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City outlines homeless outreach, navigator outcomes and regional partnerships
Summary
Staff said Claremont's regional navigator served 61 individuals in 2025, helped several into temporary and permanent housing, and that the city partners with Lakota outreach and regional shelters while LAHSA's count identified 8 unsheltered and 16 in dwellings in Claremont.
City staff updated the Community and Human Services Commission on homeless services and regional partnerships, reporting outreach activity, placements and coordination with county programs.
Management analyst Michelle Castillo said Claremont participates in a Tri‑City cohort with La Verne and Pomona and Tri City Mental Health; the arrangement initially used Measure H funding. "Our assigned navigator, Mr. Richard Franco, serves as our boots on the ground and has established relationships with the majority of Claremont's unhoused population," Castillo said. In 2025 the navigator served 61 different individuals, assisted eight families into temporary housing and helped five individuals secure permanent housing.
The city also described work with a Lakota outreach team (funded by Measure A) that visits parks and high‑activity locations several times a week to provide engagement, resource connections, transportation and housing navigation supports. Through these partnerships and CBO funding the city provides shower programs, shelter referrals and a variety of support services, and staff said Claremont currently has six crisis beds available through partner programs.
On the point‑in‑time count, Castillo said LAHSA's 2025 reporting identified eight unsheltered individuals not in dwellings and 16 unhoused individuals in dwellings (cars, RVs, tents or makeshift shelters). The 2026 count was completed two weeks ago and results are expected this summer.
Commissioners asked how the community perceives response efforts and whether outreach fatigue or reluctance to accept services is an obstacle. Staff said persistent outreach, repeated offers and a transportation capability from the Lakota team are among current tactics; staff noted barriers such as missing documentation, long waitlists for housing programs and individuals' readiness to accept assistance.
What's next: staff will continue HEART (Homeless Engagement Assessment and Response Team) meetings, CBO funding, outreach deployments when funding and officer availability permit, and seek additional funding and partnerships to support housing placements.
Quotes in this story are from the staff presentation and commission Q&A.
