Advocates for Riverside’s homeless population aren’t giving up after the Riverside City Council voted to reject millions of dollars intended to create more than 100 apartments for homeless residents. Though they failed to get council members to reconsider their move, advocates gathered Friday ni ght, Feb. 20, for a town hall meeting to discuss responses to the council’s decision last month and how to confront the problem of people living on the streets. Some said the community must keep the pressure on the council. “They think we are going to go away … We have to communicate to them that we will not,” said Claire Jefferson-Glipa, executive director of Family Promise of Riverside, which helps families that are losing or have lost their homes. “This is a moment we can meet … It takes a commitment of love and care.” At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Riverside City Council voted 4-3 to not accept $20.1 million in state dollars to convert the Quality Inn Motel at 1590 University Ave. into 114 studio apartments. Local business owners, among others, opposed the project. Some council members who were against the project felt it should offer treatment for potential substance abuse and other issues. Advocates for the homeless lobbied the council to reconsider the decision, but council members opposed to the project stood firm. Only council members who voted against the project had the ability to bring it back up for a vote. The deadline for the council to reconsider the issue was Feb. 6. Despite the deadline passing, about three dozen advocates gathered Friday at the Bank of America Diversity Center on Mission Inn Avenue to brainstorm their next steps. Attendees discussed taking the issue to the voters, by potentially recalling current council members or backing candidates who would have supported taking the state money. “Talking to them does nothing,” said Janice Rooths, the executive director of the Center Against Racism and Trauma who moderated the session. “We have to take action.” Dan Hoxworth, a board member of the Inland SoCal Housing Collective who has spoken in favor of the Quality Inn project, urged attendees to “keep hope alive.” “This project is not dead.” He mentioned the possibility of lawsuits against the city over the project. The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation has sent a letter saying it was concerned that denying the grant may conflict with the city’s housing needs and fair housing laws. And the owner of the Quality Inn said the seller may sue. Hoxworth said the state sent a Feb. 9 letter to the city to raise concerns and noted that Riverside has failed to meet its low-income housing needs. “The residents of Riverside, they need to understand the legal liability of passing on this money,” Hoxworth said. He said a March 3 news conference at Riverside City Hall would address the possibility of legal action. According to the January 2025 Point in Count, Riverside had about 335 homeless people per 100,000 residents, compared to 188 homeless people per every per 100,000 Riverside County residents. Last year, Riverside measured an 11% rise in homeless residents, outpacing the county’s 7% gain. In comparison, in 2024, there were 474 homeless people for every 100,000 California residents and 226 homeless residents for every 100,000 people in the United States. More on homelessness in Riverside Time runs out for Riverside homeless project, but backers keep fighting Homeless advocates again blast Riverside’s rejection of $20.1 million housing grant Riverside unlikely to reconsider $20.1 million grant it rejected for homeless housing As 2026 homeless count nears, here’s what the 2025 Inland Empire count found Riverside is sending back $20.1 million homeless housing state grant Riverside considers accepting $20 million state grant for homeless housing Riverside agrees to clear homeless encampments near freeways Why haven’t we solved homelessness in California? Riverside approves controversial homeless housing Homeless veterans get new lives Riverside has had successes battling homelessness in the past. In 2015, the city successfully housed every homeless veteran who wanted shelter. But experts say that some middle class residents push back on other sorts of homeless housing being built in their neighborhood, making it politically difficult for elected officials to build it. In 2020, former Riverside City Councilmember Gaby Plascencia faced an unsuccessful recall attempt after she voted in favor of a 50-unit complex for low-income and homeless residents at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. Aside from political and legal pressure, some pointed to a more basic answer to the homeless crisis. “Win or lose, love is the answer, love is the solution,” Jefferson-Glipa said. “… Will you love our neighbors? I implore you to stay steadfast.” ...read more read less