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Committee backs supplemental funding to sustain family sheltering as SHARP reduces family homelessness
Summary
The HHS committee signed off on a supplemental appropriation to maintain motel overflow and annualize funding for the SHARP program after HHS presented data showing marked reductions in family homelessness; members pressed for clearer housing-first execution and follow-up metrics.
The Health and Human Services Committee voted by consensus to advance a supplemental appropriation to the full council that would provide $3,064,158 to sustain emergency family shelter services and related staff through the end of the fiscal year.
Chair Sales opened the meeting and turned the item over to council staff Tara, who described the package as covering motel overflow (about 85 rooms), maintenance costs for overflow sites, and an allocation to bring the Stepping Stones family shelter from 70% to 100% capacity through FY26. "This supplemental covers overflow motel sheltering, approximately 85 rooms, and $2.9 million that will sustain staff through the end of the fiscal year," Tara said.
HHS leaders framed the request as an emergency gap-fill while highlighting the impact of the SHARP permanent supportive-housing effort. Christine Hong, chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness, told the committee that although the supplemental would increase FY26 funding to $3.87 million, the county spent $4.71 million on motel placements last year and expects motel expenditures to decline with SHARP. "We currently have close to 60 families in our motels," Christine Hong said, adding that SHARP has allowed the county to house families more quickly.
Dr. Bridgers and staff credited SHARP for measurable reductions: the county's point-in-time count fell to 1,117 people (a 26% drop year-over-year), with most of the family decline attributed to the program. Diana Pina, deputy chief, cautioned that some reductions were influenced by weather and warned of federal funding uncertainty from HUD's pending NOFO that could affect permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing grants.
Several council members praised SHARP but pressed for clearer strategy, execution and performance metrics to ensure a long-term shift away from shelter-based responses. "Sheltering should be a last-resort emergency response," Council member Friedson said, urging a plan to move resources into permanent supportive housing, prevention and measurable outcomes. Council member Mink and Council member Luedtke echoed support while stressing the need to expand successful interventions for individuals in addition to families.
Committee staff explained how the supplemental interacts with a $1 million special appropriation made midyear: the $2 million proposed for FY27 would annualize the special appropriation so families housed in FY26 receive their full 12-month support without creating a funding cliff. The committee recorded consensus to advance the supplemental to full council for final action.
Next steps: the supplemental is scheduled for full-council consideration; committee members requested additional follow-up briefings that lay out SHARP performance metrics, program tails, and how county and nonprofit partners will measure transitions to permanent housing.
