Encinitas council approves San Diego Rescue Mission contract to expand outreach and housing navigation
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Summary
The City Council unanimously approved a $344,000 program that uses opioid settlement funds and general fund dollars to pay San Diego Rescue Mission for two outreach specialists and one housing navigator, with an amendment requiring regular metrics and coordination with sheriff reports.
The Encinitas City Council voted unanimously to approve a professional services agreement with San Diego Rescue Mission to provide street outreach, case management and housing navigation services under the city’s Homeless Action Plan.
Staff said the fiscal year 2025–26 allocation totals roughly $344,000: about $218,000 from opioid settlement funds for two outreach specialists and about $120,000 from the general fund to cover a full‑time housing navigator and related services. Planning manager Patty Anders told council the funding will “fund 2 full time outreach workers dedicated to proactive engagement and support to unhoused individuals Monday through Friday” and establish “for the very first time 1 full time dedicated housing navigator.”
The contract’s scope includes a goal to serve a minimum of 80 unhoused individuals with outreach and to house at least 10 people through navigation efforts in the first year, staff said. Speakers from the community largely supported the Rescue Mission’s selection but asked council to require regular reporting and clear outcome measures. Paul Armstrong, San Diego Rescue Mission chief of staff, said the organization will provide monthly reporting, a by‑name list and outcome metrics and that the Rescue Mission intends to partner with the sheriff and regional service providers.
Council member Jim O’Hara added an amendment requiring that Rescue Mission reporting be provided in coordination with the sheriff’s regular updates; Rescue Mission staff said they will provide monthly reports and quarterly reviews. Council members cited accountability, the value of a by‑name list and flexible funding to cover move‑in costs as key program strengths.
The motion to approve the contract and budget amendment, with the reporting amendment, passed unanimously. Staff said the opioid settlement funding requires certain programmatic conditions tied to treatment and recovery focus and that the city will place contract oversight with its new homeless program coordinator, Dr. Crystal Pugh.
Next steps: the city manager will finalize the professional services agreement, staff will post contract documents and reporting requirements on the city website, and staff will return with regular performance updates as required by council.