At its July 7 meeting, the Richmond City Council is being asked to approve a 3-year extension with the Contra Costa County’s Coordinated Outreach, Referral, and Engagement (CORE) for Homeless Outreach Services.
If approved, the first-year cost is $528,239 and the total 3-year not-to-exceed contract is for $1,660,150.
According to the city, the current service model provides limited outreach coverage and does not meet the growing demand for homelessness services within the City. The city says temporary funding source supporting emergency housing interventions are set to expire.
The $1.66 million contract would expire on June 30, 2029.
Background:
Since 2017, the City of Richmond has had a camping ordinance requiring the city to offer services to unhoused individuals before conducting any encampment abatement activities – this prompted a partnership with CORE that began in October 2018.
Since 2017, the City of Richmond has operated under a camping ordinance that requires the City to offer services to unhoused individuals before conducting any encampment abatement activities. To meet this obligation, the City established a partnership with Contra Costa County to provide Coordinated Outreach, Referral, and Engagement (CORE) services.
In July 2023, City Council approved the use of the second round of Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF2), which expanded resources available for CORE services. However, the additional funding was insufficient to meet all encampment‑ related needs. On June 16, 2026, the City Council approved separating ERF2 into a standalone contract to provide the City with greater flexibility in addressing community priorities using its general fund money included in the proposed 2026-2027 Fiscal Year budgets of the Richmond Police and Community Services Departments
Homelessness in Richmond: Data Overview
According to data provided in the staff report, between April 2025 – March 31, 2026:
- CORE conducted 3,855 contacts with 1,153 unduplicated clients, serving 927 individuals and 86 families.
- Most households consisted of single adults, who represented more than 80 percent of all contacts.
- 59.76 percent identified as male and 39.72 percent as female, with a small percentage identifying as transgender.
- Adults aged 25 to 61 comprised more than 74 percent of those served, with minors, transition‑ aged youth, and seniors making up the remainder.
- 43.45 percent identified as Black or African American, followed by 18.73 percent identifying as White and 17.61 percent as Hispanic/Latino.
- 27.23 percent of individuals experienced homelessness over five years.
- A significant majority—61.67 percent—reported a disabling condition.
Meanwhile, mental health, physical health, and chronic medical issues were frequently reported, appearing in 510, 298, and 278 cases.
Across all clients, CORE delivered 14,523 services, including housing navigation, healthcare coordination, shelter referrals, and basic needs support.
According to the staff report, during the same reporting period, ERF2 teams completed 652 contacts with 165 unduplicated clients, serving 133 individuals and 20 families. Household and demographic patterns were similar to the general CORE population, with single adults constituting more than 80 percent of households. Nearly half of those served reported homelessness lasting more than five years, and more than half reported a disabling condition. ERF2 teams delivered 3,429 services, focusing heavily on housing navigation, healthcare coordination, shelter placements, and stabilization supports. This data confirms that encampment residents generally present with more acute needs and require higher‑ intensity engagement.
Proposed Contract Structure
The proposed three‑ year contract maintains the existing Richmond‑ San Pablo partnership while expanding the City’s overall outreach capacity through three integrated components. First, the contract preserves the shared CORE team and the cost‑ sharing structure. Second, it adds a supplemental team that will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, effectively doubling service availability from three to six days per week. Richmond is currently the only large city in Contra Costa County without full‑ time CORE coverage, and this expansion will bring the City into alignment with regional best practices.
The contract includes the addition of a full‑ time Care Navigator, whose role will focus on coordination between CORE, the ROCK Team, service providers, and emergency shelter programs. The Care Navigator will manage follow‑ up on placements, support long‑ term housing transitions, and provide the level of case management needed for high‑ acuity clients. At present, these functions are being absorbed informally by Police Department staff, which is not sustainable.
The proposal also establishes a $100,000 annual Housing Stability Fund that will allow outreach teams to address barriers that prevent individuals from accessing emergency shelter or interim housing. This flexible fund may be used for emergency motel stays, vehicle buybacks, rental deposits, food support, and other stabilization needs. The fund replaces expiring American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and ensures that the City can continue providing rapid‑ response assistance.
CORE’s Fiscal Year 2026-2029 Cost Schedule outlines the quarterly invoice amounts and annual expenses that the City of Richmond is responsible for paying and includes a total three-year contract not-to-exceed amount of $1,660,150
Staff Report: Click Here
CORE Program Data: Click Here
If You Go
Richmond City Council Meeting
July 7, 2026
5:00 pm
Full Agenda: Click Here
