HHS committee backs $3 million supplemental to keep families housed, moves measure to full council

The Health and Human Services Committee on April 23 recorded consensus to approve a $3,000,006 supplemental appropriation to Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEF) to sustain emergency family shelter services through the end of FY26 and forward it to the full County Council.

Tara Clemens Johnson, council staff, outlined the supplemental (item 26-14) as including support for overflow motel sheltering (about 85 rooms), $2,900,000 to sustain staff and housing placements through the fiscal year, $50,000 for maintenance of overflow facilities and $54,000 to increase the operating capacity of the Stepping Stones family shelter from 70% to 100% for the remainder of FY26. Christine Hong, Chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness, told the committee the county currently has “close to 60 families in our motels” and that the supplemental is still smaller than last year’s motel spending.

Council members pressed for strategy as well as funding. Councilmember Friedson said sheltering should be a last-resort emergency response and asked how the SHARP program will pivot the county from motel stays into permanent supportive housing; Christine Hong said the county follows Housing First principles and credited SHARP with rapid placements. Chair Sales said the supplemental “is filling a gap” and will allow the county to make it through the remainder of the fiscal year.

The committee’s approval was recorded as consensus and the item will be scheduled for a vote at full council. Committee staff said they will provide additional line-item and contract detail before the council meeting.