Ever wonder how well the Navigation Center is meeting needs or what it would cost to remedy its shortcomings? A City report issued in May 2026 answers those questions in detail. Councilmembers Grace Garner and Ron deHarte convened a panel of local leaders on October 22, 2025, to evaluate the performance of the Nav Center operator, Martha’s Village and Kitchen (MV). The Working Group concluded that MV’s contract was obsolete and should be updated before July 2026, which has not happened. While MV agreed with many of the recommendations for updates and changes, it said not enough money is available to make those improvements.
Many of the shortcomings identified are not surprising because they reflect statewide or national conditions: Social services are inadequate for clients experiencing mental health and/or substance abuse challenges. The Working Group called the Access Center near the airport “too small and poorly located.” It called for MV to have more skilled staff working at night, more job-skills help for clients, better food, more pet care, and more help for elderly and disabled residents. City staff calculated the unbudgeted costs at hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
The city’s summary is below: