The Temecula City Council voted unanimously to extend the city’s pilot with Care Solace, a 24/7 health‑care navigation service, and to appropriate roughly $34,900 to keep the program operating through June 30, 2026 while staff searches for outside funding.

Director of Community Services Eric Russo summarized the program’s scope and metrics: Care Solace was offered as a city pilot beginning in July 2024. Under the current contract Care Solace averages about 716 requests and 3,803 services per month and has handled more than 11,000 service referrals and 58,000 service matches to date. Russo said Care Solace typically matches a person to a provider within 24 hours and the average wait for an appointment is nine days; 95% of requests have received matches.

Russo also noted that roughly 75% of users in Temecula are uninsured or on public insurance, which staff said underscores barriers to care that the navigator helps bridge. Under a reduced rate negotiated with Care Solace, the city’s cost is $1 per resident for coverage not already provided by the Temecula Valley Unified School District contract, which staff calculated as approximately $69,800 per year; the six‑month extension requires an allocation of about $34,900.

Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Alexander, who requested the item, said she did not want the city to be the long‑term funder and that she is pursuing outside partners and grant options. “I do not want our government to continue to pay for this here at the city level,” she said, urging searches for alternative funding while keeping the program active during high‑need months.

Council members praised the service as an important local navigation resource and asked staff to expand outreach and education so residents — especially men and populations with public insurance — know how to access it. Councilman Matt Ron suggested a six‑month outreach plan. The council approved the extension and appropriation on a unanimous vote.