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HOPE team funding cut: Fairview officials plan neighborhood outreach as deputies absorb duties
Summary
County HOPE team was not funded and is set to disband July 1; deputies will handle camp postings and cities plan neighborhood meetings and nonprofit outreach to fill gaps, while officials flagged uncertainty about service levels and county budget cuts.
Agency official (S1) told the committee the county-funded HOPE team was not funded and will disband on July 1, a change that will shift responsibilities to general deputies and create service gaps for homelessness responses.
"Our HOPE team was not funded. So July 1 our HOPE team is disbanding," Agency official (S1) said, noting the city is still planning how to cover posts and outreach previously handled by the specialized HOPE team. S1 said deputies will carry out camp posting and other duties but acknowledged that responses might be less efficient: "It's not gonna be as pretty. It's not gonna be as smooth. It's not gonna be as efficient, but we'll get there." The committee discussed likely growing pains and the need to coordinate with county and nonprofit partners.
Staff member (S2) said the three-city contribution to homeless outreach last year was in the range of $600,000–$640,000 and said the county's overall program budget is large; S2 reported the county's homeless services director is newly appointed and expressed cautious optimism about future collaboration. "We're asking what we are actually getting for that money," S2 said when describing meetings with county officials.
Committee members urged the city to hold neighborhood meetings to explain public-safety fee increases and to solicit community feedback; S2 said they plan three or four neighborhood meetings and will invite council members and budget committee members to participate. The committee also discussed potential non-profit partners and mobile housing concepts as interim responses.
No formal policy change or new contract was approved at the meeting. Committee members asked staff to return with proposed outreach schedules, possible nonprofit partners and a plan for public information.
What happens next: staff will schedule neighborhood meetings to explain the service changes and public-safety fee impacts, and the committee will review replacement-service options at future sessions.
