July 28, 2026
Police Department
Community Development
DATE: July 28, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Timothy Simmons, Chief of Police
Lina Velasco, Community Development Director
Jesus Morales, Housing Manager
Michelle Milam, Crime Prevention Manager
Subject:
Contract with Contra Costa County’s Coordinated
Outreach, Referral, and Engagement (CORE) for
Homeless Outreach Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The first-year proposed expenditure of $528,239 is included within the approved Fiscal Year 2026-2027
Police Department and Community Services budgets.
Funding for the remaining two years of the contract term will be budgeted accordingly in subsequent fiscal years.
The total not-to-exceed amount for the three-year
contract is $1,660,151 (Account String:
01193021-400201).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
December 18, 2018
July 2, 2019
December 7, 2021
October 18, 2022
May 2, 2023
July 11, 2023
April 1, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City of Richmond is seeking approval to renew and
restructure its Coordinated Outreach, Referral, and
Engagement (CORE) Homeless Outreach Services
contract with Contra Costa County for a new and revised three-year term.
The current service model provides limited outreach
coverage and does not meet the growing demand for
homelessness services within the City. In addition,
AGENDA
REPORT
July 28, 2026
temporary funding sources supporting emergency
housing interventions are set to expire.
The proposed contract addresses these gaps by
maintaining existing services originally established in 2018, fulfilling grant obligations, and expanding outreach capacity to better align with regional standards and
community need.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a contract with Contra Costa County for
Coordinated Outreach, Referral, and Engagement
(CORE) Homeless Outreach Services, including the
expansion of outreach coverage to six days per week
and the addition of housing stability resources, for a total amount not to exceed $1,660,151, for the term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029 – Police
Department/Community Development Department (Chief
Timothy Simmons 510-621-1802/Jesus Morales 510-
620-6649).
DISCUSSION:
Since 2017, the City of Richmond has operated under a camping ordinance that requires the City to offer services to unhoused individuals before conducting any encampment abatement activities. To meet this obligation, the City established a partnership with Contra Costa County to provide Coordinated Outreach, Referral, and Engagement (CORE) services. This partnership was approved by the City Council on December 18, 2018, with services beginning October 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.
The initial model aligned with other jurisdictions in Contra Costa County, including the City of San Pablo, and ensured that individuals residing in encampments were connected to services prior to abatement.
CORE functions as Contra Costa County’s primary field‑ based outreach system, connecting unsheltered individuals with the broader coordinated entry system. Referrals are initiated through the 2-1-1 referral system and coordinated in partnership with existing City staff from Crime Prevention, Housing and Community Development, and the community crisis response program’s Reach Out with Compassion and Kindness (ROCK) Team. CORE teams provide transportation to shelters and appointments and maintain ongoing service coverage throughout West County, including Richmond. In July 2023, City Council approved the use of the second round of Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF2), which expanded resources available for CORE services.
However, the additional funding was insufficient to meet all encampment‑ related needs. On June 16, 2026, the City Council approved separating ERF2 into a standalone contract to provide the City with greater flexibility in addressing community priorities using its general fund money included in the proposed 2026-2027 Fiscal Year budgets of the Richmond Police and Community Services Departments.
July 28, 2026
Homelessness in Richmond: Data Overview
Homelessness within Richmond is monitored primarily through the Point‑ in‑ Time Count and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). For the purposes of this report, HMIS data reflects CORE All Teams’ activities in Richmond between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026 (Attachment 1). During this period, CORE conducted 3,855 contacts with 1,153 unduplicated clients, serving 927 individuals and 86 families. Most households consisted of single adults, who represented more than 80 percent of all contacts. The demographic breakdown shows that 59.76 percent identified as male and
39.72 percent as female, with a small percentage identifying as transgender. Adults aged 25 to 61 comprised more than 74 percent of those served, with minors, transition‑ aged youth, and seniors making up the remainder. Racial demographics reflect longstanding disproportionalities in homelessness with 43.45 percent identified as Black or African American, followed by 18.73 percent identifying as White and 17.61 percent as Hispanic/Latino.
The data also indicates that 27.23 percent of individuals experienced homelessness over five years. A significant majority—61.67 percent—reported a disabling condition.
Mental health, physical health, and chronic medical issues were frequently reported, appearing in 510, 298, and 278 cases respectively. Across all clients, CORE delivered 14,523 services, including housing navigation, healthcare coordination, shelter referrals, and basic needs support. The data demonstrates the high level of complexity among those served and the need for sustained and intensive outreach.
A more targeted effort is reflected in the ERF2 CORE team’s work with encampment populations. During the same reporting period, ERF2 teams completed 652 contacts with 165 unduplicated clients, serving 133 individuals and 20 families. Household and demographic patterns were similar to the general CORE population, with single adults constituting more than 80 percent of households. Nearly half of those served reported homelessness lasting more than five years, and more than half reported a disabling condition. ERF2 teams delivered 3,429 services, focusing heavily on housing navigation, healthcare coordination, shelter placements, and stabilization supports. This data confirms that encampment residents generally present with more acute needs and require higher‑ intensity engagement.
