DATE: May 20, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: City Manager's Office
TITLE: APPROVAL OF THE HOMELESS EVALUATION, ASSISTANCE & RESOURCE TEAM (HEART), APPROPRIATION OF $200,000 IN MEASURE X FUNDS FOR STARTUP COSTS, CREATE ONE NEW POSITION CLASSIFICATION, CREATE ONE NEW FULL-TIME PROVISIONAL POSITION
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council approve the establishment of the Homeless Evaluation, Assistance & Response Team (HEART) as a City-coordinated, multidisciplinary outreach model to support housing-focused street outreach and coordinated engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
During the February 2025 City Council Homelessness Workshop, City Council provided direction to strengthen and expand the City's outreach and support services through a more coordinated, multidisciplinary approach that increases collaboration with social service and behavioral health professionals while reducing reliance on direct Police Department intervention for non-criminal homelessness-related concerns. Consistent with this direction, staff developed the HEART (Homeless Evaluation, Assistance & Response Team) program as a City-coordinated outreach model focused on proactive engagement, service coordination, stabilization, and connection to housing and supportive services.
To support a scalable and flexible outreach structure, staff is recommending a model that maintains City oversight and coordination while utilizing contracted service providers for field-based outreach services, similar to the current Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) model. Under this approach, the HEART program will consist of one full-time City employee serving as the Homeless Outreach Coordinator, with outreach services delivered through contracted personnel, including social workers, lived experience staff, and behavioral health and healthcare professionals. The Homeless Outreach Coordinator and assigned outreach staf...
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