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Monterey County adopts encampment-resolution policy, approves MOU to preserve medication during cleanups
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt a countywide encampment resolution policy that prioritizes public health, human dignity and coordinated outreach; the board also authorized a one-year memorandum with Access Support Network to prevent loss of prescription medicines during encampment cleanups.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 adopted a new policy laying out how county departments will assess and respond to unauthorized encampments on county-owned and unincorporated public land, and authorized a one-year memorandum of understanding with Access Support Network to handle medication preservation during cleanups.
The policy directs county staff to use a staged approach — outreach and service linkage first, voluntary cleanups and decontamination when possible, and encampment closure only when immediate health or safety risks require it. It also creates an interdepartmental Encampment Resolution Team and requires coordination with regional homeless services providers to prioritize re-housing for people displaced by closures.
County Homeless Services Director Roxanne Wilson told the board the goal is “a comprehensive, deliberate, and compassionate approach” and emphasized collaboration with outreach providers and public-safety partners. Director of Social Services Roderick Franks said the proposed resolution affirms “that we understand and acknowledge that this is a very complex situation” and that the county will follow evidence-based practices such as Housing First and trauma-informed care.
The board also approved a one-year amendment to county contracts to let Access Support Network collect, inventory and securely preserve prescription medications found during an encampment cleanup so that people who are dependent on medication (many of whom receive Medi-Cal) do not lose access to life-saving prescriptions. County staff said current practice did not provide an organized option for storing medication and the MOU fills that gap.
Supervisors and staff said the policy is intended to be iterative: county staff will return to the board after implementation to report outcomes and recommend changes. Supervisor Luis Alejo urged urgency for projects that reduce encampment causes in the Salinas Valley, and other supervisors welcomed the emphasis on provider coordination and humane treatment.
The motion to adopt the encampment policy, approve the resolution and authorize the CAO (or designee) to execute the ASN MOU passed unanimously, 5-0.
