Alameda Sees Sharp Drop In Homelessness, PIT Reveals

ALAMEDA, CA — The number of homeless people living in Alameda has dropped significantly over the last two years following a similar trend across the county.

Alameda saw a 46.8% decline in its homelessness over the past two years. There were 455 homeless people in Alameda during the last count in 2024. That number has dropped to 242.

"We are gratified to have reduced homelessness in our city by almost 47% over the past two years," Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft said. "This outcome shows what is possible when a city invests in compassionate, proactive programs and services to support residents in need."

Alameda's homeless population makes up 3% of the total homeless population across the county, which saw a 13% drop in overall homelessness this year.

Oakland showed a reduction of almost 20% in its numbers, from 5,485 in 2024 to 4,410 in 2026. But the city still has more than half of the county's homeless population, despite representing only 22% of the county's total population.

Hayward, Union City, Albany, and Alameda also showed a marked decrease in the number of homeless individuals, while the figures rose in Berkeley, Dublin, Fremont, Livermore, and Pleasanton.

"These historic results demonstrate the effectiveness of our homelessness investment efforts," Alameda County Board of Supervisors President David Haubert said on Tuesday. "We have been intentional, empathetic, and responsive in how we’ve approached this issue, and it’s clear that our evidence-based approaches are paying off."

The numbers come from the annual 2026 Point-in-Time Count, in which volunteers help officials get a census of the people experiencing homelessness.

The count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and takes place every two years and is led by Alameda County, with assistance from individual cities.

This story was updated to accurately reflect the reduction in homelessness in Alameda.