Housing and Homelessness
Committee Memorandum
TO: HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS DATE: OCTOBER 26, 2026
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FROM: HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: REVIEW HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN GOAL NUMBER TWO – INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES ISSUE:
The issue for the Housing and Homelessness Committee is to give direction to staff relating to the existing and proposed updates to the Homelessness Action Plan Goal Number Two – Increase the Availability of Services, with a Focus on Physical, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Housing and Homelessness Committee:
Provide recommendations deemed necessary to the existing and/or proposed Homelessness Action Plan Goal Number Two – Increase the Availability of Services, with a Focus on Physical, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment; and Request staff bring forth any specific language recommendations along with corresponding Homelessness Action Plan updates to City Council for discussion.
BACKGROUND:
On October 11, 2022, the City Council approved the Homelessness Action Plan (The Plan) developed by the City of Riverside’s Office of Homeless Solutions in collaboration with the Housing and Homelessness Committee. The Plan was built in alignment with the Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan, prior committee goals, and the City’s Housing First Policy, and established a comprehensive framework to address homelessness.
The Plan focused on six key goals including increasing housing production, increasing availability of services, preventing homelessness, establishing emergency shelter, expanding public awareness, and coordinating regional infrastructure.
Development of the Plan included extensive stakeholder engagement, such as community meetings, Task Force discussions, partner input, and feedback from individuals experiencing homelessness. Input emphasized prioritizing vulnerable populations, expanding low-barrier and creative housing solutions, and fostering collective regional action.
The 2022 Plan aligned with state funding requirements, including the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grants and HOME Investment Partnerships-American Rescue Plan, and incorporated data from the 2022 Point-in-Time Count and stakeholder feedback to identify service gaps and target subpopulations. The Plan also reflected City Council direction on regional coordination, public safety considerations, and program evaluation.
On June 22, 2026, the Housing and Homelessness Committee received a Homelessness Action Plan review process that outlined a series of six dedicated discussions focused on each Plan goal.
DISCUSSION:
A comprehensive report of committee recommendations will be presented to the Housing and Homelessness Committee at the conclusion of the review with a draft Homelessness Action Plan anticipated to go to City Council at a later date.
The Plan review process schedule has been updated as follows:
Topic
Anticipated Committee Date
Updated Anticipated Committee Date
Goal #1
Increase Housing Production with a Focus on Affordability August 24, 2026
September 28, 2026
Goal #2
Increase the Availability of Services
September 28, 2026
October 26, 2026
Goal #3
Prevent Homelessness
October 26, 2026
November 23, 2026
Goal #4
Emergency Shelter
November 23, 2026
December 28, 2026
Goal #5
Expand Public Awareness
December 28, 2026
January 25, 2027
Goal #6
Coordinated Regional Infrastructure
January 25, 2027
February 22, 2027
The review process format will consist of four stages:
Review of the current goal objectives
Progress made toward goal and achievement timeline
Legislative impacts
Proposed updates and recommendations
Omnibus Updates
During the review process of the Homelessness Action Plan several updates will be made to the collective document including:
Aligning goals to reporting periods related to the Point-In-Time Count Replace reference to the Office of Homeless Solutions to Housing and Human Services Goal #2 - Two – Increase the Availability of Services, with a Focus on Physical, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2022 Goal One Objectives
Performance
Increase number of social work interns by 15% annually
Achieved
Increase in skills to reduce re-traumatized/confidence/job satisfaction among the Public Safety and Engagement Team, Parks and Neighborhood Specialist Team, and Outreach Workers by 45% annually.
In Progress
Refer 96 individuals to “physical and behavioral health” resources annually.
In Progress
Decrease homelessness amongst “chronically homeless” by 5% annually.
Not Achieved*
Decrease homelessness amongst those struggling with substance abuse by 5% annually.
Not Achieved*
Increase the number of people who accept services from the Public Safety and Engagement Team and the street nurse by 25% annually.
Not Achieved*
Increase the number of people who are successfully placed from street outreach by 25% annually.
In Progress
Refer 15 individuals annually to the Home Court Program.
In Progress
Care Court implementation by October 1, 2023.
Achieved
* Data related to this goal is gathered through the Point In Time Count (PIT Count) that is completed bi-annually, not annually.
Legislative Impacts
Legislative impacts that may impact the implementation of objectives associated with Goal Two – Increase the Availability of Services, with a Focus on Physical, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment include:
Recent changes in HHAP funding that requires awarded agencies to provide a 30% match to grant funding.
Assembly Bill 1924 – Signed on September 29, 2026, requires the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to issue a statewide homelessness prevention strategy.
Assembly Bill 1556 – Signed on September 29, 2026, allows drug-free recovery housing providers to qualify for state homelessness funding.
Proposed Updates and Recommendations
Proposed Goal Two Objectives
Recommendation
Increase number of social work interns by 15% annually.
Maintain Objective
Increase in skills to reduce re-traumatized/confidence/job satisfaction among the Public Safety and Engagement Team, Parks and Neighborhood Specialist Team, and Outreach Workers by 45% annually by providing six trainings annually.
Enhance Objective**
Refer 96 individuals to “physical and behavioral health” resources annually.
Maintain Objective
Decrease homelessness amongst “chronically homeless” by 5% annually in alignment with the Point In Time Count.
Enhance Objective**
Decrease homelessness amongst those struggling with substance abuse by 5% annually.
Maintain Objective
Increase the number of people who accept services from the Public Safety and Engagement Team and the street nurse by 25% annually.
Enhance Objective**
Increase the number of people who are successfully placed from street outreach by 25% annually.
Strike Objective
Refer 15 individuals annually to the Home Court Program or CARE Court Program.
Enhance Objective**
Care Court implementation by October 1, 2023.
Strike Objective
** Update existing goal objective to include more definitive, measurable results.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this staff report.
Prepared by: Megan Stoye, Housing and Human Services Deputy Director Approved by: Michelle Davis, Housing and Human Services Director Attachments:
Homelessness Action Plan
Presentation
Homelessness Action Plan Review – Goal Two ● Page 2