The Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA) has released its 2025–2026 Guaranteed Income & Healthy Retail Impact Report, which outlines more than $600,000 – funded by the Hellman Foundation through the Collaborative Change Initiative Grant – strengthened food access, enhanced financial stability, and uplifted communities facing systemic barriers across Alameda County.
The Collaborative Change Initiative, originally awarded to ALL IN Alameda County, continued under ACSSA during a period of significant transition. Even amid organizational shifts and the loss of Supervisor Wilma Chan – whose work focused on addressing the root causes of poverty through community-driven, equity-focused solutions – the Agency kept the work moving. ACSSA carried forward her vision by directing resources toward neighborhoods facing the greatest barriers to health and economic security, ensuring the grant’s investments remained aligned with community needs and the values she championed.
Expanding Healthy Food Access: The Healthy Retail Program
With $150,000 in investments across eight neighborhood stores, Alameda County’s Healthy Retail Program helped local store owners expand healthy food offerings by upgrading equipment such as refrigeration, enhance produce visibility such as shelving, layout improvements, and merchandising that made healthy choices easier to see and buy.
The results speak for themselves:
- 48% increase in produce sales at Almahen Rancho Market after installing a new island produce display.
- Wah Fay Market replaced outdated refrigeration, expanded fresh food options, and reduced dependence on sugary beverages.
- Puesto Market in unincorporated Hayward introduced fresh, in-house juices made daily without additives or presdervatives, improved refrigeration, and made culturally relevant healthy foods more accessible.
- The Berkeley Student Food Collective used its grant to strengthen student-led food access through community events, visual storytelling, and storefront improvements, while also exposing students to the grant development process and demonstrating how community grant funding can serve as a meaningful career pathway.
The report points to a broader ripple effect: as neighborhood stores expand their healthy food offerings, local distributors receive more orders, small farmers benefit from more reliable demand, more food dollars circulate within Alameda County, and underserved communities gain greater access to fresh, healthy foods, ultimately advancing health equity and strengthening local economy.
Guaranteed Income: A Lifeline for Families and Individuals
Three guaranteed income initiatives, designed to help families meet basic needs, reduce financial stress, and build pathways toward long-term stability, received $515,000 to expand monthly stipends, extend timelines, and enroll additional participants. Early outcomes show strong engagement and meaningful improvements in financial stability.
Alameda County Abundant Birth Project: This initiative provides monthly income to Black and other birthing people to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
Early results show:
- 100% consistent engagement in prenatal care
- 100% report feeling more supported
- Reduced financial stress for many participants
One participant shared, “I feel like I can support myself and get through this pregnancy with no struggle.”
Restorative Resiliency Fund: Administered by Community Works West, this program provides $1000/month to individuals impacted by incarceration and violence. The impact is already clear:
- 86% of participants can pay their monthly expenses
- Funds are primarily used for food, housing, transportation, savings, and debt reduction
Steady Steps program at BANANAS: This program supports families with young children through monthly GI payments, navigation support, and financial coaching.
- Families report more time with their children
- 100% say the program positively impacts their family.
One parent noted that the program helped them open a bank account and begin saving for the first time.
Strengthening Systems: The Innovation Hub & Strategic Partnerships
ACSSA launched an Innovation Hub to carry forward ALL IN Alameda County’s legacy. The Innovation Hub convenes food providers, community partners, and county departments to align strategies and strengthen Alameda County’s food security ecosystem, supporting the county’s Vision 2036 goal to eliminate poverty and hunger.
These collaborative spaces ensure that community voice and cross-sector partnerships remain central as the agency continues improving systems that serve thousands of residents.
The achievements outlined in this report reflect ACSSA’s commitment to uplifting community resilience by expanding access to nutritious, affordable food and provided financial support that offered immediate relief and helped residents move toward long‑term stability.
From healthier neighborhood stores to stronger families, improved birth outcomes, and more connected local systems, these investments show what is possible when agencies, partners, and communities come together with shared purpose.
We extend our gratitude to the Hellman Foundation and to all community partners, County departments, ACSSA staff, CBOs, and store owners whose collaboration and leadership helped strengthen these initiatives.
Read the full 2025–2026 Guaranteed Income & Healthy Retail Impact Report for a complete look at the impact across Alameda County.