CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
September 19, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Benita DeFrank, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ON THE FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2021-2022 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE
AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER)
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2022 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Funds; Upon conclusion of the public hearing, direct staff to incorporate comments received into the final FY 2021-2022 CAPER; and, Approve the FY 2021-2022 CAPER for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Pomona receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds from HUD annually. As a requirement of receiving these funds, the City must submit the following documents for receipt of federal funds: a Consolidated Strategic Plan every five years, an Annual Action Plan also known as the application for funds, and a CAPER each year after closeout of the City’s program year. Staff has prepared the attached CAPER outlining the accomplishments of FY 2021-2022 for City Council review prior to submitting to HUD.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact with this action.
PUBLIC NOTICING REQUIREMENTS: In accordance with Federal requirements for public noticing, a 15-day notice of public comment for the CAPER was published on September 5, 2022 in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL RELATED ACTION: The City Council approved the FY 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan on May 17, 2021.
DISCUSSION:
Federal requirements of HUD mandate at a minimum, two public hearings per year with at least one focused on program performance. During various stages of the development of the FY 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan, the City held two public hearings and distributed a Community Needs Survey. The CDBG Community Needs Survey was placed on the City’s website for on-line completion and hard copies were also made available to the public. The survey was available in both Spanish and English. Outreach efforts to promote the on-line survey included: mailing postcards to over 44,000 households with access information, notifying residents through the citywide Nixle-System and posting information on the City of Pomona social media pages. Other outreach efforts to solicit citizen participation included staff presenting at virtual community meetings to receive input from residents, soliciting input from Pomona community agencies and local government partners, and requesting feedback from City Departments and the Pomona Housing Authority.
This FY 2021-2022 CAPER represents the fourth performance report for the 2018-2023 Consolidated Plan, which covers the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The CAPER meets all content requirements as established by HUD and is consistent with the City's Five-Year Consolidated Plan. The CAPER outlines and evaluates the overall progress the City has made in carrying out its goals and objectives in utilizing Federal entitlement funds awarded during FY 2021-2022. The CAPER was made available to the public for a 15-day public comment period commencing on September 5, 2022, and is presented to the Council for approval prior to submittal to HUD.
This public hearing will allow for public input during the 15-day CAPER public comment period on the City’s progress in meeting goals outlined in the FY 2021-2022 Action Plan.
Highlights of Fiscal Year 2021-2022
In FY 2021-2022, the City accomplished the following utilizing Federal and State grant funds:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
The formula entitlement allocation for CDBG funded projects was $2,043,385. These funds provided both public and non-public services to the residents of Pomona. Activities included:
Providing 2,145 residential housing unit inspections for health and safety violations through the City’s Code Enforcement Division.
Providing public services including, youth services for tutoring, after-school activities, sports programs, dental assistance, parenting/communication classes, outdoor programs, JROTC activities, music program, youth employment and fair housing services to over 1,361 persons. Services were primarily rendered virtually as a result of the global pandemic.
Distribution of a Community Needs Survey soliciting input on community needs from over 44,000 households for FY 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan activities. The City received 216 survey responses.
Housing Assistance
In FY 2021-2022, Pomona homeowners received rehabilitation loans or grants to improve their property and help the City maintain quality-housing stock. Housing assistance activities included the following:
CDBG funds were allocated for a Housing Improvement Program (HIP) that included Emergency Repair and façade improvements. A total of 33 homes were rehabilitated utilizing these funds.
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
For FY 20-21, the City was awarded $177,141 in ESG funds. Funded categories included emergency shelter operations and homeless management information systems. A total of 414 eligible persons were served during FY 2020-21 with ESG funds.
Community Development Block Grant-Corona Virus Emergency Relief and Economic Security (CARES-CV) The special allocation of funds is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”). The primary objective of the funding is to support activities that impact short-term and long-term social welfare and economic development recovery efforts.
Youth Programming
In FY 2021-2022, $306,584 in CDBG-CV funds were allocated for the youth programming program that provided recreational programming for youth between the ages of 7 to 17. A collaborative between City staff and community partners implemented activities that promoted art, health, education, culinary skills, community engagement, youth leadership, and mentoring. The programming was partially delivered virtually, as well as in-person formats. The funds were used to pay for staff and program supplies that support the mentioned activities. A total of 286 youth benefited with $46,933 incurred in expenditures.
COVID-19 Information and Referral Services
In FY 2021-2022, CDBG-CV funds were allocated for the COVID-19 Information and Referral Services program to provide expanded outreach and information services related to the Coronavirus. Services were provided through the PomonaConnect website and via telephone that allowed Pomona residents to access information and be directly referred to services, and other resources assistance. Services included, but not limited to: COVID-19 Assessment and Testing referral, COVID-19 Vaccination scheduling, housing assistance and utility assistance referrals, and food connections for those facing instability. A total 269 persons were served with $22,198 incurred in expenditures.
ADA Rubberized Playground Surfacing Replacement Project In FY 2021-2022, $250,000 in CDBG-CV funding were awarded to the ADA Rubberized Playground Surfacing Replacement Project. The play area at Memorial Park, Montvue Park and Westmont Park are now in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). A total of $250,000 were incurred in expenditures.
Emergency Solutions Grants – Coronavirus Emergency Relief and Economic Security Act. CARES Act. (ESG-CV) The CARES Act appropriated $4 billing through the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts created by coronavirus under the Emergency Solutions Grants program.
