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Lake Elsinore to replace SWAG with CityNet for street outreach as homeless task force continues work
Summary
Councilwoman Natasha Johnson reported the city's homeless task force will transition outreach services from SWAG to CityNet; staff said CityNet has more than 20 years' experience and the task force will continue coordination between code enforcement, law enforcement and outreach.
Councilwoman Natasha Johnson updated the council on the city’s homeless task force and announced a change in the outreach provider.
Johnson said the city’s street outreach team connected four individuals to mental‑health services in May and reported nine behavioral‑health linkages when combined with an anchor partner. She said year‑to‑date the street‑outreach effort has achieved 66 “street exits” (people moved off the street into services or housing pathways) and 16 individuals have moved through crisis stabilization and off the street.
Johnson thanked SWAG for years of service but said the organization has decided to change its program approach and will no longer deliver the outreach function for Lake Elsinore. The city has contracted with CityNet to continue the outreach element of the homeless task force. She said CityNet “brings over 20 years of experience” and that the city will continue a three‑part model of code enforcement, law enforcement and street outreach to offer “a hand up, not a handout.”
Johnson said the task force’s emphasis remains connecting people to services, with mental‑health linkages a particularly important metric. No formal council action was recorded on the provider change during the meeting; Johnson presented the provider transition as part of her council update.
Next steps: CityNet will assume the outreach role and staff will continue to monitor outcomes and report back to the council.
