CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
September 18, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Benita De Frank, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS FOR OPERATION OF THE CRISIS HOUSING PROGRAM AT THE HOPE FOR HOME HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER AND AMENDMENT OF THE FY 2023-24 OPERATING BUDGET RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-160 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF $1,464,000 IN MEASURE H GRANT FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF A CRISIS HOUSING PROGRAM AT THE HOPE FOR HOME HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER (H4H), AMENDMENT OF THE FY 2023-24 OPERATING BUDGET TO INCREASE REVENUE ESTIMATES BY $4,000 AND APPROPRIATIONS BY $8,807 Amend the agreement with Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) as the H4H Site Operator by awarding $1,385,786 to operate the Crisis Housing Program; and Authorize the City Manager to execute all agreements, amendments, and any other documentation requested for acceptance of the award, distribution of the funding and operation of the H4H Crisis Housing Program, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) informed the City of Pomona that it has been awarded $1,464,000 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding to operate the Crisis Housing Program to support adults experiencing homelessness. The contract period for this award is July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. In addition, the selected Hope for Home site operator – Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) – will be awarded an allocation of $1,385,786 of this funding to administer and operate the program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-160 (Attachment No.1) will authorize the acceptance of $1,464,000 in Los Angeles County Measure H funds, for the operation of the City’s Hope for Home Crisis Housing Program, distributing $1,307,572 to 139-1791-XXXXX-65408 for program operations and $156,428 to 139-1702-XXXXX-65408 for administrative costs. Of the $156,428, $78,214 will be awarded to VOALA for grant administration, and the remaining administrative balance will be utilized by the City of Pomona. Since the funding was increased by $4,000 due to an additional day in the upcoming leap year, the revenue estimates and appropriations for this program will need to be adjusted to reflect the increase in the award. Additionally, appropriations in the administration budget will need to be increased, as the full award to the City of Pomona will be budgeted for per the chart below.
Revenue Account #
Change to 2023-24 Revenue Estimates
Expenditure Account #
Requested 2023-24 Appropriations ($)
139-1702-40903-65408
+$0
139-1702-51012-65408
+$8,000
139-1702-52060-65408
+$935
139-1702-52130-65408
+$1,500
139-1702-52285-65408
-$5,628
139-1791-40903-65408
+$4,000
139-1791-52285-65408
+$4,000
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On September 12, 2016, City Council declared a “shelter crisis” within the City of Pomona under Resolution 2016-138. On November 21, 2016, City Council authorized the purchase of real property located at 1400 E. Mission Boulevard, for the development of a Year-Round Emergency Shelter, Hope for Home Homeless Services Center. On July 17, 2017, Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) was selected as the site operator of Hope for Home for an initial 5-year period and was approved as the sole source sub-recipient of future funds identified for program operations. On July 2, 2018, the City Council approved an award of $1,460,000 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding, to operate a Crisis Housing Program at Hope for Home from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. On October 19, 2020, the City Council approved a partial contract award of $486,667 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding to operate Hope for Home’s Crisis Housing Program from July 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020. On December 21, 2020, the City Council approved an additional contract award of $973,333 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding, to operate the Crisis Housing Program from November 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Lastly, City Council authorized the acceptance of $1,460,000 in Measure H funding on September 20, 2021, to support the operations and administration of the Hope for Home’s Crisis Housing Program from the term July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
DISCUSSION:
On February 9, 2016, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (BOS), adopted the Homelessness Initiative Strategies to Combat Homelessness. The Homeless Initiative includes six key areas of focus and fifty-one strategies were developed to combat homelessness in Los Angeles County. This initiative is in part, funded by Measure H funds. Measure H represents a one-quarter cent sales tax voted and approved by Los Angeles County constituents in March 2017, to generate funds for homeless services and resources. Two of the strategies eligible for funding under the Homeless Initiative are:
E1: Create a Coordinated System and E8: Enhance the Emergency Shelter System.
On September 19, 2017, the City of Pomona responded and applied to a Request for Proposals (RFP) released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), to fund 100 crisis beds in the Year-Round Emergency Shelter – Hope for Home Homeless Services Center, constructed by the City of Pomona. In October 2017, LAHSA awarded contract number 2017CESSAY54 to the City of Pomona, to implement a Year-Round Crisis Housing Program. On June 19, 2018, the City of Pomona was notified by LAHSA that it was awarded $1,460,000 for the program beginning on July 1, 2018, with annualized renewals.
Recently, LAHSA has informed the City of Pomona, that it has been awarded an annual renewal of $1,460,000 from the Los Angeles County Measure H funding, for operation costs of the 100 bed Crisis Housing Program at Hope for Home. These costs include salaries and benefits for monitors and case managers who will provide supervision and client care for housing residents, assessments, case plan development, and ongoing one-one-one case management; telephone and communications costs, housekeeping supplies, facility maintenance and repair, utilities, food and client meals, and other indirect costs. The contract period is from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA), was selected to be the sole source recipient to receive funding for the operation of Hope for Home for an initial 5-year period. VOALA will be awarded $1,381,786 and of this award, funds will be provided to administer and operate the City of Pomona’s Hope for Home Year-Round Crisis Housing Program. An amendment to extend the Site Operator agreement for an additional year will be executed until the Request for Proposal is submitted in the next calendar year.
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:
_____________________________
Genesis Hernandez
Housing Analyst
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2023-160
Authorize Acceptance of Measure H Funding and Amend Contract with VOALA