Wasco updates council on new homeless outreach coordinator; program reports encampment cleanups and placements

City of Wasco staff reported progress on a newly created homeless outreach coordinator position during the July 2 council meeting, outlining encampment cleanups, client placements and ongoing challenges connecting residents to treatment and regional services.

City staff member Carrie briefed the council that the outreach effort began after the city’s January 2025 point-in-time count and that the coordinator, Mandy Vega, started in February 2025. Carrie said the city “removed 3 encampments, and cleaned 3 encampments,” and summarized placements and services since February: six people accepted temporary shelter, three entered short-term detox programs, three transitioned to sober living, three were placed in transitional housing, 27 individuals received supportive services such as help getting identification and bus passes, and one person moved into permanent housing.

Carrie cautioned the council that the point-in-time decline the city saw between 2024 and 2025 could not be wholly attributed to the new program. “We can’t the program can't take direct credit for the the big drop in the pit count numbers from 2024…