REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt the Sunnyvale Homelessness Response Plan as the City’s Five-Year Framework for Addressing Homelessness and its Impacts on the Community, Receive an Update on Community Outreach Efforts, and find that these Actions are Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Housing and Human Services Commission (HHSC) considered this item on September 23, 2026.
The HHSC voted to approve Alternative 2: Adopt the draft Homelessness Response Plan with modifications and find that these actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
The modifications included:
o Establish baseline data for percentage-based measures;
o Add dollar amounts to the table in Appendix B-2;
o Clarify if the City will supplement County funding if there are cuts to homelessness prevention;
o Include additional metrics such as program engagement, moves into housing, duration of housing, housing retention;
o Explore standardized metrics across prevention, stabilization and housing and calculate cost for different housing exits;
o Create a Dashboard for reporting program outcomes;
o Consider an increase to overall goal to reduce homelessness beyond 25%;
o Propose a more robust plan for homelessness prevention;
o Propose a more aggressive timeline for vehicle- based programs; and
o Provide transparency on how we ensure only Sunnyvale residents are receiving funded services.
The vote was 5-0, with Commissioner Lang absent. Attendees spoke mostly in favor of the Plan, but continued to seek additional program-level data, a public-facing dashboard, and more homelessness prevention programs and funding.
Public Comment letters are provided in Attachment 7 to the report.
To update the Report to HHSC about affordable housing funding, over the past decade, the City has invested about $100 million over eleven affordable housing projects that are either complete or are in process.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt the draft Homelessness Response Plan and find that these actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
2. Adopt the draft Homelessness Response Plan with modifications and find that these actions are exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
3. Take no action at this time.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Adopt the draft Homelessness Response Plan and find that these actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
JUSTIFICATION FOR RECOMMENDATION
While several City plans include homelessness-related efforts, Sunnyvale does not currently have a comprehensive framework to guide how the City prioritizes limited resources to address homelessness. As homelessness continues to evolve and federal funding changes affect housing and other basic needs, a stable, coordinated City response is increasingly crucial.
The Homelessness Response Plan provides a high-level five-year roadmap that balances efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness with addressing conditions associated with unsheltered homelessness in the community. The Plan prioritizes homelessness prevention, housing and shelter pathways, coordinated encampment response, and community engagement, while establishing measurable goals to guide implementation and future investment decisions.
Staff will evaluate the HHSC recommended modifications and present additional information at the Council hearing.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
_X_ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Amanda Sztoltz, Housing Officer
Reviewed by: Trudi Ryan, Director of Community Development
Reviewed by: Dennis Jaw, Assistant Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Connie Verceles, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Report to Housing and Human Services Commission [26-0579, September 23, 2026] (without attachments)
2. Draft 2026-2031 Sunnyvale Homelessness Response Plan
3. Plan Activities Costing Chart
4. Study Issue 23-05 Existing and Potential Emergency Housing and Shelter Opportunities for Families with Minor Children Experiencing Homelessness
Additional Attachments for Report to Council
5. Presentation to Housing and Human Services Commission 20260923
6. Excerpt of Draft Minutes of the Housing and Human Services Commission Meeting of September 23, 2026
7. Public Comment Letters