The Vallejo Human Relations Commission voted to create a three-member ad hoc committee to research homelessness resources and return recommendations to the full commission.

Council member Matulek, the commission liaison, told the panel the city’s new navigation center has a capacity of 147 beds and advised commissioners to tour the facility to learn how residents access services. “The navigation center's got a 147,” Matulek said.

The commission’s motion named Marissa Serafino (who was absent), Vice Chair Demetra Stall Nash and Commissioner Melvin Jones as members of the ad hoc group. Commissioners voted by roll call and the motion carried unanimously with Chair Dela Weeks Morris, Morgan Hannigan and Marissa Serafino recorded as absent for that vote.

Speakers at the meeting discussed how the navigation center is linked into existing referral systems. A public speaker and community advocate, Jose Carrizales, described Resource Connect and HMIS (the Homeless Management Information System) as part of the referral pathway and urged the committee to include people with lived experience in its work. “I wanted to encourage this committee to really think about involving those with lived expertise, those with lived experience in this process,” Carrizales said.

Council member Matulek and commissioners discussed iHeart and Resource Connect as partners in intake and noted that occupancy figures for the navigation center were not provided at the meeting; commissioners were advised to contact staff or iHeart for current occupancy. Commissioners also referenced 5 Keys as the navigation center operator and Carolyn’s House as a newly opened women’s sober housing project with seven beds in District 5.

Discussion vs. decision: the meeting combined information-sharing (updates about the navigation center and referrals) with a formal decision to create an ad hoc committee. The ad hoc committee is authorized to meet outside a full commission meeting so long as it remains smaller than a quorum and is to gather information and return findings to the full commission.

The commission and at least one public commenter emphasized that committee work should include perspectives of people with direct experience of homelessness and help clarify service pathways, such as how clients are vetted and referred through Resource Connect and HMIS. Commissioners assigned staff follow-up tasks including arranging potential tours of the navigation center and inviting service providers to present to the commission.

Ending: The ad hoc committee was created and will report back to the full commission at a future meeting. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate site visits and provider presentations so the group can collect the operational details it needs to make recommendations.