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Council approves Measure A amendment to sustain Homeless Engagement Team; staff cites outreach results and program costs
Summary
The council approved an amendment to the Measure A agreement to continue funding the Homeless Engagement Team; staff said the city contributes about $454,000 to an annual program budget just over $1 million and highlighted HET accomplishments, service counts and program limits.
The Santa Fe Springs City Council approved an amendment on June 2 to a county Measure A agreement that will support the city's Homeless Engagement Team (HET) and related services.
Arlene Salazar, the city's police and community services director, presented a short video and slides summarizing the program's operations, partnerships and results since the team launched in March 2025. Salazar said the HET brings together outreach workers, a housing navigator, case management, public safety officers and public works to connect people experiencing homelessness to housing, stabilization services and emergency supports. "Using Measure A resources, Santa Fe Springs has strengthened regional partnerships and improved services coordination," she said.
Staff told the council the city contributes $454,000 from the general fund; county and PHA funds supplement that to produce an annual program budget slightly over $1 million. Salazar reviewed operational data staff track: the program has logged roughly 1,700 site visits, reported about 35 people enrolled in the county's strict enrollment standard, and closed approximately 155 encampment cases over the last year and a half. Staff also described ancillary costs the city covers, including illegal‑dumping cleanups, cameras and specialized cleanup equipment.
Salazar and other staff acknowledged persistent challenges: high per‑bed shelter costs in the region (staff cited a local example with a monthly per‑bed cost described as high), limited long‑term housing options, and gaps in countywide coordination. Staff recommended the amendment to continue local HET services and to preserve the city's flexibility to adjust funding among eligible project categories each year.
Council members praised the team's work, asked questions about coordination with county partners and rail agencies, and commented on the operational difficulty of outreach work. The council moved and seconded the Measure A amendment and voted to approve it.
What happens next: the amendment will be executed so the city can apply the county allocation to HET operations and related homelessness response activities; staff will continue to report performance metrics to council and the county.
