Missoula council approves $211,476 contract to fund homeless outreach team after debate over metrics and cleanup costs

The Missoula City Council authorized a contract not to exceed $211,476 with the Poverello Center to fund outreach and operations for people without housing in Missoula for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025—6/30/2026). Councilor Jocelyn Jones moved the measure and the council approved it on a roll-call vote of 9 in favor and 1 opposed (Councilor Campbell).

The contract funds the city's Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), which Poverello executive director Jill Bonnie described as a street-level program that provides supplies, builds relationships with people living unsheltered, helps obtain identification and transports clients to housing intakes or apartment viewings. "HOT is the only outreach team in the community that specifically is dedicated to supporting this population," Bonnie said.

Supporters told the council the team provides…