Housing and Homelessness Committee Memorandum
TO: HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS DATE: MARCH 26, 2026
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FROM: HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR COLLABORATIVE - SOCIAL WORK INTERN PROGRAM PRESENTATION ISSUE:
Receive a presentation on the Love Your Neighbor Collaborative - Social Work Intern Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Committee receive and file the presentation on the Love Your Neighbor Collaborative - Social Work Intern Program.
BACKGROUND:
The Love Your Neighbor Collaborative (LYNC) is a multi-sector partnership composed of educational institutions, nonprofit community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, local supportive businesses and local government. The collaborative works to address health disparities among individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of housing instability by leveraging social work students and their sponsoring institutions.
The goal of LYNC is to reduce and prevent homelessness by building a coalition of experts and advocates to work collaboratively within the city of Riverside to create a stronger, more integrated collective effort resourcing those who are in homeless situations or, at risk of losing their home.
DISCUSSION:
Path of Life has partnered with the City of Riverside Public Library system to implement the LYNC model within library locations, which serve as trusted and accessible community hubs for individuals experiencing homelessness. Through this approach, trained social work interns, under the supervision of a full-time Social Work Specialist, conduct proactive engagement with individuals who may not otherwise access traditional homeless services.
Intern schedules are aligned with academic calendars and library operating hours to ensure consistent service delivery. Interns will provide outreach, intake, needs assessment, and ongoing case management services, rotating among eight (8) Riverside Public Library locations. Services include:
Housing problem-solving and navigation;
Referrals to emergency shelter and interim housing;
Connections to permanent housing resources;
Enrollment in mainstream benefits;
Employment and income stabilization services;
Referrals to mental health and recovery services; and
Coordination with local homeless service providers.
Participant demographic information including age, race, ethnicity, income, and household composition is collected to identify underserved and disproportionately impacted populations. Needs assessments data are used to inform targeted interventions and the development of workshops designed to reduce barriers to housing stability.
Calendar Year 2025 Activity
During Calendar Year 2025, services were supported by one full-time Social Work Specialist and 15 social work interns.
Collectively, interns contributed 1,546 in-kind service hours. These in-kind contributions represent a significant staffing investment dedicated to outreach, engagement, intake, case management, and referral services for individuals experiencing homelessness and related challenges within Riverside Public Library locations, including increase in public safety and de-escalation of incidents on library property.
Program outcomes achieved during Calendar Year 2025 are summarized below.
Services
Main
Arlington
SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library (ended on 4/10/25)
La Sierra (est. 8/12/25)
Contacts
209
75 36
9 Shelter referral
17 7
1 1
Housing navigation support and/or referral
63 16
6 1
Legal assistance referral
2 1
0 0
Transportation (i.e. bus passes, gas cards)
33 14
6 1
Mainstream benefits
25 9
3 1
Application assistance (state ID, SSC, birth certificate) 2 1
0 0
Homeless prevention support and/or referral
28 9
4 1
Life skills education
124
4 20
2 Outreach referral
9 9
0 0
Food and material goods
70 36
14 2
Workforce/Employment referrals
33 8
4 1
Recovery referrals
2 1
1 0
Mental health referrals
6 9
2 0
Medical services referrals
5 4
0 0
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this staff report.
Prepared by: Michelle Davis, Housing and Human Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Love Your Neighbor Collaborative – Social Work Intern Program ● Page 9