing placement and ongoing subsidies and
supportive services to people living on the street or in emergency shelters, and people exiting
foster care or the criminal justice system. Developed as a partnership between the Oakland
Housing Authority, the City of Oakland, Alameda County, and multiple non‐profit agencies in
2010, OPRI connects some of Oakland’s most vulnerable and at‐risk households to housing and
the services needed to increase housing stability and self‐sufficiency.
Building Futures — www.bfwc.org
Building Futures focuses its homeless services and programs on the women and children who
make up an increasing proportion of the homeless population in Alameda County. We operate
two emergency shelters for homeless women and children, the 30-bed San Leandro Shelter and
the 25-bed Midway Shelter in Alameda, with case management and other support services to
assist women in resolving housing barriers and in finding permanent solutions to their
homelessness.
More than 60 percent of the women in Building Futures’ homeless shelters have experienced
family violence, the primary reason for homelessness for women, at some point in their lives.
Those in the most immediate danger are referred to Sister Me Home, our safe house shelter, or
other domestic violence shelters.
Each year Building Futures assists more than 700 women and children move from homelessness
to housing. Several hundred more women and children are served through our 24-hour crisis line,
domestic violence outreach services, and our Housing Assistance Programs.
— 35 —
First Place for Youth — www.firstplaceforyouth.org
Young people transitioning out of foster care are among the most vulnerable of populations when
it comes to homelessness. Without the support network of a stable family typically foster youth
turn 18 and have nowhere to go and nobody to turn to for help. Study after study shows that more
than one in three foster youth experience homelessness. First Place for Youth is a nationally-
recognized model that foster youth in finding a safe place to live, get their first job, and keep
going in school. A statewide organization based in Oakland, First Place for Youth is the primary
direct services organization providing housing for foster youth to prevent them from ending up
homeless.
East Oakland Community Project — www.eocp.net
East Oakland Community Project (EOCP) provides emergency and transitional housing in
Alameda County. Their state of the art emergency housing facility, Crossroads provides dignified
accommodations and holistic services to homeless people, including individuals battling
HIV/AIDS. Since 1990, more than 16,000 of Alameda County’s homeless have benefited from
EOCP’s services. In addition to emergency housing, EOCP operates three transitional housing
programs. Our House offers a safe home and support services for homeless young adults.
Matilda Cleveland is a 14-unit congregate living complex that gives single parent families a stable
home environment with extensive resources for regaining their foothold. Families in Transition
program assists homeless families living in 10 residential units scattered throughout Oakland.
— 36 —
MYTHS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS
Homelessness is usually a long-term condition.
The most common length of time that someone experiences homelessness is one or two days,
and half the people who enter the homeless shelter system will leave within 30 days, never to
return. Long-term homelessness is relatively rare.
Most people who are experiencing homelessness live on the streets or sleep in shelters.
Experiencing homelessness is not always the same thing as living on the street or in a shelter.
Homelessness can be someone living in their car; it can be families “doubling up” in an
apartment, or couch surfing; or it can be individuals or families living in SROs (single occupancy
rooms) or even short terms stays in motels.
Most people who are experiencing homelessness are mentally ill.
Only about 25% of those experiencing homelessness are also facing mental health issues, and
only a tiny percentage of those actually need long-term hospitalization. The vast majority are
capable of self-sufficiency once they have access to adequate and safe housing, proper health
care and support.
Most people who are experiencing homelessness are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Not true. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2015 Annual
Homeless Assessment Report, one quarter of all homeless are children, a third are under the age
of 24, and nearly 40 percent are families with children.
Establishing services for people who are experiencing homelessness will cause homeless people
from all around to migrate to a city.
The idea that people experiencing homelessness flock to cities with an abundance of services is
not a new one. The reality, however, is that the majority of people experiencing homelessness in
a city are from that city.
— 37 —
Most people who are experiencing homelessness are single men.
There is no single face of homelessness. While many people experiencing homelessness are
single adults, the fastest growing segment of the homeless population is families.
Most people who are experiencing homelessness don't work.
The majority of people experiencing homelessness are the working poor; people who are just
scraping by, but then, when faced with even a minor life issue (a broken down vehicle, medical
expenses, or even a parking ticket) slip over the line into an episode of homelessness.
Shelters are a humane solution for the problem of homelessness.
Emergency, short-term shelters are used by a wide variety of poor people with temporary housing
crises, including those avoiding family conflicts, leaving prison or transitioning from substance-
abuse treatment. And while emergency shelters can be literal lifesavers in some instances, they
are only a temporary solution. The only real and humane solution to the problem of
homelessness is a permanent home.
Homeless individuals are fine with being homeless.
Seeing yourself as homeless, even if you are living out of your car and have been for some time,
is difficult for most people. People who experience homelessness do not do so willingly. There is
a tremendous amount of invisibility and loss of dignity that many people experiencing
homelessness feel.
— 38 —
KEY CONTACTS
Muntu Davis, M.D., M.P.H. — County Health Officer and Director, Alameda County Public Health
Department. Content expert on: epidemiology, policy and prevention of homelessness.
510.267.8000
Muntu.Davis@acgov.org
Elaine de Coligny — Executive Director, EveryOne Home Content expert on: how services are
organized in Alameda County, policy direction and the plan to end homelessness.
510.670.5944
edecoligny@everyonehome.org
Damon Francis, M.D. — Medical Director, Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless
Content expert on: housing as a health intervention, the Trust Health Center, the Street Medicine and
Mobile Health programs.
415.637.5292
Damon.Francis@acgov.org
Linda Gardner — Director, Alameda County Housing and Community Development
Content expert on: the proposed housing bond, housing development and programs for people
experiencing homelessness.
510.670.5939
Linda.Gardner@acgov.org
Robert Ratner, M.D., M.P.H. — Director, Housing Services Office, Behavioral Health Services Agency
Content expert on: housing and mental health, supportive housing models, developing housing for
disabled individuals.
510.567.8124
Robert.Ratner@acbhcs.org