Alameda Social Services and Human Relations Board Meeting - September 24, 2026

The Social Services and Human Relations Board (SSHRB) held its regular September meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2026, starting at 7:04 PM and adjourning at 8:39 PM. The meeting included presentations on the Rise Up Alameda Guaranteed Income Pilot Program final report, review and approval of the FY2026-27 work plan, updates from work groups, and a status update on Dignity Village funding and long-term sustainability. The board also received staff communications and member announcements.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during any of the agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Rise Up Alameda Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Final Report – Jackie McKenna, Development Manager for Base for Use and Economic Development, presented the final 24-month report. The program provided $1,000 per month for two years to 150 low-income households in Alameda, selected by lottery from 2,368 applicants. Key findings included: 35% of participants had more than $500 in savings (vs. 12% control), 16% went into debt (vs. 27% control), and participants reported lower psychological distress and perceived stress. No consistent impacts were found on housing or food security. The program was funded by ARPA ($4.6 million) and is not currently planned for a second phase due to lack of funding. Jackie noted that a short film and participant profiles are available at RiseUpAlameda.org, and a celebration event, "Guaranteed Income Works," is scheduled for October 13, 2026, featuring former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. Board members expressed strong support for the program and discussed the need to change narratives about poverty in Alameda. They also inquired about participant demographics and the control group; Jackie noted that the control group was income-eligible but not matched on age or other factors. The presentation concluded with a video featuring a long-time Alameda resident and program participant named Dolores.
• FY2026-27 Work Plan Review and Approval – The board reviewed and discussed the draft work plan developed over recent months. The plan includes goals for community needs assessment (conducting two community circle meetings and a service provider survey), the Belonging at Home committee (partnering with AUSD and ACCYF for United Against Hate Week, launching a public awareness campaign on reporting hate acts, reviewing the Alameda United Against Hate action plan, attending CARES team meetings, and hosting a volunteer of the year award), and the Domestic Violence Task Force (hosting task force meetings twice a year, increasing community visibility, and conducting biannual presentations). The board approved the work plan with an amendment to replace "city's plan to end homelessness" with "HHS strategic plan" in the Belonging at Home section.
• Work Group Reports – The Domestic Violence Task Force reported planning a meeting on October 5-6 to engage members during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Belonging at Home committee had no additional updates beyond work plan discussions. Gerald Bryant reported on United Against Hate Week activities, noting that a presentation on online hate and bullying is being arranged for the next board meeting and that posters will be distributed citywide.
• Dignity Village Funding and Long-Term Sustainability – Simone Falls, Division Manager, presented an update on Dignity Village, an interim housing site developed with a state Home Key grant and other funding. Current funding (including $1.2 million from the general fund) is anticipated to sustain operations through FY2027-28. The city is exploring options for long-term sustainability: requesting Alameda County to use Measure W funds (a memo was sent to the Board of Supervisors, but the county currently only sustains shelter beds already in their portfolio, which does not include Dignity Village), transitioning the site to permanent supportive housing (potentially combining units to add kitchens or purchasing a hotel), or relocating the program. The city expects to bring a recommendation to City Council by the end of 2026. Board members expressed concerns about site operations and requested more transparency; Simone offered to connect board members with the resident advisory board and noted improved operations under a new provider. The board discussed the possibility of sending a memo in support of Measure W funding to Supervisor Tam.
• Staff Communications – Simone Falls and Shelby Neal provided updates: the residential rehabilitation program has launched with increased applications due to a shift to low-income renters; the CDBG award agreement from HUD is under review; a new administrative specialist, Deja Barrett, has joined; and a free community film screening of "Beyond the Bridge" will be held on Wednesday, September 30 at 5:30 PM, co-hosted by President Gerald Bryant.
• Board Communications – Gerald Bryant announced his participation in the film screening and emphasized the importance of addressing homelessness openly. Sam mentioned Alameda Pride events on October 10. Gerald also proposed a meetup for the Black community on December 1st at a West End location.

Key Outcomes

• The board approved the FY2026-27 work plan (unanimous voice vote) with an amendment to reference the HHS strategic plan instead of the city's plan to end homelessness.
• The board received the Rise Up Alameda final report and expressed strong support for the program's continuation pending future funding.
• Staff will provide board members with the memo sent to the Board of Supervisors regarding Measure W funding for Dignity Village.
• The board agreed to explore connecting with the Dignity Village resident advisory board for more direct feedback on operations.