The proposed expansion builds upon the City’s existing Richmond/San Pablo CORE team by adding one 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) Outreach Specialist, one 1.0 FTE Care Coordinator, and $100,000 annually in Housing Stability Funds. Based on the updated budget provided by Contra Costa Health, the expanded Richmond contribution totals $1,660,151 over the three-year period.
July 28, 2026
Fiscal Year Existing Richmond/
San Pablo Team
Expanded
Program
Increase for New
Team
FY 2026–27 $185,532 $528,239 $342,707
FY 2027–28 $193,673 $555,132 $361,459
FY 2028–29 $202,221 $576,780 $374,559
Three-Year Total $581,426 $1,660,151 $1,078,725
Three-Year Total
Costs
$1,660,151
The total cost of the new CORE team expansion is $1,078,725 over the three-year term of the agreement, consisting of $342,707 in FY 2026-27, $361,459 in FY 2027-28, and $374,559 in FY 2028-29. Funding for the City’s share of the expanded CORE team will be provided through the City’s Opioid Settlement Funds. Contra Costa Health will invoice the City on a quarterly basis in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and payments will be made from the Opioid Settlement Fund allocation.
The City of Richmond will allocate a total of $342,707 in Opioid Settlement Funds year one. Subsequent years will be covered through a blend of categorical funds for unhoused intervention and the general fund.
The City will reimburse Contra Costa Health upon receipt of quarterly invoices in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Accordingly, the annual costs reflected above will be paid in four quarterly installments each fiscal year.
Current Contract Structure
The existing CORE services structure, created in 2018 and extended through June 30, 2026, is a shared partnership between Richmond and San Pablo. The model was designed as a cost‑ sharing measure in which a single CORE team operates eight hours per day, three days per week in Richmond—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday— with San Pablo utilizing the team the remaining days. In 2023, ERF2 resources were integrated into this structure, supplementing the original funding model. While this arrangement has provided consistent outreach over the years, it limits the City’s ability to offer daily engagement or maintain continuity of services for residents with urgent or time‑ sensitive needs.
Proposed Contract Structure
The proposed three‑ year contract maintains the existing Richmond‑ San Pablo partnership while expanding the City’s overall outreach capacity through three integrated components. First, the contract preserves the shared CORE team and the cost‑ sharing structure. Second, it adds a supplemental team that will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, effectively doubling service availability from three to six days per week. Richmond is currently the only large city in Contra Costa County without full‑ time CORE coverage, and this expansion will bring the City into alignment with regional best practices.
July 28, 2026
Finally, the contract includes the addition of a full‑ time Care Navigator, whose role will focus on coordination between CORE, the ROCK Team, service providers, and emergency shelter programs. The Care Navigator will manage follow‑ up on placements, support long‑ term housing transitions, and provide the level of case management needed for high‑ acuity clients. At present, these functions are being absorbed informally by Police Department staff, which is not sustainable.
The proposal also establishes a $100,000 annual Housing Stability Fund that will allow outreach teams to address barriers that prevent individuals from accessing emergency shelter or interim housing. This flexible fund may be used for emergency motel stays, vehicle buybacks, rental deposits, food support, and other stabilization needs. The fund replaces expiring American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and ensures that the City can continue providing rapid‑ response assistance.
CORE’s Fiscal Year 2026-2029 Cost Schedule outlines the quarterly invoice amounts and annual expenses that the City of Richmond is responsible for paying and includes a total three-year contract not-to-exceed amount of $1,660,150 (Attachment 2).
Operational Need for Expansion
The City’s current Monday‑ Wednesday‑ Friday outreach schedule creates substantial service gaps that limit residents’ ability to access shelter or support on days when outreach is unavailable. These gaps disrupt continuity, delay interventions, and result in inconsistent engagement at encampments. At the same time, many emergency shelters regularly operate at or near capacity, and individuals living in vehicles, RVs, or with pets face additional constraints related to shelter admission. Expanding service frequency, adding a second team, and establishing a flexible Housing Stability Fund will significantly improve the City’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to community needs. These enhancements will strengthen coordination with the ROCK Team, allow for more consistent case conferencing, and improve outcomes for individuals with high and persistent needs.
Conclusion
The proposed contract represents an important evolution of the City’s homelessness response system (Attachment 3). It maintains key regional partnerships, fulfills prior grant obligations, and expands the City’s capacity to provide timely, consistent, and responsive services. By clarifying available funding and moving ERF2 resources into a separate contract, the City will be better positioned to address City-wide needs without restrictive funding limitations. Together, these changes strengthen the City’s ability to coordinate outreach, connect residents to shelter, and respond more effectively to the needs of Richmond’s unhoused community.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – HMIS Data Summary (April 2025 – March 2026) Attachment 2 – CORE FY26-29 Cost Schedule
Attachment 3 – Standard Contract