City of Fremont Adopts Shelter Crisis Declaration

Fremont is continuing to take significant steps to address homelessness. On March 10, the Fremont City Council unanimously adopted a Shelter Crisis Declaration to expand the City's ability to quickly establish emergency housing for those experiencing homelessness. The declaration is effective immediately and directly aligns with findings from the City's newly released community survey, which identified homelessness as a primary concern among community members.

In the short term, the Shelter Crisis Declaration will help:

• facilitate the development of a 150-unit emergency shelter for medically frail and older adults at the Motel 6 site in South Fremont, doubling Fremont's current shelter inventory,
• strengthen Fremont's eligibility for Alameda County Measure W funding, and
• align Fremont with statewide efforts to address urgent shelter needs.

The declaration will remain in effect until January 1, 2036, which aligns with the timeline for the State of California's shelter crisis declaration. Annual progress reports on homelessness solutions will be shared with the City Council and the State. The declaration may end at any time through a majority vote of the City Council.

Other local jurisdictions have declared a shelter crisis, including Alameda County, Oakland, Hayward, Berkeley, and San Jose.

To learn more, view the City Council Staff Report.