Vista council reviews homelessness strategic plan updates and approves $130,000 shelter-bed amendment

Vista City Council on the evening of the workshop reviewed progress on its homelessness strategic plan and unanimously approved a staff recommendation to increase reimbursements for shelter bed nights by $130,000 to the Alliance for Regional Solutions bridge-to-housing shelter network.

The city’s homeless services program manager, Jonathan Long, summarized the plan the council adopted in March 2020 and walked the council through activity and funding updates including the Vista Emergency Housing Assistance Program (VHAP), the Buena Creek Navigation Center (BCNC), safe parking, outreach contracts and shelter-bed reimbursements provided through the Alliance for Regional Solutions.

The plan’s three goals are prevention, improving quality of life, and reduction of homelessness. Long said the strategic plan ‘‘identifies 3 goals to ensure that homelessness when it does occur is a rare, brief and one-time experience’’ and described seven supporting strategies including prevention programs, shelter procurement, outreach, and housing retention.

Why it matters: The council’s action preserves the city’s ability to reimburse regional shelter providers for nights used by Vista residents while staff continue to pursue longer-term options for interim and permanent housing. Council members pressed staff for more outcome and cost-per-service data and for strategies that prioritize children and families.

Key program results and updates

- Vista Emergency Housing Assistance Program (VHAP): The program began award disbursements in March 2024 and exhausted its funds by December 2024. According to staff, VHAP delivered $1,195,000 in rental assistance to 132 Vista households (362 residents, including about 150 children). The average award was $9,053 per household and the average household income of awardees was $30,433. Program eligibility followed ARPA guidelines and required documentation of income loss or hardship and household income at or below 65% of area median income.

- Point‑in‑Time count: The regional task force reported a countywide increase in unsheltered homelessness; Vista’s local count rose notably (staff cited a 93% increase in counted unsheltered individuals in Vista from the prior year). The next Vista point‑in‑time count was scheduled for Jan. 30, 2025; results are expected in May–June 2025.

- Buena Creek Navigation Center (BCNC): The BCNC began operations in March 2024 as a low‑barrier navigation center. Vista funds support 36 of the BCNC’s beds for Vista residents. During the reporting period staff said the BCNC served 105 unduplicated Vista clients (including two repeat stays) and that 35 clients exited to permanent housing. Staff reported an average length of stay for those who exited to permanent housing of about 64 days.

- Outreach and by‑name list: The council approved a 12‑month, $500,000 contract ceiling with San Diego Rescue Mission for citywide outreach and development of a by‑name list (a shared, consented list of persons experiencing homelessness prioritized by acuity). Staff said a four‑month review of that contract is tentatively scheduled for March 25, 2025.

- Provider network and shelter-bed costs: The Alliance for Regional Solutions bridge‑to‑housing shelter network (Haven House, La Posada, Escondido Family Shelter, Operation Hope North County, Interfaith Shelter Network) received city reimbursement for shelter bed nights used by Vista residents. Staff provided per‑bed‑night cost estimates that vary by shelter (for example, $66.89 per night at Operation Hope North County; $108 at Haven House). During the contract period cited by staff, Vista residents used 7,342 shelter bed nights and the calculated total cost to serve those nights was $711,413.45; staff noted the city reimbursed $200,000 under the contract ceiling during the period.

- Safe parking and other programs: The Vista safe parking program served 70 households (100 individuals) during the reporting period; average nightly occupancy was about 18 vehicles (~72% of capacity). Staff reported on other supports such as meals, vehicle repairs and case management provided through partners.

- Housing pipeline and VHIP (Vista Housing Innovation Pilot): Townspeople was operating a master‑leasing/housing navigation contract through June 30, 2025. Staff reported five placements under VHIP during the current reporting window and described master‑leasing as a tool for sourcing units to house people who face barriers to market rentals.

Interim/permanent facility discussion

Council members and staff spent substantial time on a proposal to use city‑owned property at 200 Michigan Avenue for modular interim housing (the staff report referenced earlier council direction and a $4.5 million allocation toward a permanent, city‑owned interim housing facility). Staff presented modular options and lifespan estimates from vendors and noted modules can range in durability; some vendors described 20–50 year lifespans depending on construction method.

Mayor John Franklin and council members urged staff to pursue an RFP that would allow operators and nonprofit partners to propose leveraged, longer‑term solutions (land + city contribution + partner funding) rather than relying only on short‑term modules. Multiple council members emphasized prioritizing children and families and maximizing density and permanence if outside funding could be secured.

Public testimony and partner remarks

Representatives from regional providers described operations and asked the council to continue funding partnerships. Mary Lynn McCorkle, manager of the Alliance for Regional Solutions, said the network sheltered 78 Vista residents the prior year and asked the council to continue funding. Brandon Duran, executive director of Interfaith Shelter Network, described the rotational shelter model and case management supports. Greg Angel, CEO of Interfaith Community Services, called shelter a ‘‘critical lifeline’’ and said Vista funding helped open regional family shelter capacity.

Council reaction and next steps

Council members generally praised staff and providers, asked for clearer outcome and cost measures (cost per exit to permanent housing, staff and facility cost breakdowns) and suggested greater use of stakeholder input including people with lived experience. Staff said they will return with additional reporting cadence changes (future updates aligned with the city fiscal year), an eight‑month progress report covering November 2024–June 2025, and options that reflect council direction on the interim housing site including RFP outcomes and funding leverage opportunities.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve staff recommendation to amend the contract for shelter beds in the Alliance for Regional Solutions bridge‑to‑housing shelter network and increase the contract ceiling by $130,000 to continue reimbursing shelter bed nights used by Vista residents. Mover: not specified in the public record; Second: not specified in the public record. Vote: unanimous approval (5–0).

Ending

Council members asked staff to return with more granular, provider‑level outcome data, to continue pursuit of leveraged funding for longer‑term facilities, and to present the San Diego Rescue Mission contract review at the council meeting tentatively scheduled for March 25, 2025. The council adjourned after the vote.