Publisher pitches countywide homelessness storytelling; task force forms ad hoc committee to explore campaign

Jeff, a publisher and communications consultant who has worked with local government publications, told the Tulare County Homeless Task Force that story-based journalism and coordinated social-media outreach could help the public better understand the county's homelessness programs and strengthen support for local partnerships.

"My dad was a doctor in Lozano, Ohio. He always said, Jeff, you should do the prescription after the diagnosis," Jeff said, describing the consultant approach of first understanding the county's communications needs and then proposing targeted content packages. He offered example packages and price points: an eight-story package for about $22,000 and a 12-story package for about $32,000, with options to convert material into publications, landing pages and social-media content that partner organizations could share.

Jeff argued that narrative stories about individual experiences can make complex program rules easier to follow and help residents relate to services such as CalWORKs or the Housing Support Program. "If you don't control the narrative, then you can develop different partners... somebody else will fill that vacuum for you," he said.

Task force members generally welcomed the idea as a way to publicize accomplishments and clarify resources for residents who do not use digital channels. Several members said the county needs a "report card" or periodic publication that shows progress, lists local resources and highlights partnerships — both to inform residents and to help with future funding requests.

No county funding was pledged during the meeting. The task force agreed to form an ad hoc committee to scope the project, estimate costs and identify potential funding partners. Volunteers who said they would serve on the ad hoc committee included a task force member identified as Donna and another member identified as Mary; the motion to form the committee was put to a voice vote and passed with the membership saying "aye." The task force chair asked staff to follow up and schedule a smaller working group to return recommendations to the full task force.

Jeff offered to provide a detailed cost breakdown and a proposed scope of work to inform the committee's next steps.

During the same discussion, members raised practical constraints: many agencies said they are holding budgets tightly because of a federal shutdown and upcoming grant uncertainties, and members suggested that any campaign consider low-cost ways to reach rural residents (paper, local posting and trusted local messengers). The group agreed the next step was a focused committee that will return to the task force with a recommendation on scope, cost and funding sources.