Riverside needs stronger paths into treatment and affordable housing to help people leave homelessness, members of the Housing and Homelessness Committee said Monday during a review of the city’s homelessness strategy.
The Oct. 26 discussion focused on services under the Homelessness Action Plan, adopted in 2022. Staff proposed clearer measures of progress, while committee members questioned how to help people accept treatment and find stable housing.
Committee member Sean Mill called for a stronger treatment focus.
“We can’t consider success just simply offering housing and offering services,” Mill said. “I continue to see people struggling with addiction and mental illness. We really need to do more about getting these folks into treatment.”
Housing and Human Services Director Michelle Davis said the city refers people to treatment through county behavioral health partners, including the Arlington Recovery Center, but acceptance is rare. Staff also are examining housing gaps for people leaving treatment.
Committee Chair Luis Hernandez questioned whether outreach workers have enough housing options for people who cannot afford to live independently.
“A lot of them don’t see a way out of homelessness, even if they get assistance because of how expensive it is to find somewhere to live nowadays,” Hernandez said.
Davis said the city uses shelters, bridge housing and motels while people await shelter beds. Staff also help obtain identification and explore options such as shared housing.
Hernandez urged the city to use grants and other tools to encourage low-income housing. Mill said he's working on a housing opportunity ordinance, which he described as an inclusionary housing ordinance that could help address affordability.
The review also showed gaps in tracking results.
The staff report listed three unmet annual targets: reducing homelessness among people experiencing chronic homelessness and those struggling with substance abuse by 5% each, and increasing acceptance of outreach services by 25%.
Staff said some objectives lacked clear measures or relied on the point-in-time count, conducted every two years.
The city met its goals for increasing social work interns and implementing CARE Court. Other objectives remained in progress.
Proposed changes include six annual staff trainings, aligning the chronic homelessness target with the count schedule, and expanding an annual goal of 15 HOME Court referrals to include CARE Court.
Staff recommended dropping a target to increase successful street outreach placements by 25% annually. Deputy Director Megan Stoye said the target did not specify where people would be placed or how they would get there.
Public commenters also called for more housing and raised concerns about belongings lost during encampment removals. Davis said belongings are stored at the access center and transportation is available to retrieve them.
Committee member Clarissa Cervantes urged closer attention to sober living capacity and conditions. Davis said an incoming deputy director would inventory facilities and work with the county to identify gaps in recovery housing.
The committee’s review is scheduled to continue through February. No formal vote was taken. Recommendations will return as part of a broader update before City Council consideration.
