Berkeley's Homeless Response Team trying to 'keep the lights on' while improving

"More than $25 million was allocated to homelessness programs in Berkeley for the last fiscal year, but the city now faces an annual $20 million structural deficit, the state is grappling with a strained budget of its own and federal social services are being cut. The financial uncertainty has created a dilemma for Berkeley. City staff charged with overseeing homelessness programming say they need at least $9 million "just to keep the lights on," for existing programs by either finding new revenue or shrinking what efforts are already funded."

"Berkeley residents have already agreed to tax themselves to support homelessness programming and the creation and preservation of affordable housing through the passage of Measure O, a $350 million bond item; Measure P and Measure W, which raise money through a property transfer tax; and U1, a business license tax on owners of residential properties. Additional dollars will also flow into Alameda County cities through the county's Measure W, a one-half percent general sales tax approved by the voters in November 2020 that was tied up in litigation until April. It's unclear exactly how much of that money will come to Berkeley, though. Neighborhood Services Manager Peter Radu said his team has already applied for funding through the county measure that's meant to establish more interim housing, and "will jump on every opportunity.""

"'We're building momentum, but without reliable long-term funding we won't be able to keep up,' Berkeley's Homeless Services Coordinator Josh Jacobs said. The impacts of running out of funding will be "immediate and visible" for the hundreds of Berkeley's unhoused residents who receive support through the city daily, Jacobs said. Continued operations at three motel shelters"

Berkeley allocated more than $25 million to homelessness programs last fiscal year but now confronts a $20 million annual structural deficit amid state and federal budget pressures. City homelessness staff must implement transparency and data-keeping recommendations while identifying at least $9 million to sustain current programs. Voters approved local measures and taxes (Measure O, Measure P, Measure W, U1) to fund homelessness and affordable housing, and county Measure W will provide additional dollars, though Berkeley’s share is uncertain. Running out of funding would produce immediate, visible impacts for hundreds of unhoused residents and threaten motel shelter operations.

Read at The Mercury News