Subtitle: After a four-year legal deep freeze, Alameda County’s Measure W is finally putting "shovel-ready" projects back on the map, with Oakland leading the charge for 946 new units.
Back in March 2020, as the world was retreating indoors, Alameda County voters did something bold: they stepped up for their unhoused neighbors by passing Measure W. It was a 0.5% sales tax designed to generate roughly $150 million annually for housing and homelessness services. On election night, the mood was electric, advocates saw a path toward ending the crisis. Then, the lawyers walked in. A lawsuit challenging the "simple majority" win froze $810 million in a legal vault for four agonizing years while the housing crisis only intensified on our streets [1].
Look, we’ve all felt that frustration. In the construction world at Atlas Premier Services & Consultants, we know that a four-year delay isn't just a scheduling hiccup; it’s a project killer that drives up costs and leaves families in the lurch. But finally, the "unsticking" has happened. With the legal hurdles cleared, Alameda County has announced the first $53 million in Home Together awards, and Oakland is rightfully claiming the lion's share of that investment (Oaklandside) [2]. This funding isn't just a line item in a budget; it's the "spark" that turns vacant lots and aging offices into 946 units of permanent housing.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- How the resolution of the Measure W lawsuit is fast-tracking nearly 1,000 new units across the Bay Area.
- Why Oakland is considered the "epicenter" of the region's housing crisis and how the $53M award reflects that reality.
- The specifics of "shovel-ready" projects like Liberation Park and Brighter Bancroft that are finally breaking ground.
The Lawsuit That Froze Progress
For nearly half a decade, Measure W was a "ghost fund." While the county collected the half-cent sales tax, the money sat in an escrow account because the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and other groups argued that the measure required a two-thirds "supermajority" to pass, rather than a simple majority (California Supreme Court) [3]. This legal purgatory meant that while homelessness in Oakland rose significantly, millions of dollars that could have mitigated the suffering were essentially locked in a drawer.
It wasn't until a series of landmark California Supreme Court rulings, which clarified that citizen-led tax initiatives only require a simple majority, that the funds were released in 2024 [4]. For local leaders like Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, this release wasn’t just a victory for the city; it was an act of survival. Oakland has been carrying the weight for the entire county for too long. When we talk about the "measure of success," we aren't just talking about dollars, we’re talking about the persistence required to outlast a four-year legal siege (Alameda County HCD) [1].
Oakland: The Epicenter of the Crisis
To understand why Oakland received $38.5 million of the available $53 million, you have to look at the math of the crisis. According to the 2024 Point-in-Time count, Oakland is home to roughly 58% of Alameda County’s unhoused population, despite having only about 22% of the county’s overall residents (Everyone Home) [5]. The city isn't just a part of the problem; it is the epicenter.
Historically, regional funding was often split per-capita, which meant cities with smaller unhoused populations got more than they needed, while Oakland was left chronically underfunded. Mayor Thao and other East Bay advocates pushed for "Equity-Driven Math," ensuring that the $810 million total pot of Measure W funds would follow the actual human need (City of Oakland) [6]. This shift in strategy recognizes that if we don't fix the heart of the crisis in Oakland, the entire Bay Area remains unstable.
The Shovel-Ready Philosophy
At Atlas Premier, we often tell our clients that "ready to build" is a state of mind backed by a mountain of paperwork. The county’s selection committee prioritized "shovel-ready" projects, those that already had their permits, designs, and environmental reviews mostly in place but were just missing that last bit of "gap financing" (Alameda County HCD) [1]. This is a smart move. In a high-interest-rate environment, the faster you can get a crew on-site, the more likely the project is to survive.
The 10 projects selected across the county will create 946 units overall, with 310 specifically set aside for the formerly homeless (Oaklandside) [#2]. This isn't just about building walls; it’s about creating specialized environments for seniors, veterans, and families who have been living in cars or encampments for years.
Case Example: The Liberation Park Transformation
One of the most exciting recipients of the Measure W funds is the Liberation Park project in East Oakland. Led by the Black Cultural Zone (BCZ) and Eden Housing, this project is a masterclass in community-driven development. For years, the site at 73rd and MacArthur was an underutilized lot. BCZ turned it into a vibrant hub with a roller rink, outdoor markets, and community gathering spaces (Black Cultural Zone) [7].
