Vista committee reviews $7.8 million ERF‑3 award, debates landlord incentives and rental‑assistance design

Vista’s standing committee on homelessness reviewed the city’s awarded Encampment Resolution Funding Round 3 (ERF‑3) grant and debated how to program $2.5 million in rapid‑rehousing funds and smaller landlord incentives.

“This item provides an overview of the city's approved encampment resolution funding round 3 or ERF 3 grant program,” staff member Jonathan told the committee, walking members through the application history and award timeline.

The city applied for ERF‑3 on June 25, 2024, with a total project cost in the application of $7,800,942.09. The California Interagency Council on Homelessness announced availability of ERF‑3 funds in late 2023 and Vista’s proposal scored second highest among 57 awarded proposals. The city received formal notice of award on Dec. 23, 2024, and city council later authorized the city manager to sign grant documents on Feb. 11, 2025. The council accepted and appropriated the funds on March 11, 2025.

Why it matters: the ERF‑3 award expands Vista’s homeless‑services budget for staff, outreach, rapid rehousing and pilot programs tied to a roughly 10‑mile corridor along State Route 78. Committee members said they will use their oversight role to press staff for program design that serves the greatest number of people and avoids what one member called “money up in smoke.”

What the award pays for - Staffing and administrative costs: The grant covers $925,053.08 in internal costs, including funding for existing homeless‑services positions through Dec. 31, 2026, and a limited‑term housing specialist position budgeted at $386,641 (anticipated for two years, July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027). Indirect…