Alameda's Homeless Count Drops 46.8% in Two Years

Homelessness in Alameda, CA, fell 46.8% in two years, from 455 people counted in 2024 to 242 people in the city's 2026 count. That's a much steeper drop than the 13% decline Alameda County saw as a whole.

• Where: City of Alameda, part of the county-wide Point-in-Time Count
• When: The count happened on one morning, January 22, 2026
• The numbers: Alameda's unhoused population dropped from 455 people in 2024 to 242 in 2026
• Who said so: Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, who credited the city's "compassionate, proactive programs and services"
• What's next: The next county-wide count is due in January 2028, since federal rules require it every two years

How much did homelessness drop in Alameda in 2026?

Alameda's count fell 46.8%, more than three times the countywide rate. The city's unhoused population dropped from 455 people in the 2024 count to 242 people this year, a decline first reported by Patch that Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft called "almost 47% over the past two years."

Alameda's 242 people now make up about 3% of the roughly 8,201 people counted as homeless across Alameda County, which is down from 9,450 people in 2024.

How does Alameda's drop compare to the rest of the county?

It's a bigger swing than most cities saw. Alameda County's overall homeless population fell 13%, and unsheltered homelessness, meaning people sleeping outside rather than in a shelter, fell 18%, from 6,343 to 5,202 people. Oakland, the county's largest city, saw a 20% drop. Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert said the results "demonstrate the effectiveness of our homelessness investment efforts."

What is the Point-in-Time Count, and who runs it?

It's a single-morning census of everyone living unsheltered or in emergency shelter, required every two years by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development so counties can keep receiving federal homelessness funding. Alameda County organized this year's count on January 22, 2026, coordinating volunteers across the county on top of each city's own outreach teams.

What happens next for homelessness efforts in Alameda?

Mayor Ashcraft pointed to the city's ongoing programs and services as the reason behind the drop, though she didn't break out dollar figures at the announcement. The next official count won't happen until January 2028, so for now, 46.8% is the number Alameda leaders will keep pointing back to. For more on how the city is tackling housing and homelessness, see the Pulse's community coverage.