With the new Measure W grant, the site will transition into a permanent mixed-use development featuring 119 units of affordable housing and 40,000 square feet of commercial space (Eden Housing) [8].
- The Stakes: This project is in a neighborhood that has faced decades of disinvestment and predatory lending.
- The Outcome: By combining housing with community space, Liberation Park serves as a "cultural anchor" that prevents displacement while providing high-quality homes.
- The Atlas Perspective: This is exactly the kind of complex, multi-use project that requires expert project management to ensure the community vision stays intact during the grueling construction phase.
Breaking Down the Award List
The $53 million isn't just going to one place; it's spread across projects that target very specific vulnerabilities.
| Project Name | Location | Focus Area | Impact (Units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberation Park | East Oakland | Black Cultural Zone/Families | 119 Units [7] |
| Brighter Bancroft | Oakland | Low-income Seniors | 57 Units [2] |
| 3135 San Pablo | Oakland | Formerly Homeless/Permanent Supportive | 100+ Units [6] |
| 500 Lake Park | Oakland | General Affordable Housing | 60 Units [2] |
| People’s Park | Berkeley | Students/Unhoused | 100+ Units [9] |
| EBALDC Project | Oakland | Community-Led Redevelopment | TBD [10] |
Sources: [2], [6], [7], [9], [10]
Focus on Senior Housing: Brighter Bancroft
We can't talk about the housing crisis without talking about our seniors. In Oakland, the fastest-growing segment of the unhoused population is people over the age of 55 (UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative) [11]. The Brighter Bancroft Senior Housing project is designed to catch these folks before they fall through the cracks. By providing 57 units of deeply subsidized housing, this project addresses the reality that for many seniors, a single medical bill or rent hike is the difference between a home and the street.
From a general contracting standpoint, senior housing requires specific design considerations, accessibility, proximity to transit, and medical support spaces. These aren't "standard" builds; they are specialized facilities that Measure W is finally making possible (EBALDC) [10].
Berkeley’s People’s Park: A Different Kind of Challenge
While Oakland took the lead, Berkeley secured $8.1 million for the controversial yet critical People’s Park project. This development aims to provide 125 units for the formerly homeless and over 1,000 units of student housing (UC Berkeley) [9]. The project has been at the center of intense protests and legal battles for years. The inclusion of People’s Park in this funding round signals that the county is willing to back high-stakes, high-impact projects even if they come with a side of political noise.
Timeline of the Measure W "Unsticking"
- March 3, 2020: Alameda County voters approve Measure W (0.5% sales tax) with 51.1% of the vote [1].
- April 2020: Lawsuits are filed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association challenging the simple majority vote [3].
- 2020–2023: Revenue is collected but held in escrow; the fund grows to over $800 million [4].
- January 2024: California Supreme Court declines to hear appeals on similar tax cases, effectively validating Measure W's simple-majority win [4].
- May 2025: Alameda County Board of Supervisors approves the Home Together 2026 Implementation Plan [1].
- March 2026: Six Oakland projects and four others are awarded the first $53 million in grants [2].
- July 2026: Groundbreaking expected for initial "shovel-ready" sites like Liberation Park [7].
- 2028–2029: Estimated completion for the first wave of 946 units [10].
What Smart Critics Argue
No $810 million fund goes without criticism. Here are the three main arguments against the current structure of Measure W:
- The Sales Tax is Regressive: Critics argue that funding housing through a sales tax hurts the very low-income people it's meant to help (Tax Foundation) [12].
- Response: While sales taxes are regressive, the scale of the housing crisis requires a massive, stable revenue stream that only a broad tax can provide. The long-term benefit of housing stability outweighs the marginal increase in daily costs.
- Too Much Money for "Studios" Instead of "Families": Some community members feel the focus on Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) ignores the needs of large families (Oakland Tenants Union) [13].
- Response: Projects like Liberation Park specifically include 2- and 3-bedroom units to address this exact concern. PSH is necessary to get people off the streets, but the portfolio is diversifying.
- Construction Costs are Out of Control: Critics point to the $600k-$800k per unit cost in the Bay Area as proof of inefficiency (Terner Center) [14].
- Response: These costs are driven by labor, materials, and the complex regulatory environment in California. Using "shovel-ready" projects, as Measure W does, is the best way to mitigate these costs by reducing the time projects spend in the expensive "pre-development" phase.
