Alameda County Housing & Community Development

Objective

Housing affordability and access are among Alameda County’s most urgent issues. The Housing & Community Development (HCD) Department needed to communicate the impact of its Measure A1 housing bond—a nearly $600 million initiative—to the public and the Board of Supervisors. Their goals were threefold: build trust through transparency, tell powerful stories of progress, and make data accessible to a wide audience.

Scope

Identity Refresh
Annual Report Design & Copywriting
Web Design & Interactive Data Visualization

The Solution

Barretto-Co. was engaged to design a compelling suite of deliverables that could bring clarity, humanity, and design excellence to this critical civic initiative.

Our challenge was to interpret complex funding data and dense program details, then translate them into a format that could resonate with both decision-makers and the general public.

We collaborated with filmmaker and Oakland native Cheryl Fabio to capture the lived experiences behind the data. We designed four annual print reports that highlighted accomplishments, funding allocations, and community impact. A warm, accessible visual system—built on inviting typography and a vibrant, earthy color palette—reinforced the mission of housing equity and local accountability.

In parallel, we developed a dynamic website that visualizes Measure A1 data in real time. The platform enables visitors to explore projects by location, funding category, or stage of development, making it easy for constituents to see where investments are going and how they’re making a difference.

Impact

Our work helps ACHCD clearly and confidently share how Measure A1 is changing lives—one home at a time.

The result is a multi-channel communications system that builds public trust, empowers civic participation, and demonstrates the County’s commitment to housing justice.