City of Vista Homeless Strategic Plan
Vista, California
Patrick Johnson ICMA-CM, City Manager
Homelessness is one of the most challenging social topics of our time. The city of Vista, California, recognized a need to implement a systematic, long-term proactive response to support the unsheltered community with a strategic plan that balances the needs of the most vulnerable residents with the greater needs of the community.
In 2020, the city council adopted Vista’s Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness utilizing evidence-based practices and programs tailored for Vista. The plan blends services, resources, and enforcement to address three primary goals: (1) prevent homelessness, (2) improve quality of life, and (3) reduce homelessness.
Prevent Homelessness. Homelessness prevention focuses on promoting self-sufficiency and stabilizing housing for individuals and families who are at risk of becoming homeless. One strategy is the prevention program, which provides rent and/or deposit assistance, utility assistance, transportation assistance, and case management.
Another strategy is home sharing to assist people looking for low-cost housing. Home share coordinators match home providers with home seekers, conduct outreach in the community, locate housing, assist with agreements, and provide support to home providers and seekers.
Improve Quality of Life. As part of the strategic plan, the city improved coordination of encampment cleanups to include social service providers and other jurisdictional partners. This strategy focuses on environmental requirements to reduce debris and pollutants that can contaminate creeks and watersheds. Vista continues advocating for legislation, funding, programming, and tools to assist in preventing and reducing homelessness.
Reduce Homelessness. The city began contracting with a local shelter partner to secure up to 10 shelter beds per night in existing low-barrier shelters. Low-barrier facilities have minimal entry requirements and make shelter more accessible to those in need. Individuals can remain for 120 nights—or longer if they are involved in case management. The city is also exploring a safe parking program and permanent supportive housing.
The city contracts with a social worker and housing navigator to assist clients in accessing basic needs and providing case management and assistance to the unsheltered community in collaboration with the sheriff’s department, county health services, mental health providers, substance abuse resources, shelters, and other services providers. The social worker con-ducts outreach to encampment sites and individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the city.
Another element is the Internal Homelessness Working Group. The group includes the city’s contracted social worker and housing navigator, members of the Vista Sheriff’s Department, and city staff from code enforcement, public works, fire, stormwater, recreation and community services, building and planning, economic development, the city attorney’s office, housing, and the city manager’s office. The group collectively works to improve internal and external communications about homelessness, including identifying opportunities to collaborate with information, strategize, and initiate cross-department and/or cross-agency deployment of resources.
The success of the strategic plan is evidenced by a recent $1.8 million demonstration grant administered by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness. Vista was the only city in San Diego County to be awarded a grant, and the program will provide targeted outreach and housing navigation services for 30 to 40 unsheltered individuals.
