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City to seek consultant for housing and homelessness strategy; RFP planned for July
Summary
City staff presented a draft scope to hire a consultant to create a housing and homelessness strategy covering policy alignment, program evaluation, funding options and implementation metrics; staff proposed a July RFP, selection by early fall and completion in early 2027, with a $150,000 budget that may be partially offset by grant funds.
City staff presented a draft scope of work for a housing and homelessness strategy and program assessment RFP intended to align city programs, reduce duplication with regional providers, and identify funding and incentive tools.
Jessica (city staff) told council the consultant would inventory current programs (Community Connections, utility programs, HUD-related activities), analyze duplication or gaps regionally, develop a toolkit for incentivizing affordable housing (options could include impact-fee adjustments, revolving loan funds or targeted taxes) and propose uniform metrics to track outcomes. The scope also links to the city's Housing Choice initiative and would produce a policy framework akin to a master plan for housing.
Budget and timeline: staff proposed a $150,000 budget to cover consulting costs and noted possible partial offsets from existing grants (referred to generically as prop one/two/three funding lines). The RFP would be released in July, with consultant selection by early fall and the bulk of work completed in early 2027. Jessica said the city hopes to reserve some consultant budget for early implementation if grant leverage permits.
Council priorities and questions: council members asked that the scope explicitly examine whether program consolidation or reprioritization could reduce costs and improve outcomes, and they urged the study to include senior/aging population housing needs. Staff agreed that cost-optimization is a goal and suggested the RFP language be adjusted to prioritize efficiency and measurable targets.
Next steps: staff will finalize the RFP scope, incorporate council feedback about budget optimization and senior housing, and release the solicitation in July with the aim of beginning consultant work this fall.
