Homelessness Is Down in Alameda County. Can It Maintain That Progress? | KQED

"Alameda County saw its largest overall reduction in homelessness to date over the last two years, according to new data released by county officials Tuesday. The county's biennial Point In Time count found a 13% drop in overall homelessness and 18% drop in unsheltered homelessness since 2024, bringing the proportion of unhoused people outside to its lowest point in more than a decade."

"The biggest decrease was in Oakland, which saw a 20% drop in its unhoused population. The result reverses a trend recorded in 2024, when the city's homelessness rose 9% while the county overall saw a modest decline. "Today's proof is that we are doing the right thing," Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said Tuesday."

"Still, Oakland, which accounts for more than half of the county's unhoused individuals, despite representing just 22% of the population, is the "epicenter" of the county's crisis, she said. "The homelessness crisis in Alameda County, here in Oakland specifically, is at its root a racial equity crisis," Lee said. "It's a product of decades, and I mean decades, of redlining, disinvestment and displacement. We can't sweep this under the rug.""

"Lee said Oakland has the lofty goal of reducing homelessness by 50% in five years. The city has 1,000 units of housing for formerly unhoused people that are already in construction or set to break ground next year, and 2,000 new affordable housing units in its pipeline, according to Lee."

Alameda County reported its largest overall reduction in homelessness to date over the past two years. Biennial Point In Time count data showed a 13% drop in overall homelessness and an 18% drop in unsheltered homelessness since 2024. The share of unhoused people living outside reached the lowest level in more than a decade. Oakland experienced the biggest decrease, with a 20% drop in its unhoused population, reversing a 2024 increase. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said the results show progress while emphasizing that the crisis is rooted in racial equity issues tied to redlining, disinvestment, and displacement. The city aims to cut homelessness by 50% in five years and is pursuing new housing units for formerly unhoused residents.

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