Department of Housing
APPROVAL OF PASADENA ASSISTANCE FUND GRANT
AWARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$150,000 FOR 2025 & 2026
Housing Department
June 17, 2025
Department of Housing
Background
• The Pasadena Assistance Fund (PAF) is a City
endowment fund managed by the Pasadena
Community Foundation (PCF). The City retains authority
over awarding grants.
• The PAF provides grants from earnings generated by
the fund to Pasadena non-profits that provide social
services to the community.
• On March 27, 2025, the City solicited funding proposals from nonprofits through a Notice of Funding Availability which included $150K in supplemental PAF funding.
• A total of six (6) eligible applications were received by the application deadline.
2 Department of Housing
Background
• Through the NOFA, three (3) grant awards are
available, each in the amount of $50,000 ($25,000 to
be disbursed annually for PY25 and PY26).
• Approval of the recommendation will support the
PAF endowment fund’s purpose to help Pasadena
residents build better lives through grants to local
human service organizations.
• The applications were evaluated by a scoring
committee made up of housing staff and human
services commissioners.
3 Department of Housing
Background
4 # Non-Profit
Agency Project Description Score
1 Stars:
Illuminate,
Education,
Advocate
Stars Strong Trauma Recovery Groups
This project proposes to provide mental health
support to Pasadena Unified School District
students affected by the Eaton fire and other
systemic stressors. The program delivers weekly,
school-based group counseling and one-on-
one support, reaching 240 low-income students
across seven campuses.
89.3 2
Families
Forward
Learning
Center
Bilingual Mental Health & Well Being
This project proposes to support low-income
families with children ages 0–5 by addressing
mental health needs and reducing risks
associated with trauma and adverse childhood
experiences (ACEs). Services include therapy,
parenting classes, wellness workshops, and case
management, all delivered in English and
Spanish at their Pasadena center or via Zoom.
87.5 3
Outward
Bound
Adventures,
Inc
Pasadena Youth Advisory Council
The project proposes to provide environmental
studies expeditions for 72 Black and Native
American youth from low-income communities
in Northwest Pasadena. Activities include local
rock climbing, a 17-day trip to Seawood Cape
Preserve and Cal Poly Humboldt, and a 9-day
High Sierras backpacking trip.
80.5 # Non-Profit
Agency Project Description Score
4 College
Access Plan
College 101 & Essay Writing
This project proposes to support two high
school courses—College 101 for juniors and
College Essay Writing for seniors—to guide first-
generation, low-income BIPOC students
through the college admissions process. The
programs aim to build confidence, improve
writing skills, and help students create college
lists, essays, and plans.
80.3 5
Lineage
Performing
Arts Center
Dance for Joy: Youth with Neurodiversity
This project proposes to provide weekly
movement and strategy classes for K–12
students with neurodiverse diagnoses such as
ADHD, ASD, and EFD. The classes aim to
enhance brain-body connections, emotional
regulation, and executive functioning through
dance, music, and discussion. The program will
run during the 2025–2026 school year and
targets 45–60 low- to moderate-income
students in Pasadena.
66 6 The Gooden
Center
Rental Assistance for Mental Health Clients
This project proposes to provide transitional
housing for low-income individuals with mental
health needs who are at risk of becoming
unhoused. Residents receive meals,
medication management, clinical services,
and 24/7 support to help stabilize and
reintegrate into the community.
58 Department of Housing
Fiscal Impact
PAF is a philanthropic endowment fund and is not part of the City’s operating budget. There is no fiscal impact on the City General Fund as a result of this action and it will not have any indirect or support cost requirements. The anticipated impact to other operational programs or capital projects as a result of this action will be none.
5 Department of Housing
Recommendation
1. Find that the recommended action is exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the “common
sense” provision that CEQA only applies to projects that have a significant effect on the environment; and
2. Approve Pasadena Assistance Fund allocation for grant awards in the grand total amount of $150,000 for program years 2025 and 2026, as set forth in this report to Star: Illuminate, Education, Advocate; Families Forward Learning Center and Outward Bound Adventures, Inc.
6