21 -22
A WAY HOME:
COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS
FOR POMONA'S HOMELESS
CITY OF POMONA
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT
STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATES
Attachment No.1
Acknowledgements
Goals and Strategies
Client Success Stories
Background and Purpose
Goal E - Housing Stabilization
2022 Point-in-Time Homeless Count
Goal A - Reduce the Number of Pomona's Unsheltered Population Goal C - Have an Engaged and Informed Community Regarding Homelessness and Homeless Solutions
Goal D - Balance the Needs and Rights of Unhoused Persons and the Larger Community through Updated Fair, Legal, and Enforceable Policies and Ordinances Goal B - Reduce the Negative Impacts on Community Neighborhoods and Public Spaces through the Coordination of Services
03. 04.
06. 18.
29. 39.
46. 54.
56. 58.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 02
The strategic plan is based on the recommendations provided by the Homeless Advisory Committee. In November 2015, the City created the Homeless Advisory Committee, under the umbrella of Pomona’s Promise, the City’s community-based approach to address citywide issues. The Homeless Advisory Committee joined together to develop a comprehensive community-wide blueprint to end homelessness that reflected the feedback shared at the Community Summit on Homelessness held in August 2015.
The Community Summit on Homelessness was held to discuss the significant increase in the unhoused population in Pomona. During the summit, a collective group of diverse stakeholders agreed to a common agenda to provide safe neighborhoods, strengthen families, and improve the health and well-being of resident lives. It was determined that addressing homelessness must be the focus of any city plan in order to successfully achieve this agenda and meet the needs of the whole Pomona community.
Taking these ideas and thoughts from the Community Summit into consideration, the Homeless Advisory Committee identified four focus areas on the issue of homelessness. These four areas of focus were: 1) Insufficient Housing and Shelters; 2) the Provision of Programs, Services and Resources; 3) Community Perceptions; and 4) City Policies. With these in mind, a strategic plan was proposed with the guiding principles that homelessness is a crisis, homelessness should be brief and one-time only, the issue is solvable, and the city is taking on their fair share and encourages surrounding cities to do the same.
The strategic plan was drafted and brought to City Council for input in November 2016.
After receiving City Council input, the plan was brought back for official approval and adoption in January 2017. Since then it has been updated bi-annually.
On January 9, 2017, the Pomona City Council adopted a strategic plan on homelessness, A Way Home: Community Solutions for Pomona's Homeless, outlining recommended solutions to address homelessness within the City of Pomona.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 03
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 04
GOALS AND STRATEGIES
A Way Home: Community Solutions for Pomona’s Homeless is organized around five broad goals to have a significant, positive impact on individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
These goals represent an inclusive and ambitious approach to ending and preventing homelessness by developing a more efficient, effective and coordinated delivery system for supportive services and housing for the community.
GOAL A
Reduce the Number
of Pomona's
Unsheltered
Population
Reduce the Impacts on
Community Spaces
through the Coordination
of Services
Have an Engaged and
Informed Community
Regarding
Homelessness and
Homeless Solutions
Balance the Needs and Rights of Unhoused Persons
and Community through Updated Fair, Legal, and
Enforecable Policies and Ordinances
GOAL B GOAL C
GOAL D
Housing
Stabilization
GOAL E
In addition to the above goals, the strategic plan includes over 30 strategies and 150 activities that were developed with the input of City Council, City Departments, service partner agencies, and individuals with lived experience.
The City of Pomona has continued to enhance the existing plan by soliciting and incorporating new information that highlights the current climate of housing and homelessness. Given the rise in cost of living and mass evictions, the City has included a new goal, Goal E: Housing Stabilization, in the 2021-2022 strategic plan update. The goal reports on programs and policies that have focused on homeless prevention efforts, tenant and landlord relations, and eviction protections.
Goal A was developed due to the City of Pomona's initial shortage of emergency shelter, crisis housing, and motel vouchers. Since the adoption of the strategic plan, a year-round emergency shelter in conjunction with a centralized access service center, has been constructed and is known as the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home). Since December 2018, Hope for Home has been in operation and provides adult individuals who are experiencing homelessness with emergency and transitional shelter coupled with supportive services to meet their unique needs.
Hope for Home provides 24-hour shelter access, daily meals, restrooms, showers, laundry service, transitional storage lockers, charging stations, and pet services all in a safe and secure environment. Hope for Home consists of several site partnerships which include: Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA), Tri-City Mental Health Services, East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC), Prototypes Inc., and Goodwill of Southern California. Each site partner has the role to provide individuals with either case management, housing navigation, mental health and primary care services, substance abuse services, and employment resources, with the goal of individuals reaching permanent housing stability and self-sufficiency.
