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Hemet staff urge RFPs for outreach and room-and-board vendors as homelessness work continues
Summary
Community Solutions Coordinator Christian Tikas presented the homeless ad hoc committee's update and recommended issuing RFPs for outreach management services and room-and-board vendor partnerships, and pursuing motel-conversion grant funding; council received and filed the report.
Community Solutions Coordinator Christian Tikas told the Hemet City Council on Jan. 28 that the city will pursue competitive procurement and grant opportunities to refine local homeless services.
Tikas said staff recommend three steps: (1) issue a request for proposals for homeless outreach management services (the city currently contracts with City Net, with the contract expiring June 30); (2) publish a request for proposals to expand the city's room-and-board vendor partnerships (to create vendor standards and allow room-and-board providers to receive voucher payments); and (3) pursue state and federal grant opportunities for motel-conversion projects that could create veteran, senior or other income-restricted housing, in partnership with nonprofits and the county. Council received and filed the report.
Why it matters: Hemet is formalizing how outreach and temporary housing will be procured and monitored rather than continuing informal or single-source arrangements. The recommendations aim to increase oversight, vendor accountability and the city's ability to convert motels when funding becomes available.
Details from the presentation and discussion: Tikas said the city established a HOPE unit and a central resource web page after creating the Community Solutions Coordinator position in May 2024. A monthly HOPE-team collaborative now includes City Net, Riverside County Behavioral Health, Valley Restart, Healthcare in Action, the Hemet Police Department aero unit and Lighthouse Social Services for veterans. Tikas said City Net currently case-manages 111 clients within the city, with 25 of those clients housed through a motel-bridge program.
The city conducted a point-in-time count on Jan. 22; final counts were still pending at the presentation. Tikas noted the 2023 unsheltered count for Hemet was 207. He also cited operational metrics: the SeeClickFix app averages roughly 300 service requests per month with an average closure about three days after submission; homeless encampment requests are acknowledged the same day and typically closed within two days.
Council members asked about timing and oversight. Councilmember Mills pressed whether the room-and-board program could include inspection notice provisions; staff said code enforcement and health-and-safety rules would inform vendor standards and procedures. Councilmembers expressed support for the room-and-board approach, saying supervised group housing or structured board placements were preferable to unsupervised motel stays.
Next steps: staff will draft the RFP documents and a timeline for council review. The presentation concluded with the council formally receiving and filing the update.
