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Hemet to end CityNet contract, bring homeless outreach in‑house under police supervision

3782364 · June 11, 2025

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Summary

Council approved ending the CityNet contract and creating an in‑house outreach and engagement specialist post supervised by the Hemet Police Department; council approved the resolution 5–0.

The Hemet City Council on June 10 confirmed the nonrenewal of its contract with CityNet for street outreach and approved creating a full‑time Outreach and Engagement Specialist (OES) position to provide in‑house case management under the Hemet Police Department’s outreach unit.

City staff and the community solutions coordinator described a multi‑year relationship with CityNet that began with an agreement in December 2021 and included two contract extensions funded with one‑time funds. Staff presented point‑in‑time counts showing a decrease in Hemet’s unsheltered population from 207 to 138 in recent counts and described a plan to transition outreach functions to city control.

City staff recommended nonrenewal of CityNet’s contract (which expires June 30) and asked council to approve the OES classification and salary; the OES would operate under the Active Response Outreach (ARRW) unit of the Hemet Police Department. Staff said the change aims to strengthen interdepartmental coordination, improve data continuity and reduce reliance on motel vouchers for temporary shelter by directing clients to room‑and‑board options and other existing programs.

Police and city staff outlined fiscal impacts: the new OES position carries a fully burdened cost of about $117,000 annually; the city expects a small general‑fund gap of approximately $14,000. Alternatives included continuing the CityNet contract at an estimated $1 million per year or not hiring the OES and relying on existing police personnel, which staff warned would reduce program effectiveness.

Council Member Mills moved to adopt Resolution 25‑201 confirming nonrenewal of the CityNet contract, approving the OES classification and salary and adopting prior outreach standards under police supervision; the motion passed 5–0. Staff said they will transition CityNet case files into the county HMIS database and conduct a ‘‘warm handoff’’ to the city case manager. The OES will perform field outreach and intake work as part of ARRW and carry out case management and HMIS inputs; staff said the OES will split time between field work with officers and office‑based case management.