ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: November 5, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: - Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic and Community Development Director DATE: October 21, 2025
SUBJECT: Agreement with Kern County Public Health Department (not to exceed $1,924,301.74) to Implement the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the agreement.
BACKGROUND:
On April 23, 2025, City Council approved the 2025-26 Action Plan allocating $1,113,406.74 of U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds to the Kern County Public Health Department (KCPHD). On May 5, 2024, City Council approved the 2024-25 Action Plan, allocating $1,042,014.62 of HUD HOPWA funds to the Kern County Public Health Department. The balance of FY 2024-25 in the amount of $810,895 will be combined with the 2025-26 funding for a total amount of $1,924,301.74.
Funds will support KCPHD’s efforts to increase access to decent, stable, and affordable housing for low- income persons living with HIV and AIDS and their families. More specifically, HOPWA Program activities provided by KCPHD include: short-term rent subsidies to defray rent and emergency utility assistance for families; hotel/motel voucher assistance; care plans that address participant’s need for services, food, transportation, and links into treatment and care for HIV/AIDS and associated medical issues; emergency mortgage assistance, tenant based rental assistance vouchers; and staff salaries necessary to provide the services listed above.
The Agreement with KCPHD will allow continued administration of the HOPWA program for the City’s estimated metropolitan statistical area (ESMA) for the 2025-26 Action Plan year.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Agreement to contract for the use of HOPWA involves, the Cities appropriation of HUD entitlement funds, as these funds are currently within the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, therefore this action has no impact to the City General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Safety and Resilience
Economic Opportunity for All
ATTACHMENTS:
Agreement