Modesto funds ‘HopeWorks’ partnership to replace Downtown Streets Team; council approves $1.25 million MOU

The Modesto City Council on Oct. 14 approved a one-year memorandum of understanding that shifts the city’s litter-abatement and employment-training work formerly done by Downtown Streets Team to a partnership led by United Way of Stanislaus County and operated locally by Modesto Gospel Mission.

City staff said the new program, to be branded as a job-readiness and outreach effort (announced as HopeWorks in the meeting), will employ 68 people on part-time paid assignments and offer case management and connections to housing and benefits. Council approved the MOU and a matching budget amendment for up to $1,250,000 for the first year.

Why it matters: Downtown Streets Team announced the closure of all operations effective Oct. 31, leaving roughly 68 Modesto team members without the training, stipends and case-management supports they had received. City leaders said the transition preserves jobs and outreach capacity that connect people experiencing homelessness to housing, health care and permanent employment.

City presentation: Jessica Hill, director of community and economic development, described the transition as the result of rapid coordination among the city, United Way, Stanislaus Community Foundation, Center for Human Services and Modesto Gospel Mission. Hill said the Downtown Streets Team had helped more than 183 people obtain housing and 113 obtain employment in recent years and had removed over 2.6 million pounds of litter since the program began locally. Hill said the planned model will move from stipends to paid work "for a 3 to 6 month period as individuals are able to be connected to permanent employment." (Jessica Hill, Director of Community and Economic Development)

Operator and operations: Jason Conway, identified in the meeting as the Modesto Gospel Mission chief executive, said the organization will not require religious participation for people to join the employment program. He described the initiative as an "employment reentry program" open to anyone who wants to attend monthly orientation and participate. Conway said a third-party temporary agency will hire team members and assume employer liability while Modesto Gospel Mission provides case management and follow-up services.

Funding and schedule: The council packet showed an annual program cost of about $1,250,000. For the first year the city plans to use a state earmark already in hand (about $1,050,000), private contributions via Stanislaus Community Foundation ($150,000 secured at the time of the meeting) and $50,000 from the city's litter-abatement fund. Hill said staff will pursue county and state program funds (BHRS, HDAP), workforce-development grants, Clean California funding and other sources to sustain the program beyond the first year. Staff told the council they expect to launch outreach and case management on Nov. 1 and begin full-time litter-abatement operations and paid job training on Jan. 1.

Community and partner reaction: Representatives from the Community System of Care and Downtown Streets Team praised the plan during public testimony. Maren Pitt, chair of the Community System of Care, called the opportunity to keep outreach in local control "a huge tool in our tool bag," and Megan Clifford, who identified herself with Downtown Streets Team, said she was "really excited to see this get off the ground".

Council action: The council voted unanimously to approve the MOU with United Way and Modesto Gospel Mission and to amend the city's budget to appropriate up to $1,250,000 for the program. Mayor Sue Zwolan said the transition was a demonstration of Modesto "finding a way" after Downtown Streets Team announced its closure.

What’s next: Staff will continue fundraising and seek other public funding to sustain the program after the first-year pilot; Modesto Gospel Mission will hold monthly orientations and work with shelters and other providers to enroll participants.

Ending: Council members and community speakers repeatedly described the vote as an effort to keep a successful local workforce and outreach program running after the Downtown Streets Team closure, and the city said it expects operations to begin in phases before year’s end.