Riverside Homelessness Plan: Committee questions treatment access and housing costs

The Housing and Homelessness Committee in Riverside is scheduled to continue its review of the city’s homelessness strategy through February, with no formal vote taken during the October 26 session. Members focused on the need for clearer progress metrics and better pathways for residents to access behavioral health services and stable housing.

Committee member Sean Mill argued that the city’s definition of success is too narrow. "We can’t consider success just simply offering housing and offering services," Mill said. He noted that many residents continue to struggle with addiction and mental illness, requiring more aggressive efforts to connect them with treatment providers.

Housing and Human Services Director Michelle Davis stated that the city currently refers individuals to county behavioral health partners, such as the Arlington Recovery Center. However, acceptance rates remain low. Staff are also investigating housing gaps for people exiting treatment programs. Davis explained that the city utilizes shelters, bridge housing, and motels to support residents while they wait for permanent shelter beds.

Committee Chair Luis Hernandez expressed concern that outreach workers lack sufficient housing options for people who cannot afford independent living. "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. He urged the city to utilize grants and other tools to incentivize low-income housing development.

The staff report identified three unmet annual targets: reducing homelessness among people with chronic homelessness by 5%, reducing homelessness among those with substance abuse issues by 5%, and increasing acceptance of outreach services by 25%. Staff noted that some objectives lacked clear measures or relied on the biennial point-in-time count.

The city did meet its goals for increasing social work interns and implementing CARE Court. Proposed changes include six annual staff trainings and aligning the chronic homelessness target with the count schedule. Deputy Director Megan Stoye recommended dropping a target to increase successful street outreach placements by 25% annually because the metric did not specify placement destinations or methods.

Public commenters raised concerns about belongings lost during encampment removals. Davis stated that items are stored at the access center and transportation is provided for retrieval. Committee member Clarissa Cervantes called for a closer examination of sober living capacity, with Davis noting that an incoming deputy director will inventory facilities to identify gaps in recovery housing.