City approves ECHO amendment, funding and shift to 90-day model amid neighborhood concerns

Paso Robles — The City Council on Tuesday reviewed the Paso Robles shelter operator El Camino Homeless Organization’s (ECHO) fiscal year 2024–25 end‑of‑year report and approved a third amendment to the supplemental memorandum of understanding that funds shelter staffing and operations.

City staff presented the amendment change and said it strengthens reporting, data sharing, and coordination between the city and ECHO. Ashley Hernandez, the city’s newly hired home services manager, told the council the amendment “reflects operational changes and also strengthens the partnership between the city and ECHO” by standardizing reporting templates, adding quarterly quality reviews, improving data sharing and referrals, and clarifying client consent for city participation in coordination meetings.

ECHO’s director, Wendy Lewis, summarized shelter outcomes and program shifts. ECHO operates 70 beds on its Paso campus and has been shifting to a 90‑day shelter model intended to improve housing outcomes. Lewis said ECHO’s approach has moved a larger share of people into permanent housing than the night‑by‑night model: “Last year between the two campuses, 353 individuals or children were helped into permanent…