Council approves first amendment to San Diego Rescue Mission contract for citywide homeless outreach

The Vista City Council approved, on the consent calendar, a first amendment to the city’s agreement with the San Diego Rescue Mission for citywide homeless outreach services.

Public commenter Jim Kelly reviewed the contract scope and reporting expectations and urged that the city ensure the Rescue Mission fulfills contractual reporting requirements. Kelly said the city is investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in outreach and millions in shelter facilities; he noted the Rescue Mission’s programs include a 30‑day residential program and a separate 12‑month Mission Academy for longer‑term participants.

City staff responded by listing contract reporting obligations the Rescue Mission must provide, including counts of unduplicated individuals served, exits to permanent housing and housing retention at 12 months, progress on an outreach ‘‘by‑name list,’’ shower trailer events and other metrics. Staff said the contract has reached a 12‑month engagement milestone and that data reporting will begin to reflect outcomes over that period. The council adopted staff’s recommendation to approve the amendment; the motion carried with five votes in favor and none opposed.

Council comment commended staff work on collecting more detailed outreach data and noted the Rescue Mission’s Mission Academy model as a pathway for some participants to longer‑term housing.

The amendment authorizes continued contract work with reporting and oversight as described; staff said they will make the outreach and reporting information available on the city’s homelessness webpage.