# 10-05-2026 Coordinated Unhoused Services Planning

The City of Ithaca Coordinated Unhoused Services Planning Committee held a special meeting on October 5, 2026. The chair reported discussions with the acting city manager about shifting roughly $50,000 from capital to operating funds, leaving approximately $200,000 in operating funds and $650,000 in capital funds to continue planning. The committee discussed using operating funds to support the LEAD diversion program; its presenter estimated a case manager costs about $75,000 annually, so $150,000 could cover two years. LEAD is operated by REACH under a city contract and has about 87 people technically enrolled, with roughly 45 regularly engaged. No contract award or formal spending vote was made at this meeting.

The committee also explored scattered-site housing, including the possibility of issuing an RFP for an organization to manage housing and provide or coordinate intensive case management. Members discussed defining the service expectations, estimating costs for an initial 10–15 people for roughly six to nine months, and considering whether to integrate LEAD and the ROOTS program. An earlier estimate of about $750,000 was identified as a possible starting point for analysis, not an approved budget. The city attorney advised that landlord tax incentives would require a home-rule request, so monetary compensation may be the more feasible incentive. The committee identified a cost analysis and further work on funding and program design as next steps; the meeting adjourned unanimously.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety, Professional Services
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 05, 2026

### Sources
- [10-05-2026 Coordinated Unhoused Services Planning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf-C20oFCXk) - City of Ithaca Public Meetings