Measure P: Real Property Transfer Tax to Fund Homeless Services
Measure P provides funding for projects to improve homeless services in Berkeley.
About Measure P
Measure P provides around $10 million of funding annually from real property transfer taxes to pay for homeless services. Berkeley voters passed Measure P in November 2018 with 72.4% approval. The original ballot question read:
Shall ordinance raising funds for general municipal purposes such as navigation centers, mental health support, rehousing and other services for the homeless, including homeless seniors and youth; increasing the real property transfer tax for ten years from 1.5% to 2.5% for property sales and transfers over $1,500,000, adjusted annually to capture the top approximately 33% of transfers; generating an estimated $6,000,000 - $8,000,000 annually; and establishing Homeless Services Panel of Experts to recommend homeless services, be adopted?
Status
The City is using funding from Measure P to address immediate street conditions & hygiene, provide emergency shelter and temporary accommodation, establish new permanent housing, and prevent households from becoming homeless again. The City is funding 24 homeless services projects in the current fiscal year with $16.8 million in Measure P funds.
Progress on homeless services projects
Homeless services projects funded by Measure P are providing support services for unhoused members of the Berkeley community. These services include:
Immediate street conditions and hygiene
Measure P funds will support nine projects aimed at addressing immediate street conditions and hygiene. These projects address the immediate needs of persons currently living on the streets or in vehicles. The projects provide a range of services, including mental health crisis response, street medicine, lockers, outreach workers, and portable toilets, as well as drop-in services such as food, case management, and help obtaining documents for social services. The City anticipates spending $3.2 million of Measure P funding on these services through June 2023.
Emergency shelter
Measure P funds five projects that provide immediate shelter and supportive services for a range of adults, including transitional-age youth, those seeking to move out of encampments, and others. Support services include coordinated entry system access, housing navigation, and employment development. The City anticipates spending $4.3 million of Measure P funding on these services through June 2023.
Permanent housing
Measure P will also fund four permanent housing projects in the current fiscal year. These projects provide immediate housing and supportive services for single adults and families that were formerly homeless. Services provided by the sites include housing retention services, payee support, and mental health treatment. The City anticipates spending $2.9 million of Measure P funding on permanent housing in the current fiscal year.
Homelessness prevention
Measure P funds will also target two programs to prevent homelessness through legal assistance, housing retention services, and flexible housing funds. These direct interventions help individuals or families who can immediately avoid homelessness. The city anticipates spending $1.9 million on these services through June 2023.
Management and oversight
Projects funded by Measure P are managed by the City Manager’s Office as well as the departments of Health, Housing, & Community Services, and Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront.
The Homeless Services Panel of Experts recommends homeless services projects to City Council, which decides whether to funds the recommended projects.
