City of Downey – Outreach & Engagement
December 2025
Client Interactions Clients Enrolled
Services (Case Management, Transportation, Documentation, Medical/Mental Health Treatment, etc.)
Management and referrals (City Net partners with outside agencies to connect clients with specific care requirements)
(This process takes about 3-6 months on average to gather ID and Social Security cards, birth certificates, and medical documentation)
SUCCESS STORY
One morning, City Net received a call from the Downey Police Department while cleaning up the Rio San Gabriel Riverbed about two brothers who were experiencing homelessness and looking for services. When case managers met with the family, the brothers explained how they had family out of state and would love to reconnect if they had a way to contact them and explain their current situation, (Continued on page 3)
Teams focused on two primary hotspots in December, around the Ricks Motel, which then spread to further storefronts up and down Firestone Boulevard. Due to inclement weather, case managers sought to place more referrals to the Salvation Army Bell Shelter and Interim Housing referrals to help individuals stay out of the elements this month.
SUCCESS STORIES
• (Continued from page 1) along with having transportation assistance should they have a place to stay The case managers listened as the clients explained that they were tired of how harsh living on the street had been for the past two years, as they moved each time the city came to clean out the riverbed The case managers arranged for the clients to speak to their family in Texas, who were shocked to hear from their lost family members and welcomed them home immediately. After three weeks of coordinating with the family, the case managers were able to confirm the brothers' travel plans for relocation with their family. During the time between their enrollment and traveling home, one of the brothers was even able to obtain a job for when he arrived home At the end of the month, case managers transported the brothers to the station, where they thanked City Net and the City of Downey for their assistance in reconnecting the clients with their families before the holiday season.
• Since October 2024, City Net case managers have attempted to work with an individual experiencing homelessness on the streets of Downey, but due to a mistrust of any organizations, the client always refused services. However, the case managers were consistent in building a rapport with the client each time they encountered him during outreach. Slowly, their repeated offers for assistance encouraged the client to step out of his comfort zone and begin accepting some services in the form of food and clothing donations. While the client was still reluctant to enroll for shelter services and share any personal information, he agreed to stay in contact with the team throughout 2025. In December, the client finally reached out to the team and agreed to sign the necessary documents for a Housing for Health Referral to Hondo Center of Healing. In just a few weeks, the center informed City Net that they had a bed available, and case managers reserved it immediately. Once they shared the news with the client, they arranged to have him stay at a motel until his intake appointment, where the team transported him directly to the shelter.
Positive exits indicate clients moved off the streets or out of shelter into a more stable living situation.
Temporary housing includes rehabilitation programs, institutional care facilities, and all transitional housing placements.
Permanently housed clients rent a private residence where they may receive ongoing subsidies or have moved into a residence with family or friends permanently.
