Council holds study session on housing and homelessness; staff to expand engagement and monitoring

The Palo Alto City Council held a study session Monday on housing and homelessness that covered county‑level system operations, local data from the recent point‑in‑time counts and a staff‑commissioned gap analysis identifying shortages across prevention, shelter and permanent housing.

Deputy City Manager Chantal Cottongains opened the session and said staff would bring options for homelessness prevention, housing production, supportive services and enforcement that address public health and safety while maintaining outreach to people experiencing homelessness. Presenters included Melissa McDonough (city staff), Hillary Armstrong from the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing and Police Chief Andrew Bender. City Attorney Molly Stump reviewed recent legal changes relevant to encampment enforcement.

The county official, Hillary Armstrong, summarized county strategy and performance measures, noting the county’s community plan goal and the continuing challenge of inflow — households newly entering homelessness — that outpaces housing placements. She described prevention and rapid re‑housing programs the county runs, and the centralized call center (“Here for You”) that triages shelter and housing referrals.

City staff presented findings from a gap analysis showing mismatches: more households in need of permanent housing and permanent supportive housing than units currently in the pipeline locally; a notably higher share of vehicle dwellers in Palo Alto than the county average; and an immediate shortfall in temporary non‑congregate shelter capacity. Staff flagged Project Homekey (an interim hotel conversion) as temporary shelter that does not count as long‑term housing but will provide capacity while long‑term solutions are pursued.

Police Chief Andrew Bender described day‑to‑day responses: many contacts are non‑criminal and referrals to services are frequent; enforcement when appropriate includes warnings, citations, towings and arrests. Chief Bender said most arrests are non‑custodial citations and that officers will continue to enforce the law “fairly and equitably” while making referrals to outreach teams. City Attorney Molly Stump briefed council on the U.S. Supreme Court Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling and the governor’s executive order encouraging encampment removals on state property, and she noted the county’s recent rollout of Care Court for certain acute psychiatric cases.

Public comment emphasized local service providers and unions asking for increased prevention and production, and providers described safe‑parking, hygiene and outreach programs. Move Mountain View and other nonprofits requested more safe parking spaces and highlighted a pilot site with a converted facility offering showers, laundry and storage. Speakers urged the council to work with the county to seek deferral of an imminent Valley Water decision to ensure Palo Alto shoreline funds are not diverted.

Council members asked technical questions about where Project Homekey and pipeline units were counted in tables, the composition of the unhoused population (the latest PIT suggests a large proportion of people living in vehicles) and the status of the police PERT clinician (county clinician positions remain unfilled after a reorganization). Several council members urged parallel paths: begin immediate short‑term actions such as expanding safe parking, hygiene facilities and shelter while continuing community engagement and long‑term housing production plans. Several council members also urged improved regional coordination with neighboring cities and the county, particularly for encampment coordination along San Francisquito Creek and for shelters that operate on a first‑filled/first‑served basis.

What the council directed: staff to expand a focused engagement plan with stakeholders (residents, businesses, service providers and people with lived experience), continue negotiations with county partners on Here for You and shelter preferences, explore more safe parking and hygiene/shower options, and return to council with prioritized implementation steps. Staff said they will also include homelessness items in upcoming committee work plans and in the city’s mid‑year budget review timeline.

Why it matters: The study session consolidated city and county data showing demand for prevention, non‑congregate shelter and permanent supportive housing in and near Palo Alto and produced council direction to pursue immediate operational options while developing an implementation plan for housing production and supportive services.