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Council authorizes contract with Social Change Partners to draft Newark’s first five-year homelessness action plan
Summary
The council authorized the city manager to execute a consulting contract with Social Change Partners LLC (not to exceed $89,850) to develop Newark’s first five-year homelessness action plan, including stakeholder engagement, assessment of services and a draft plan with measurable goals.
The City Council authorized the city manager to execute a consulting agreement with Social Change Partners LLC on Sept. 11 to develop Newark’s first five-year homelessness action plan, approving a contract not to exceed $89,850.
Assistant City Manager Lika Havorka said the plan will assess current resources, identify gaps, coordinate with Alameda County’s Home Together effort and align with Newark’s 2023–2031 housing element. The scope calls for an initial assessment, stakeholder interviews, community work sessions, staff and council work sessions, a draft plan for public review and a final plan with timetables, metrics and phased recommendations.
City staff said the consultant selection process began in June with seven proposals, interviews of four finalists and a staff review panel; Social Change Partners was selected for its Bay Area experience, community-engagement approach and cost. Reid Connell, managing partner of Social Change Partners, said the firm emphasizes data-driven analysis and “authentic community engagement,” including input from people with lived experience of homelessness.
Councilmembers praised the proposed engagement but stressed urgency and asked that the consultant and staff coordinate timelines to pursue state and county funding opportunities and to align the plan with other regional strategies. Council voted 5–0 to approve the contract and the recommended schedule of public engagement.
