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Agenda Report
July 21, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Finance Committee
FROM: Department of Housing
SUBJECT: AMEND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2026
OPERATING BUDGET BY RECOGNIZING AND APPROPRIATING
$100,000 IN THE OTHER HOUSING FUND; AUTHORIZE THE CITY
MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES IN THE AMOUNT OF $398,830 TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS TENANT-
BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061 (b) (3), the "common sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an effect on the environment;
2. Amend the Department of Housing's Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget by recognizing revenue and appropriating $100,000 of Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds in the Other Housing Fund (238) for rental assistance;
3. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with the City of Los Angeles in the amount of $398,830 to continue to provide HOPWA-funded rental assistance; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute, and the City Clerk to attest, all related documents, agreements, and amendments.
BACKGROUND:
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program was established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 1991 by the AIDS MEETING OF 7/21/2025AGENDA ITEM NO.12
Department FY 26 Budget Amendment and HOPWA Contract with City of Los Angeles July 21, 2025
Housing Opportunities Act to provide support for housing assistance and services to low-income persons with HIV/AIDS and their families. The HOPWA program strategy is to allow states and metropolitan areas that have a high incidence of AIDS cases to design long-term comprehensive strategies to meet the housing needs of persons with AIDS. HDD awards HOPWA funds to one government entity in each metropolitan area.
The City of Los Angeles is the coordinating agency administering HOPWA grant funds for all of Los Angeles County.
The City of Pasadena Department of Housing has administered the HOPWA tenant- based rental assistance program since 1995. Renewal of this contract will provide $398,830 in HOPWA funding to support approximately sixteen new and ongoing very low-income households living with HIV/AIDS. The renewal funding consists of $371,080 for rental assistance and $27,750 for program administration costs, and the contract term runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
The hlOPWA program provides twelve months of rental assistance via a housing voucher to very low-income persons, both individuals and in families, diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Applicants are referred by the Foothill AIDS Project. After the initial twelve months of assistance, program participants typically transition to the City's Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) for ongoing rental assistance.
The Department's adopted FY 2026 Operating Budget currently includes $298,830 in the Other Housing Fund (238) for the HOPWA program. However, on May 27, 2025 the City was notified by the City of Los Angeles that the FY 26 program budget would be increased by $100,000. Staff recommend an amendment to the Department's FY 2026 Operating Budget to recognize and appropriate this $100,000 in the Other Housing Fund (238).
Staff further recommend entering into an agreement with the City of Los Angeles in the amount of $398,830 for the provision of HOPWA rental assistance to very low-income households living with HIV/AIDS.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
Approval of the subject recommendations has the potential to provide housing for approximately sixteen individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The proposed recommendations are in accordance with the approved General Plan htousing Element, Five-Year Consolidated Plan, and Five-Year Public Housing Authority Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The actions proposed herein is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), the "common sense" provision of CEQA which applies to projects which may have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activities in question may have a significant effect on the 2 HOPWA Contract with City of Los Angeles
July 21, 2025
environment, the activities are not subject to CEQA. Authorizing an amendment to the Department's FY 2026 Operating Budget and entering into a contract for hlOPWA funding will not have a significant effect on the environment and, hence, are not subject to CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions will amend the Department of Housing's FY 2026 Operating Budget by recognizing revenue and appropriating $100,000 in the Other Housing Fund (238).
Respectfully submitted,
&-^
JAMES WONG
Director of Housing
Prepared by:
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Jennifer 6'Reilty-Jon^s
Program Coordinator III
Approved by:
MIGUETRlARQUEZ
City Manager