CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
February 28, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Benita De Frank, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: AMEND A CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY INN claremont TO PROVIDE MOTEL VOUCHERS TO Pomona RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH HIGH-RISK COVID CONDITIONS RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Award a one-year contract based on the COVID Emergency Declaration to the University Inn Claremont for a motel voucher program to provide emergency shelter to homeless Pomona residents with high-risk COVID conditions in an amount not to exceed $545,196, increasing the total award to $644,196; and Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the contract and any amendments or extensions thereto, subject to review by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Approval of this action would allow the City to amend an existing contract that the City Manager approved on September 7, 2021 in the amount of $99,000 with the University Inn Claremont (University Inn). This amendment would increase the initial award of $99,000 by $545,196 bringing the total project award to $644,196 for the term of September 7, 2021 to September 30, 2022. The University Inn (previously named Knights Inn) has served households experiencing homelessness in Pomona for several years. Collaborative homeless service providers in Pomona such as Volunteers of America (VOALA) and Tri-City Mental Health (TCMH), and the City of Pomona Homeless Program staff have worked directly with the University Inn management team to temporarily house over 70 households in Pomona during the COVID pandemic.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds for these motel vouchers were approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Amended Budget by the City Council in the Emergency Shelter components. Funds totaling $545,196 are budgeted for this contract amendment in Acct No. 193-1791-52285-63229.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On March 1, 2021, City Council approved a resolution amending the Consolidated Plan, FY 2020-21 Annual Action Plan, and the FY 2020-21 City Operating Budget by reallocating CARES Act (COVID-19) funding Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG-CV) program funds.
DISCUSSION:
Background
In May 2020, the Project RoomKey (PRK) program launched in Pomona at Motel 6 on South Garey Avenue. PRK is a collaborative effort by the State, County, and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to secure hotel and motel rooms for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness. It provided a way for people who did not have a home to stay inside to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The PRK protected high-risk individuals, prevented the spread of the virus in our communities, and alleviated our hospitals and healthcare system's capacity.
On February 5, 2021, the County of Los Angeles, officially demobilized the Pomona Motel 6 PRK site, including the relocation of the non-Pomona residents to motels in other areas within the County of Los Angeles. The City of Pomona assumed responsibility for providing temporary emergency shelter to approximately 35 PRK Pomona residents who had a nexus to Pomona before entering the PRK program. Effective August 2021, Motel 6 would no longer accept new motel vouchers due to facility rehabilitation plans.
University Inn Voucher Program
Effective September 7, 2021, City staff entered into a sole source agreement with the University Inn to provide the equivalent COVID-related services specified in the current agenda item for a total of $99,000. The current agenda item, if approved, would amend the existing agreement to increase the initial award by $545,196 bringing the total project award to $644,196. The University Inn will bill the City of Pomona monthly for each motel voucher at a weekly rate of $600 per room.
The City of Pomona has placed 25 homeless residents with underlying COVID high-risk conditions at the University Inn since September 7, 2021. Additional individuals may receive motel vouchers on an as-needed basis. Individuals residing at the University Inn will receive case management, housing navigation services and remain onsite until one of the following housing solutions is accomplished:
Individuals have achieved permanent housing via City of Pomona Rapid Rehousing (RRH) programs, Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), or Pomona Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers.
Individuals requiring long-term case management and support to address complex barriers are preventing them from securing housing (such as evictions or no residency documentation) may need to return to the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center or other interim housing solutions.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS: This item supports City Council Goal K: - to reduce the unsheltered homeless population by 10% annually and take actions to mitigate the impacts of homelessness on the community.
Prepared by:
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Donyielle Holley
Homeless Programs Supervisor
Award COVID University Inn Voucher Program