Overview

• On July 23, the Board of Supervisors approved directing 80% of the half-cent Measure W sales tax—about $170 million annually—to homelessness prevention, shelter and permanent housing, with 20% reserved for general county services.
• The board agreed that any Measure W revenues exceeding the projected $170 million per year will also go toward homelessness initiatives.
• An April Alameda County Superior Court ruling reclassified Measure W as a general tax despite campaign pledges for exclusive homelessness spending, giving supervisors discretion over fund allocation.
• A coalition of all 14 county mayors, Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas and advocacy groups had lobbied for 100% of Measure W dollars to address racial disparities, noting Black residents represent over 40% of the unhoused population.
• Officials describe the 80% allocation as an initial step toward executing the Home Together Plan’s five-year, $2.5 billion strategy, while some supervisors propose annual performance reviews to guide future disbursements.