Key Takeaways
- Persistence Wins: The release of the $810 million fund is a testament to the local leaders who fought through four years of legal delays [4].
- Oakland is the Priority: Receiving over 70% of the initial funding recognizes Oakland's role as the epicenter of the crisis [2].
- Shovel-Ready is King: Priority was given to projects that can break ground immediately to capitalize on current funding cycles [1].
- Diversity of Housing: The grants cover everything from senior housing at Brighter Bancroft to cultural anchors like Liberation Park [7].
- Legal Clarity: The resolution of this case sets a precedent for other Bay Area counties to use citizen-led initiatives for housing funds [3].
- Massive Impact: Nearly 1,000 units will be added to the regional inventory through this first round alone [2].
- Formerly Homeless Focus: 310 units are dedicated to those coming directly from the streets, addressing the most visible part of the crisis [1].
Actions You Can Take
At Work:
If you are in the real estate or development sector, look for "gap financing" opportunities. These projects often need private-sector partnerships or specialized contractors who understand the nuances of affordable housing builds.
At Home:
Stay informed about the "Housing Element" in your specific neighborhood. Understanding where affordable housing is slated for construction helps you provide informed feedback during community meetings.
In the Community:
Support local organizations like the Black Cultural Zone. They are doing the hard work of turning "plans" into "places." Visiting their markets or roller rink helps prove the commercial viability of these mixed-use sites [7].
In Civic Life:
Voter-led initiatives like Measure W only work if people show up to vote. Keep an eye on future local bonds and tax measures. As we saw here, even a "simple majority" can change the face of a city.
One Extra Step:
Contact your County Supervisor to ask about the rest of the $810 million. The $53M is just the beginning. Ensuring that the remaining funds are distributed with the same equity-focused math is crucial for Oakland's future.
FAQ
Q: Why did it take four years to get this money?
A: A lawsuit challenged the legality of the "simple majority" vote. The funds were held in escrow until the California Supreme Court clarified the rules for citizen-led tax measures [3].
Q: Is $53 million enough to fix the problem?
A: No, but it's a down payment. This is the first "tranche" of a fund that will eventually distribute hundreds of millions of dollars across the county (Alameda County HCD) [1].
Q: Who gets to live in these new units?
A: Each project has different criteria, but they generally target households earning between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with significant portions reserved for the formerly homeless [2].
Q: How does this affect my property taxes?
A: It doesn't. Measure W is a sales tax, not a property tax. You pay it when you buy goods in Alameda County [1].
Q: What happens if construction costs go up again?
A: This is why the "shovel-ready" status was so important. By funding projects that are ready to go now, the county reduces the risk of future inflation eating away at the budget.
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Sources
[1] Alameda County Housing & Community Development (HCD), “Measure W Home Together 2026 Awards Announcement,” March 2026, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[2] Oaklandside, “Measure W Grants: Oakland Affordable Housing and Homelessness,” March 5, 2026, oaklandside.org/2026/03/05/measure-w-grants-oakland-affordable-housing-homelessness, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[3] Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. v. City and County of San Francisco, 60 Cal.App.5th 227 (2021) [Legal Context for Simple Majority], Accessed April 18, 2026.
[4] California Supreme Court, “Upholding Citizen-Led Tax Measures,” 2024 Ruling Summary, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[5] Everyone Home, “2024 Point-in-Time Count: Alameda County Homelessness Data,” 2024, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[6] City of Oakland, “Housing Element 2023-2031: Equity and Production Goals,” 2023, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[7] Black Cultural Zone, “Liberation Park: A Community Vision,” blackculturalzone.org, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[8] Eden Housing, “Liberation Park Mixed-Use Development,” edenhousing.org, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[9] UC Berkeley, “People’s Park Housing Project Update,” 2026, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[10] East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), “Brighter Bancroft Senior Housing Project,” ebaldc.org, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[11] UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, “The Aging Unhoused Population in California,” 2023, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[12] Tax Foundation, “The Impact of Regressive Sales Taxes on Low-Income Households,” 2024, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[13] Oakland Tenants Union, “Position Paper on Supportive vs. Family Housing,” 2025, Accessed April 18, 2026.
[14] Terner Center for Housing Innovation, “The Cost of Building Affordable Housing in the Bay Area,” UC Berkeley, 2024, Accessed April 18, 2026.
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