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 services that are difficult to quantify but essential to connecting people with housing. HOT team lead Katie Leahy said data collection has improved but remains challenging: "Data is a real big beast, and data changes." Former HOT worker Maddie Wood described an individual outcome after the Johnson Street shelter closure and said, "the core of our work is love," recounting reunification with shelter and continuity of care.

Opponents said the contract lacked sufficient performance metrics and asked that the Poverello share costs for security and cleanup tied to unsheltered encampments. Councilor Campbell, who voted no, said the city should demand measurable outcomes and asked that Poverello contribute to cleanup and private security costs the city has borne. "We should have metrics of success," Campbell said during debate.

Council supporters noted the funds were included in the city budget earlier this year. Councilor Jordan said the contract had already been approved in the budget cycle and that cutting it now would reduce services as Missoula moves into winter. "This money has already been marked. It's already been allocated," Jordan said. Several council members also argued HOT work reduces taxpayer costs by helping keep people out of emergency rooms and the criminal justice system.

Public comment included HOT staff and recipients who described the program's roles in distributing medications, helping obtain identification and providing transport to intakes. Kent Leahy and others urged the council to keep the team intact as winter approaches; critics—including some residents and one speaker who repeatedly raised cleanup and security concerns—urged stricter contractual accountability.

Under the contract the "city of Missoula will pay the contractor the sum not to exceed $211,476 for related fiscal year 2026 expenses," council documents state. The council debate also included requests for the administration and Poverello to pursue future discussions about security-cost sharing and contract measures during next year's budget process.

The measure passed 9-1. Council members who voted yes were (as recorded at the roll call): Merlino (yes), Farmer (yes), Jones (yes), Jordan (yes), Nelson (yes), Nugent (yes), Cheryl (yes), Mazzicka (yes), Anne Becerra (yes). Councilor Campbell voted no.

Councilors and staff said they expect continued review of contract metrics and that future budget cycles are the appropriate venue for any structural changes to funding or reporting requirements.