Public commenters and City Council members spent significant time at the May 20 meeting discussing the city’s low-barrier shelter operations and plans to transition shelter services.

Several residents told the council about personal experiences and concerns tied to homelessness and related services. “Recently bought a used car, and I had been reassured by both the dealer and the bank that, the payments would go through any day now. Lo and behold, came out of a prayer meeting to find the car on a flatbed,” said Debbie McGillworth during the public comment period while recounting a separate repossession incident that she said illustrated risks and enforcement practices impacting residents.

Council and staff revisited a letter from RISE, the nonprofit operator of the Adelphi Street low-barrier shelter, and the city’s responsibilities under the original contract. The mayor characterized RISE’s recent correspondence as a “cry for help” and said the contract requires the vendor to notify the city when it cannot perform. Council members emphasized the shelter’s outcomes data: presenters said between June 2023 and December 2024, 212 unique individuals entered the shelter and 68% of discharged clients experienced “positive outcomes,” defined to include stable housing, enrollment in treatment, or placement in another shelter.

Shelters of Saratoga, which operates other local programs, is renovating and will have temporary office space at a county‑owned property; the county and city reported separate actions to coordinate use of that site. The council chair and county supervisor described ongoing coordination with county services and nonprofit partners.

To manage the transition and expand the field of potential providers, the council put an RFP on the street to solicit proposals for shelter operations; commissioners said they expect multiple service providers to respond. The mayor said the RFP’s June 10 deadline is within the usual three-week response window and that the city can issue amendments if respondents request clarity.

Councilors acknowledged disagreements over “low-barrier” strategy versus more conditional models; members also stressed the need for shared responsibility among municipal, county and nonprofit partners. The mayor said he had drafted an RFP intended to let a broader range of providers bid and that the city was already working on offramps and transition plans so services would not lapse if the current operator changed.

No formal vote to terminate the current operator was recorded. RISE agreed to continue operating the Adelphi Street location through Dec. 31, 2025 if its contract is extended and funded; council members said they would seek a robust response to the RFP and coordinate placement and shelter capacity with county and nonprofit partners.

The council also reiterated a public request that donations for shelter services go directly to recognized local nonprofits rather than to panhandlers on streets; staff said QR-code systems and outreach will be used to steer public giving to local service organizations.