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Simi Valley council forms ad hoc committee to study local homelessness options
Summary
Council authorized an ad hoc committee of two council members to explore housing solutions, potential locations, funding and partnerships for serving people experiencing homelessness, and to draft recommendations for council consideration.
The Simi Valley City Council voted unanimously to form an ad hoc committee to study options for serving the city’s unhoused population and to develop a draft business-plan-style recommendation for council consideration. The ad hoc — to consist of Mayor Fred Thomas and Council Member Rocky Rhodes — will gather information from staff, county partners and service providers and report back with possible locations, funding options and management structures.
Deputy Environmental Services Director presented slide-based goals for the ad hoc: identify housing solutions (emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing), evaluate viable locations and zoning constraints, coordinate with the county continuum of care and other service providers, and draft funding and operational recommendations. Staff clarified definitions: emergency shelter is time-limited, transitional housing typically ranges from six to 24 months, and permanent supportive housing offers indefinite tenancy with intensive services.
During debate, councilmembers discussed previous task-force efforts, the limits on ad hoc membership under the Brown Act (an ad hoc must include fewer than a quorum and cannot include staff as voting members), and the need to coordinate with existing county services. Mayor Pro Tem Rhodes said the ad hoc’s end product should outline startup and ongoing funding needs, possible locations, unit types, management structures and an analysis of county services.
The council directed the ad hoc to seek information from existing providers, including the Samaritan Center and nonprofit providers such as Dignity Moves, and to return with recommendations for council direction. The motion to form the committee passed unanimously on roll call.
