City of Riverside -Press Conference - Ending Youth Homelessness
Wed, 26/03/2025 - 05:00
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 11:15 a.m.
Location: City Hall Breezeway, 3900 Main Street, Riverside
On March 26, local leaders, service providers, and community advocates gathered in the City Hall Breezeway to mark a historic milestone—Riverside has reached functional zero in youth homelessness. This powerful moment represents the result of tireless collaboration and innovation in addressing youth housing insecurity.
Event Highlights:
Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson opened the event by recognizing the collective effort it took to reach this point. She praised the partnerships between the City, County, and non-profit organizations and welcomed speakers who helped bring this vision to life.
Michelle Davis, Director of Housing and Human Services for the City of Riverside, provided a detailed account of the strategy behind this success. She highlighted data-driven programs, interagency coordination, and wraparound services that led the City to this transformative outcome.
Gabriel Castillo, a young adult who experienced homelessness firsthand, shared his personal journey and the support that helped him regain stability and hope. His testimony grounded the event in the human impact behind the statistics.
Representing non-profit partners, Shawn Johnson, Youth Services Director at Operation Safehouse, spoke about the importance of expanding services for vulnerable youth and reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to continuing this vital work.
Supervisor José Medina proudly represented Riverside County and the Continuum of Care, offering remarks on the County’s role in this achievement. He uplifted the work of RUHS–Behavioral Health and emphasized the importance of replicating this success across the region. His message underscored the County’s dedication to compassionate, community-centered care for youth.
The event closed with a call to action from the Mayor, encouraging all partners to remain focused on sustaining progress and ensuring that no young person in Riverside is left without support.
