Council refers CCR on homelessness strategy; public commenters urge daily work program

City staff presented a CCR submitted by District 2 to align a CCR with the city's long-term housing strategy and to request a cost-benefit analysis of pathways that reduce barriers to shelter and increase support for housing transitions.

Michael Carmona, director of Housing Strategies, described the CCR as part of a longer-term plan to assess capacity, gaps and incentives for shelter and housing services and recommended the council refer the CCR to the community development and planning committee (and related housing work groups) for more analysis.

Public comments described programs that provide daily work opportunities paired with services to build trust and support transitions off the street. One commenter argued many people experiencing homelessness distrust systems and that a program offering dignified daily work, connections to service providers and short-term income could rebuild trust and help participants obtain housing; the commenter identified organizations experienced in outreach and said prior implementations had resulted in participants obtaining housing.

Councilmembers discussed piloting such a daily work program in parallel with long-term housing planning. The mayor and other councilmembers said the program could be advanced while the CCR proceeds through committee. The committee voted by voice to refer the CCR to the committee on workforce/economic development (as articulated during the meeting) and to have staff coordinate the program design and interdepartmental responsibilities. The motion passed by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Staff and councilmembers asked that future committee materials include a cost-benefit analysis and clearer proposals on operational roles and funding streams before any pilot begins. Michael Carmona and staff indicated they would coordinate with departments and partners to prepare options for committee consideration.