Alameda County leaders say HUD cuts will significantly impact homelessness response

Alameda County is expected to lose up to $60 million in federal funding because of cuts announced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development earlier this month.  

In a virtual community meeting held Monday, representatives from the county’s Housing and Homelessness Services department discussed the impact of these cuts on the county’s Home Together plan, a strategic initiative to build a coordinated homelessness response system in Alameda County. 

The Board of Supervisors adopted the Home Together 2026 five-year plan in 2022 and is now updating it for the Home Together 2030 plan, which they now say will be impacted by recent federal cuts.  

On Nov. 13, HUD announced that it will limit funding for permanent housing programs that prioritize placing homeless individuals in long-term affordable housing. A news release said the department will instead prioritize funding for transitional housing services to promote “self-sufficiency.”  

“Our philosophy for addressing the homelessness crisis will now define success not by dollars spent or housing units filled, but by how many people achieve long-term self-sufficiency and recovery,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner.  

At Monday’s community meeting, Alameda County Housing and Homelessness Services director Jonathan Russell said that the cuts will have “sweeping and significant” impacts since the county is staring at a $33-$60 million annual loss in federal funding. This loss represents between 20-40% of the $153 million annual budget of the Home Together plan and permanent housing programs will be the hardest hit, Russell said. 

“The impacts will be massive in terms of households impacted,” said Russell. “But our commitment is to preserve housing for those people who have it, at all costs.” 

At the moment, it is not clear what other programs will absorb the losses, Russell said, but the Board of Supervisors and all other stakeholders are currently discussing next steps.  

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet for a special session on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.