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Agenda Report
April 13, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Housing, Homelessness, and Planning Committee (April 1, 2026) FROM: Department of Housing
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING: SUBMITTAL OF PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ANNUAL PLAN (2026) TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City of Pasadena (the "City"), as Successor Agency to the Pasadena Community Development Commission, after a public hearing:
1) Find that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per 15061 (b)(3), the "common sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and
2) Approve the City's Public Housing Agency Streamlined Annual Plan (2026), as attached to this report, and authorize the City Manager to execute any and all documents regarding its submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
BACKGROUND:
It is an annual requirement for the City of Pasadena ("City") to submit the Public Housing Agency Annual Plan ("Annual Plan") to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") in order to remain eligible for funding for the Housing Choice Voucher ("HCV") program, commonly known as Section 8. The Annual Plan, along with the Five-Year Plan, make up the Public Housing Agency Plan ("PHA Plan").
The PHA Plan consists of a HDD template and required attachments, the most significant of which is the Administrative Plan. The Administrative Plan lays out the policies and procedures of the rental assistance programs. The PHA Plan utilizes a required format and is not a broader plan to address housing issues.
I
MEETING OF _OV13/2026_AGENDA ITEM NO.17
Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2026
April 13, 2026
The City of Pasadena Housing Department ("CoPHD"-the the name used by HDD to identify the City's public housing agency) is eligible to submit a Streamlined Annual Plan as a high-performing public housing agency that administers an HCV-only program.
The current Five-Year Plan covers the period of 2025-2030 and was adopted by City Council on April 14, 2025. The Streamlined Annual Plan describes the City's progress on goals that were set in the current Five-Year Plan, as well as any significant amendments or modifications to policies or procedures for the HCV program.
The HCV program administered by the CoPHD provides housing assistance to approximately 1,400 very low and low-income households. This represents assistance for approximately two and a half percent (2.5%) of the households residing within the City of Pasadena. For the current fiscal year 2026, the total federal appropriation for the HCV Program is approximately $20.5 million.
STREAMLINED ANNUAL PLAN OVERVIEW:
The Streamlined Annual Plan (2026) describes the progress made on the goals and objectives set in the current Five-Year Plan. Progress on goals and selected objectives include the following:
GOALS:OBJECTIVES:PROGRESS:
Improve the availability of
safe, decent, and
affordable housing.
Strengthen outreach to the
landlord community.
Increase the availability of
rental vouchers by
applying for special needs
vouchers when available.
On September 25, 2025,
the CoPHD held a landlord
workshop in conjunction
with the Rent Stabilization
Department and the
Housing Rights Center.
Forty-nine property owners
attended.
Awarded five Foster Youth
to Independence (FYI)
vouchers in FY25 for
young adults aged 18-24
who participated in the
foster care system.
including security deposit
assistance and furnishings.
These FYI vouchers are in
use by eligible households,
and those households are
receiving rental subsidy
and services. The CoPHD
Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2026
April 13, 2026
has applied for an
additional ten FYI
vouchers and is awaiting
notification of award.
Promote fair housing and
equal opportunity.
Ensure staff is up to date
on changes to rental
housing laws that impact
access to housing for
voucher holders.
Rental Assistance program
staff attended training with
the Rent Stabilization
Department on September
16, 2025. Topics covered
included the interaction of
Pasadena's rent
stabilization ordinance and
tenant-based rental
assistance programs,
Pasadena's Tenant
Protection Ordinance, and
protections for renters
Ensure effective
operations and program
management.
Utilize technology to
improve program access.
The CoPHD is working
with the Department of
Information Technology to
implement a tenant portal.
This portal will initially be
used to submit annual and
interim income updates,
allowing program
participants to comply with
program requirements in a
more convenient way.
Implementation is
expected by FY27.
The Streamlined Annual Plan requires the City to report on operational changes to the program. The following operational changes were approved in connection with City Council approval, on January 12, 2026, of amendments to the Administrative Plan and such changes are acknowledged in the Streamlined Annual Plan (2026):
Chapter 4-EstabUshing^nd Maintaining the Waiting List
Section E. Emergency Housing Voucher Preference
Adds a limited preference for assistance through the HCV for Emergency Housing Voucher ("EHV") participants, and acknowledges the waiver received from the HUD that allows the CoPHD to place all EHV participants on the HCV waiting list without requiring them to apply separately.
Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2026
April 13, 2026
Section F. Preference for Participants in Time-limited Subsidy Programs Allows the CoPHD to transfer participants in time-limited subsidy programs to the HCV program if the participant is eligible for assistance and if funding is available.
Chapter 5-Subsidy Standards
Section D. Subsidy Standards in the Event of Shortfall in Funding Allows the CoPHD to reduce subsidy standards if it is determined by HDD or the CoPHD that it is at risk of needing to terminate program participants due to insufficient funding to pay rental subsidy obligations.
A draft copy of the Streamlined Annual Plan (2026) is attached.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
Approval of the Streamlined Annual Plan (2026) advances Policy HE-3.6 in the City's Housing Element (2021-2029), which calls for the City to "support the provision of rental assistance for residents earning lower incomes, including persons with special needs consistent with City preference and priority categories and fair housing law." Approval of the Streamlined Annual Plan (2026) is also in agreement with the Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2025-2030).
PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENTS:
The Streamlined Annual Plan (2026) was reviewed by the Resident Advisory Board (RAB) at its meeting of March 19, 2026. The RAB, which is comprised of Section 8 HCV Program participants, recommended that the Streamlined Annual Plan be approved by the City Council.
Copies of the Streamlined Annual Plan (2026) have been made available to the general public on the Housing Department website for a public review and comment period beginning March 1, 2026, through the present, as required by HUD. Public notices of the City public hearing in English, Armenian, and Spanish were posted on the Housing Department website and published in the Pasadena Press on March 2, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action 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, as it will not have a potentially significant environmental effect and therefore falls under the "common sense" exemption.
Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2026
April 13,2026
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Streamlined Annual Plan (2026) will have no direct fiscal impact on the General Fund. Its approval will ensure compliance with HUD-stipulated regulations for the City's receipt of federal funds in excess of $20.5 million to administer and provide HCV rental subsidies.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES WONG
Director of Housing
Prepared by:
Anne Lansing
Housing Assistance Officer
Approved by:
MIGU^L MARQUEZ
City Manager
ATTACHMENT A: Streamlined Annual Plan (2026)