Hopeful Horizons Ordinance

On September 8, 2025, Redwood City adopted the Hopeful Horizons Ordinance, which took effect October 8, 2025. This ordinance addresses encampments on public property that prioritizes connecting people to services and stable housing.

Community members can report encampment issues in their community through the MyRWC app to help ensure outreach workers are aware of individuals who may need services. Absent exigent circumstances, encampment removal will occur only when shelter space is available, and only after individuals have been notified and offered services. The process prioritizes connection to services over speed of removal, ensuring a balance of safety, compassion, and accountability.

How the Process Works

The City recognizes that homelessness is complex, deeply personal, and often rooted in circumstances beyond a person’s control. The City’s approach is centered on compassion, dignity and safety for those experiencing homelessness and for the broader community.

Shelter Must Be Available First

Absent exigent circumstances, encampments are only addressed when shelter space is available. In general, no one is asked to move without being offered a safe and appropriate shelter option first.

Structured Notice and Outreach

Absent exigent circumstances, individuals receive at least two written warnings before any action is taken. The standard notice is 72 hours. For encampments within 200 feet of schools, the County Navigation Center, or waterways, notice is 48 hours. Every notice includes shelter information and a direct offer of placement.

Outreach workers and case managers engage with individuals prior to enforcement and throughout the process to connect them with services, case management, and pathways to stable housing.

Personal Property Is Protected

Belongings such as IDs, medication, clothes, tents, sleeping bags, and bicycles are catalogued and stored for up to 90 days. Individuals receive information about where items are stored and how to retrieve them.

What Happens If Shelter Isn't Available

If shelter is not immediately available, if an individual is not appropriate for shelter, or if specific needs cannot be met (ADA accommodations, higher level of care), City staff and outreach partners work with individuals to identify alternative resources. Absent exigent circumstances, if shelter is not available, no enforcement action takes place.

Ongoing Engagement

If someone declines a shelter offer, outreach workers continue to engage with them and explore other options. The goal is voluntary connection to services. Citations are issued only as a last resort.

The City's goal is to connect people with care, shelter, and long-term stability while ensuring public spaces remain safe, clean, and accessible for everyone.

Available Resources and Services

The City works closely with San Mateo County and local nonprofit partners to provide comprehensive services:

County Navigation Center: A 240-bed facility in Redwood City providing wraparound case management, supportive services, and connections to housing.
Shelter Network: Shelter options across San Mateo County, including shared spaces, private rooms, and family-specific facilities.
Homeless Outreach Team: A field-based team of outreach workers, case managers, and people with lived experience of homelessness. The team assists individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in accessing services, shelter, and housing.
Fair Oaks Community Center: Core Service Agency and entry-point to the homeless response system. Located at 2600 Middlefield Road. Call 650-780-7500 or visit in person to refer someone who may need support or services.
Health and Supportive Services: Access to medical care, behavioral health services, benefits enrollment, and other safety-net programs.

For Community Members

Addressing homelessness requires partnership between the City, County, service providers, and residents.

Report Encampments: Use the MyRWC app or website to report encampments or request homeless outreach. Reports help outreach workers locate individuals who may need services and connect them with care. When an encampment is reported, the information is added to the City's queue and nonprofit partners assess the individuals living in the encampment. Cleanups are scheduled case by case depending on staffing and shelter availability. The City may receive many reports at times and will address them as efficiently as possible.
Understand the Timeline: Encampment resolution involves multiple coordinated steps and takes time. The City identifies encampments, coordinates with County partners to reserve shelter beds, and ensures all departments are prepared before proceeding. Due to staffing, shelter availability, and other operational factors, encampments cannot be cleared daily. A limited number of encampments can be addressed during each scheduled cleanup.
Refer someone for services: Call the Fair Oaks Community Center at 650–780–7500 or visit in person at 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City.
Volunteer or donate: Volunteer with local nonprofits, donate, or support outreach efforts at one of Redwood City’s non-profit community partners.

Ordinance Background

The City engaged extensively with the community before adopting this ordinance:

January 2025: Mayor Martinez Saballos appointed a City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness (Councilmembers Chu, Gee, and Sturken) to evaluate whether the City should adopt an ordinance addressing encampments. The committee met six times.

April 2025: The City hosted four community meetings with residents, local businesses, homeless service providers, individuals with lived experience of homelessness, and other stakeholders to gather input on a potential ordinance.

Presentation from the April 2025 Community Meeting

July 2025: The City hosted two community meetings to share an update on the Ad Hoc Committee's final recommendation. Across six meetings, 175 people participated. Polling showed 85% support for the ordinance.

Presentation from the July 2025 Community Meeting
Recording from the July 2025 Community Meeting - Passcode: &Qdi^U85
Overview of community engagement and polling data

July 21, 2025: First reading of ordinance with modifications to penalties and including schools and the San Mateo County Navigation Center as a “sensitive area”.
August 25, 2025: The City Council re-introduced the ordinance with a modification to add waterways as a “sensitive area” and created the City Council Subcommittee on Homelessness.
September 8, 2025: Second reading and adoption of ordinance.
October 8, 2025: Ordinance takes effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Ordinance

What is the Hopeful Horizons Ordinance?

Why is it called the Hopeful Horizons Ordinance?

Redwood City's ordinance is modeled after San Mateo County's Hopeful Horizons ordinance, which was adopted in January 2024. The name reflects the shared goal of creating pathways to stable housing and services for individuals experiencing homelessness. "Hopeful Horizons" emphasizes the City's commitment to offering genuine opportunities for people to transition out of homelessness through shelter placement, case management, and wraparound services.

By adopting a similar framework to the County's approach, Redwood City ensures consistency in the regional response to homelessness and maximizes coordination between jurisdictions. The name represents the hope that this structured, service-oriented approach will create better long-term outcomes for both individuals experiencing homelessness and the broader community.

What do you mean by “sensitive areas?”

What are the fines and penalties associated with the ordinance?

Violations of the ordinance are classified as misdemeanors with a maximum fine of $100 and/or up to six months in jail. However, citations are only issued as a last resort after individuals have received two written warnings and have been offered shelter, after the notice period expires.

The City prioritizes connection to services over punishment, and individuals that are cited under the ordinance are also eligible to participate in diversion programs instead of facing traditional penalties. The focus remains on helping people access shelter and services rather than enforcement actions.

About the Process

How much notice do people receive before an encampment cleanup?

What happens to someone's belongings during an encampment cleanup?

What if someone doesn't want to go to shelter?

What if shelter isn’t available?

How often will encampment cleanups happen?

For Community Members

How can I report encampments?

I reported an encampment - when will it be cleared?

What about encampments located on private property or near a freeway?

What should I do if I see a crime or feel unsafe?

How will the City measure success?

What is the difference between homeless, unsheltered, unhoused, and encampment resident?

Homeless and unhoused are umbrella terms to refer to someone who does not have stable, permanent housing and are often categorized into two types: Sheltered and Unsheltered. “Unsheltered” is a type of homelessness where an individual is living outdoors (e.g. street, tent, encampment, vehicles, or other place not meant for human habitation). “Encampment resident” specifically refers to individuals that are unsheltered and living in an encampment. More information can be found on the National Alliance to End Homelessness webpage: https://endhomelessness.org/reducing-unsheltered-homelessness/what-is-unsheltered-homelessness/.