TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Erik L. Soliván
SUBJECT: See Below DATE: October 5, 2026
Approved Date:
10/14/26
COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3, 9
SUBJECT: Grant Agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for City Designated Overnight Warming Locations
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Housing Director, or his designee, to negotiate and execute a grant agreement and all documents necessary to implement the agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for the operation of the Overnight Warming Locations Program at the Roosevelt Community Center, located at 901 E.
Santa Clara Street, and at the Cambrian Branch Library, located at 1780 Hillsdale Avenue, in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000, effective retroactive to the period of October 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
Approval of the grant agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County enables the City to continue operating the Overnight Warming Locations (OWL) Program during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 winter season. The OWL Program offers temporary overnight shelter for unsheltered residents during periods of severe or cold weather, providing a safe, warm environment and access to referral services. This continued operation builds on the program’s established role as a seasonal shelter and aligns with the City’s broader efforts to support vulnerable residents, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 10/27/26
FILE: 26-1107
ITEM: 2.11
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 5, 2026
Subject: Grant Agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for City Designated Overnight Warming Locations
BACKGROUND
The OWL Program provides emergency overnight shelter and referral services for unsheltered residents during the coldest and wettest months of the year, typically operating from late November through April. It serves as a seasonal shelter for individuals who may not have access to traditional shelters and remain highly vulnerable to severe weather conditions.
During the FY 2025-2026 season, the OWL Program operated at the Roosevelt Community Center and the Evergreen Branch Library. Both sites opened on December 1, 2025, and offered safe overnight accommodations, meals, showers, laundry services, and case management.
Early-season efforts focused on helping participants acclimate to the facilities, establish nightly routines, complete housing assessments, and develop housing goals. Staff also provided information on other available resources. This historical context reflects the program’s operational structure and service approach during the prior season.
ANALYSIS
The OWL Program is a seasonal, short-term shelter model that provides a consistent and reliable connection to services for unsheltered residents who may otherwise avoid or lack access to those services. By offering safe overnight accommodations, basic services, and regular interaction with case managers, the program supports participants in stabilizing and beginning to work toward long-term housing goals.
For the FY 2026-2027 season, the City has selected Roosevelt Community Center and Cambrian Branch Library as OWL locations. Both sites will operate nightly from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Program staff will be on-site beginning at approximately 7:00 p.m. to prepare the spaces for overnight operations and will remain on-site until approximately 8:00 a.m. to complete tear-down and reset the spaces for their intended daytime uses.
Cambrian will provide 30 beds. Roosevelt will also operate with 30 beds, with the ability to expand to 60 beds during emergency weather activations.
During the FY 2025-2026 season, the OWL Program operated at both Roosevelt Community Center and Evergreen Branch Library. Evergreen was the selected library site and operated the same nightly hours as Roosevelt, with a regular capacity of 30 beds. Unlike Roosevelt, Evergreen did not expand during inclement weather activations.
Roosevelt Community Center regularly operated with 30 beds and, during inclement weather activations, expanded to 60 beds. Additionally, overnight hours were extended to 24-hour operations during periods of extreme weather, increasing capacity when the community’s need was greatest.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 5, 2026
Subject: Grant Agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for City Designated Overnight Warming Locations
Building on the operational foundation described above, the FY 2025-2026 season demonstrated the program’s effectiveness in serving a variety of residents experiencing homelessness. The following figures highlight the OWL Program’s continued role in reaching individuals with long histories of homelessness and complex needs. Staff worked closely with participants to connect them to ongoing services and housing referrals.
Table 1 shows the number of participants served at each OWL site during the FY 2025- 2026 season.
Table 1: FY 2025-2026 Participants by Location
Site Participants
Evergreen Branch Library 128
Roosevelt Community Center 122
TOTAL 250
Table 2 shows participants by age group. More than half of participants (58%) were between the ages of 25 and 65, and more than one-third (37%) were over age 65, reflecting the significant number of older adults the program served.
Table 2: FY 2025-2026 Participants by Age
Category Number of Participants % of Total Served
Under Age 25 13 5%
Ages 25-65 144 58%
Over Age 65 93 37%
Table 3 shows participants by chronic homelessness designation. Nearly half of all participants (45%) met the federal definition of chronic homelessness, highlighting the program's reach among individuals with long histories of homelessness.
Table 3: FY 2025-2026 Participants by Chronic Homelessness Designation Category Number of Participants % of Total Served
Chronic Homelessness* 113 45%
Not Defined as Chronically
Homeless
137 55%
*Chronic homelessness is defined as a federal (HUD) designation for an individual or family with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for at least one year or has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years totaling at least 12 months.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 5, 2026
Subject: Grant Agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for City Designated Overnight Warming Locations
Throughout the FY 2025-2026 OWL season, there were 79 successful placements, demonstrating meaningful movement toward greater stability even within a temporary, seasonal shelter model. These outcomes underscore the program’s value not only as an emergency response during periods of cold or extreme weather but also as an important entry point into the broader system of care, supporting transitions to shelter, services, and pathways toward permanent housing.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
The City will monitor the program performance on a quarterly basis to ensure contracted goals and outcomes are met. The service provider will submit quarterly reports detailing participant engagement, service delivery, and progress toward housing and stabilization outcomes. These reports will support ongoing contract monitoring, inform data-driven adjustments, and ensure accountability for program performance. The City will also coordinate with the City Manager’s Office of Emergency Management to align the OWL Program’s operations with established Emergency Operations Center protocols, ensuring the program can activate quickly and effectively during extreme weather events or other emergencies. The Housing Department will provide updates to the City Council as needed and will incorporate seasonal performance findings into future program planning and operational recommendations.
The Housing Department intends to issue a Request for Proposals for the operation of the OWL Program in the future. Under the Shelter Crisis Declaration Act, the Housing Department may streamline procurement processes to quickly provide shelter sites to unsheltered individuals. Due to numerous changes to shelter site providers this year, the Housing Department decided to extend the existing work with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for the operations of the OWL sites.
FISCAL IMPACTS
The action recommended in this memorandum allows for the execution of an agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000 for the continued operation of the OWL Program for the period of October 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Funding for this agreement is included in the 2026-2027 Adopted Operating Budget in the Real Property Transfer Tax Fund (404), as shown below.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 5, 2026
Subject: Grant Agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for City Designated Overnight Warming Locations
BUDGET REFERENCE
Fund
#
Appn.
#
Appropriation
Name
Total
Appropriation
Amount for
Contract
2026-2027
Proposed
Operating
Budget Page*
Last Budget
Action (Date,
Ord. No.)
404 227M Measure E -
Supportive
Services
Overnight
Warming
Locations (15%
HSP)
$1,200,000 $1,200,000 944 06/16/2026
Ord. 31336
* The 2026-2027 Adopted Operating Budget was approved on June 9, 2026 and adopted on June 16, 2026, by the City Council.
COORDINATION
This memorandum was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Budget Office, and the Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City Council Agenda website for the October 27, 2026 City Council meeting.
BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No board, commission, or committee recommendation or input is associated with this action.
CEQA
Categorically Exempt, File No. ER26-145, CEQA Guidelines Sections 15269 Emergency Projects and 15301 Existing Facilities.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
October 5, 2026
Subject: Grant Agreement with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for City Designated Overnight Warming Locations
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution. /s/
Erik L. Soliván
Director, Housing Department
For questions, please contact Sarah Fields, Deputy Director, Housing Department, at [email protected] or (408) 784-6848.