Committee approves higher per‑bed rates for family sites in Inside Safe program

The City Council committee approved an adjustment to the per‑bed rates for family temporary shelter sites in the Inside Safe program, voting 3–0 to adopt the staff recommendation.

The action, taken April 23, 2025, followed a presentation from the Chief Administrative Office about a proposed fee schedule that would align family site rates with rates recently set for adult‑only shelters. Under the plan, the committee approved using the adult site baseline adopted in 2024 as a starting point and applying a family‑site formula designed to make per‑site funding more consistent across the shelter portfolio.

Committee members were told the formula would produce per‑bed and per‑site amounts intended to reflect staffing ratios and operational costs. The presentation included estimates the change would raise annual costs for the family portfolio and increase the citywide budget for temporary shelter beds in the next fiscal year. Staff provided dollar estimates during the presentation: for the adult portfolio the approved change increases budgeted annual costs to roughly $186 million (from about $124 million for the prior fiscal year), and for family temporary shelter the presentation estimated an annualized cost in the neighborhood of $3.3 million for fiscal year 2025–26. Staff also said the adjustment would add administrative payments to LASA’s contract specifically for Inside Safe administration.

Councilmember Jurado asked which providers were consulted; staff said they opened the rate review to family providers and received input. Councilmembers asked how the family rates would be funded; staff said the family‑bed rates would be paid from the city’s general fund and other sources already used for shelter operations. No member asked to delay the item; the committee approved it on a voice roll call vote with Councilmember Rohment, Councilmember Jurado and Councilmember Bloomenfield voting yes.

The committee directed staff to implement the new rates starting July 1, 2025, and to return with any required updates to the budget and contract language for continuity with other Inside Safe sites.

The motion was approved as presented; the item had been discussed at length in prior committee sessions and committee members said the change is intended to standardize payments across sites rather than change program eligibility.

The committee moved next to other items after the vote.