June 16, 2026
Community Development
DATE: June 16, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Jesus Morales, Housing Manager
Catherine Casimere, Housing Services Supervisor
Subject:
Contract with Contra Costa County Health, Housing, and
Human Services Department for Encampment Resolution
Funding Round 2 Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $2,600,000 contract amount will be funded by the City’s Encampment Resolution Round 2 (ERF-2R)
award totaling ~$8.6 million (Account String:
13861119-400201). No additional General Fund
resources are required.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
July 11, 2023
September 12, 2023
March 25, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
In March 2025, the City Council approved an amendment
no.1 to the contract for Coordinated Outreach Referral
Engagement (CORE) services to add project
management and other wraparound services in support
of the City ERF-2R project. This original contract expires on June 30, 2026. In lieu of amending the contract to
extend the term only, the County has requested that the contract be bifurcated to facilitate the submission of
invoices related to various service contracts with the City.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a sole-source contract with Contra Costa
County Health, Housing, and Human Services
Department to provide project management and support
services related to the City’s Encampment Resolution
Funding Round 2 Project, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,600,000, for a term extending through
August 31, 2027 – Community Development Department
(Lina Velasco/Jesus Morales 510-620-6706).
AGENDA
REPORT
June 16, 2026
DISCUSSION:
The City Council accepted and appropriated an Encampment Resolution Round 2 award totaling approximately ~$8.6 million. The grant funds include resources for project management, homeless encampment outreach, and support services, such as case management, housing navigation, rent assistance, and other support. In July 2023, the City Council approved a sole-source contract between the Richmond Police Department (RPD) and the Contra Costa County Health, Housing, and Human Services Department (County) for the services of the Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement (CORE) homeless outreach services teams. One team to be shared between Richmond and the City of San Pablo, and the second team funded and dedicated to the ERF–2R program.
In July 2023, the City Council approved a contract between the Richmond Police Department (RPD) and the Contra Costa Health, Housing, and Human Services Department (County) for the services of the Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement (CORE) homelessness outreach services team. In March 2025, the City Council approved Amendment No. 1 to the contract with the County to add a Project Manager and provide other wraparound services in support of the City’s ERF-2R program. Partnering with the County has provided the opportunity to learn from their vast experience, build City capacity to do this work in a more sustainable and efficient manner, and leverage additional county and support cross-systems collaboration and services.
This partnership has provided the City with the opportunity to:
1. Leverage County staff expertise and experience in project management related to homelessness services;
2. Utilize County resources by embedding County staff in project activities;
3. Serve as a model for City and County collaboration in addressing homelessness by blending funding sources to reduce per-person costs and fill service gaps; and
4. Enhance data tracking and reporting efforts.
Under this proposed sole source contract, County staff will provide the following services:
One (1) ERF-2R Project Manager;
Priority access to five (5) beds at Brookside Shelter for ERF-2R clients, along with supportive services;
Case management and housing navigation services for ERF-2R clients at no additional cost to the City;
Referrals to other County programs and resources; and Rent support
The original contract included a project-specific CORE team providing outreach services to targeted homeless encampments along the City’s Homeless Encampment Corridor
June 16, 2026
(HESC). At this stage, however, the ERF-2R program is focused on providing case management services and rental assistance to the 47 clients currently housed through the program. The goal is to help these individuals achieve self-sufficiency and maintain stable housing once ERF-2R assistance ends in August 2027. As a result, ongoing outreach services by the ERF-2R CORE team are no longer necessary at this phase of the project.
Ongoing CORE team outreach services are focused on the City’s encampment resolution funding sites funded through the City’s ERF-3R grant. Through this separate contract with the County, the ERF-3R CORE team continue to provide outreach, case management, housing navigation, and related services to targeted encampments along the City’s Homeless Encampment Corridor.
The detailed Scope of Work and Budget are included in Exhibit A of the City of Richmond Standard Contract. The Scope of Work remains substantially the same as in the current contract set to expire on June 30, 2026, with the exception of the homeless encampment outreach services previously provided by a project-specific CORE team have been removed. The Richmond Police Department will contract separately with the County for City-wide CORE team outreach services to homeless encampments citywide.
City staff and service providers continue to work diligently to administer these programs effectively and thoughtfully. However, the City continues to face significant challenges, including limited affordable housing options and low incomes among chronically homeless individuals. This partnership strengthens the ability of both the City and the County to leverage resources and achieve more sustainable outcomes for the clients they served.
Given the high cost of housing, limited availability of affordable units, and shortage of housing vouchers, many individuals supported through the City’s ERF-funded programs must secure sustainable income in order to avoid returning to homelessness. Through this partnership, clients will have access to additional County resources and support services.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Authorization of the contract is not a project; therefore, is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
CONCLUSION:
City staff recommend that the City Council approve a sole-source contract with Contra Costa County Health’s, Housing, and Human Services Department to provide project management and support services for people living in Citywide encampments onto paths to safe and stable housing, and employment opportunities, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,600,000 for a term extending through August 31, 2027.
June 16, 2026
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
On May 23, 2023, the City Council adopted the Homeless Strategic Plan to provide short-term and long-term steps to address homelessness. Within these goals, the following short-term and immediate action steps were recommended.
Short-term Action Step 1.4: Expand case management and other care-related individualized services directly in encampments to build connections that enable unsheltered individuals to access an expanded array of opportunities and resources for personal development, wellness, and health; financial means to secure and sustain housing; and ongoing support for long-term stabilization.
Short-term Action Step 5.2 and Priority Action Step 6 - Strengthen collaboration between the City, County, and community-based organizations to improve data collection, implement this Strategic Plan, provide services in the city, and apply for funding opportunities. The dedicated City staff person would determine frequency and format of interagency collaboration, which could include systems-level partner meetings, a local data workgroup, or direct service coordination.
This contract aligns with the short-term and immediate action steps and will advance the goals and policies identified in the City of Richmond's adopted Homelessness Strategic Plan.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Contract
Attachment 2 – Sole Source