Motel 6 Pomona Voucher Program
Participants of the Motel 6 Pomona Voucher Program who had underlying COVID high-risk medical conditions received vouchers. Participants received ongoing case management and housing navigation services until either of these solutions were accomplished:
Individuals have achieved permanent housing
Individuals requiring long-term case management and to support and address complex barriers preventing them from securing housing.
In FY 2021-2022, $1,446,910 in ESG-CV funds were allocated for the Motel 6 Pomona Voucher Program. A total of 159 eligible persons were served thru emergency shelter. A total of $1,440,900 were incurred in expenditures.
Project RoomKey
In FY 2021-2022, $166,218 in ESG-CV funds were allocated to Project RoomKey. Participants of Project RoomKey were offered non-congregate shelter options. The program gave people who were experiencing homeless and were recovering from COVID-19 or had been exposed to COVID-19, a place to recuperate and properly quarantine outside of a hospital. It also provided a safe place for isolation for individuals in COVID-19 high-risk categories. A total of one participant benefited from the program incurring a total of $5,087 in expenditures.
Pomona Homeless Outreach Program
In FY 2021-2022, $244,316 in ESG-CV funding was allocated to the Pomona Homeless Outreach Program. The program consisted of a mobile Outreach Team, including outreach staff from the City’s Homeless Programs Team and outreach professional from the following agencies; Volunteer of America, Tri-City Mental Health Services, East Valley Community Health Center, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and the Pomona Police Department Quality of Life Teams. The team provided street outreach by vehicle and by foot, case management and referrals to homeless families and individuals. ESG-CV funds specific contribute towards the salary of one of the Pomona police officers assigned to the Quality of Life Unit. A total of $152,760 in expenditures were incurred.
HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
In FY 2021-2022, $880,191 HOME funds were allocated to ensure affordable, decent, safe and sanitary housing. HOME goals included preserving the existing housing stock and providing access to affordable housing. During FY 2021-2022, the following was accomplished:
Two mobile homes were rehabilitated through the Substantial Rehabilitation Program utilizing State Cal Home funding; HOME funds were used to provide homeownership assistance (down-payment and/closing costs) for two first-time homebuyers; HOME funds were used to rehabilitate four housing units to provide decent affordable housing to low-income households.
Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes Initiative Grants (LHCHHIG) For FY 2020- 2021, Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Home Grant funds were used to continue Lead Education, Awareness and Control (LEAC) and expanded efforts to address a variety of environmental health and safety concerns. During FY 2021-2022 thirty-three housing units occupied by low-income households benefited from lead abatement and removal of housing-related hazards.
Healthy Homes Production Grant Program
On January 20, 2022, the City was awarded $2,000,000 in Healthy Homes Production Grant Program Funds. The grant program protects families with children, adults aged 62 and over and persons with disabilities with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income from health and environmental hazards in their homes. The program takes a comprehensive approach in addressing childhood diseases and injuries by focusing on housing-related hazards in a coordinated fashion, rather than addressing a single hazard at a time. For the first quarter of operation, activities focused on start-up activities and program education.
Pomona Housing Authority
The Pomona Housing Authority (PHA) was authorized to expend $15,424,068 to provide Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) to 965 extremely low (30% of median income) and very low-income (50% of median income) households. In FY 2021-2022, HCV units were leased up at 95%; The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program continues to provide eligible low-income participants with a comprehensive approach to becoming self-sufficient. By using housing as a stabilizing force, this allows families to put more emphasis on developing life skills, short and long-term goals and achieving economic independence. During FY 2021-2022, there were 49 participants in the program. As of June 30, 2022, 26 of those participants maintained an escrow account. Program participants, must achieve all established goals, be welfare-free for one year and be gainfully employed prior to graduating from the program. Three participants graduated from the program during FY 2021-2022. A total of $38,472 in escrow funds were disbursed.
Mainstream
Mainstream vouchers assist non-elderly persons with disabilities. Aside from serving a special population, Mainstream vouchers are administered using the same rules as other housing choice vouchers. The 2017, 2018 and 2019 Appropriations Acts provided funding for new Mainstream vouchers.
In 2018, the PHA applied for FY 2017 Mainstream NOFA and received award of 17 Vouchers In 2020, the PHA received a CARES Act incremental award of 6 Vouchers In 2020, the PHA received a CARES Act award of 40 vouchers In FY 2021-2022 the PHA allocated $1,823,881 of which $468,447 was expended serving on an average 20 non-elderly disabled homeless families.
Foster Youth
In FY 20/21, the Pomona Housing Authority (PHA), was allocated $70,499 thru the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 to served youth under the age of 25 with a history of child welfare for up to 36 months Thru the Foster Youth to Independence initiative the PHA provided Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs) for youth eligible under the Family Unification Program. In FY 20-21 $49,456 was expended serving four foster youth families. The PHA will continue to assist youth in crisis for the upcoming year.
As required by HUD, all public noticing requirements have been met and program performance data made available to the public. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council, after hearing all public comment, approve the FY 2021-2022 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) prior to submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS: GOAL C: Obtain additional grant funding and other revenues to help achieve City goals.
Prepared by:
Isabel Abundis, Housing Analyst
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment No. 1 – Public Notice
Attachment No. 2 – FY 2021-2022 Draft CAPER
Public Hearing to Receive Comments on and Approve the FY 2021-2022 CAPER