GOAL A
Reduce the Number of Pomona's Unsheltered Population
Furthermore, the City of Pomona has
strengthened and expanded its homeless
outreach strategies to connect with more
unhoused individuals and families to
quickly move them into short- or long-
term housing placements. Outreach
efforts have been provided by VOALA,
Tri-City Mental Health Services, the
Pomona Police Department, Los Angeles
Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA),
and the County of Los Angeles
Department of Mental Health (DMH) to
ensure unhoused populations are issued
comprehensive service referrals and
assistance.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 05
Image: The Hope for Home Homeless Services Center
A1Establish a Year Round Shelter(s) Able to Provide for Multiple Subpopulations A2Support and Encourage the Development of Affordable and Supportive Housing Across the Spectrum of, and Proportionate to, the Need by Household Types A3Increase Incomes for Self-Sufficiency and Housing Stability A4Strengthen, Expand and Support the Pomona Homeless Outreach Program A5Provide Programming and Wrap-Around Resources for Unhoused Families and Survivors of Domestic Violence
A6Build Community Youth Partnerships and Expand Programming for Transition Age Youth Experiencing or At-Risk of Homelessness
GOAL A STRATEGIES
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 07
Image 2 & 3: The Hope for Home Homeless Services Center's Grand Opening Event Image 1: Groundbreaking Photo of the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center with Reggie Clark, Benita DeFrank, City Manager Linda Lowry, Councilmember Gina Escobar, Mayor Tim Sandoval, Councilmember Rubio Gonzalez, Councilmember Cristina Carrizosa, Councilmember Elizabeth Ontiveros-Cole, and Councilmember Adriana Robledo Establish a Year-Round Shelter(s) Able to Provide for Multiple Subpopulations
With the allocation of several federal, state, and Measure H grants, the City of Pomona’s Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home) and Access Center carries the vision of being a one-stop centralized location.
Individuals residing at Hope For Home receive comprehensive, whole-person care to break the cycle of homelessness. Adult individuals experiencing homelessness can access crisis and transitional shelter beds along with supportive social services that will help with their transition into permanent housing.
Hope for Home is operated by Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) and has established strong site partnerships with community agencies which include Tri-City Mental Health Services, East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC), Prototypes Inc., Goodwill of Southern California, and the Pomona Police Department’s OATH team. Each site partner specializes in one or more of the following fields: mental health, primary healthcare, substance abuse, case management, and employment services. Since its establishment, Hope for Home manages 100 crisis beds, 50 bridge beds, 31 Tri-City Mental Health State Act (MHSA) funded beds, 5 Tri-City Cohort Cities funded beds, and 6 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funded beds. The 5 Tri-City Cohort Cities beds and 6 ESG beds are shared among the City of Pomona, Claremont, and La Verne. During the reporting period, bed utilization fluctuated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were various quarantines set forth by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health that prohibited new intakes in order to maintain the health and safety of all individuals residing at Hope for Home. Despite these quarantines, and with the collaborative site partnerships, Hope for Home was still able to serve unhoused adult individuals, and connect them to bed services and supportive resources. In addition, if Hope for Home was unable to proceed with new intakes, Hope for Home still referred individuals to other housing services, such as motel voucher programs, or nearby shelters.
A1
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 08
0 100 200 300 400
Crisis
Bridge
Tri-City MHSA
Tri-City Cohort Cities
PD ESG
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 09
HOPE FOR HOME BED SERVICES
324
67 43
9 91
Figure 1
Figure 1: The chart reflects both the total of unduplicated and duplicated Hope for Home bed services utilized during 2021-2022.
100 Crisis Beds
50 Bridge Beds
31 Tri-City mental Health MHSA Beds
5 Tri-City Cohort beds*
6 Police Department Beds
*Shared among the Cities of Pomona,
Claremont, and La Verne
2021-2022 HOPE FOR HOME
TOTAL BED CAPACITY
Image: The Hope for Home Homeless Services Center Shelter Beds Support & Encourage the Development of Affordable and
Supportive Housing Across the Spectrum of, and Proportionate to, the Need by Household Types
The Pomona Housing Authority (PHA) oversees the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, a federally funded program established by the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act to assist very low-income households, the elderly, and individuals who have a disability to afford decent and safe housing in the private housing market. The PHA also manages several other specialized housing voucher programs, such as the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program, Mainstream Voucher (MSV) program, Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative program, and Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program. The PHA has continued to enhance its efforts to address housing choice. This has been demonstrated as the PHA became a designated Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Expansion program agency in 2021. Now as a MTW agency, the PHA has the role and responsibility to design new housing policies and test innovative ways of providing assistance and services to low-income households and homeless populations seeking voucher program assistance. The PHA has focused on activities that follow the objective of improving the quality of lives of voucher program participants, promoting self-sufficiency and housing stability, developing a comprehensive approach to ending homelessness, and assisting in the implementation of activities stated in the City of Pomona’s strategic plan on homelessness.
Given the distinctive and diverse voucher programs the PHA administers, the PHA seeks out and supports opportunities to encourage and foster partnerships to promote the expansion of affordable housing projects and connect households to these projects. For example, the PHA has invested in partnerships with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), affordable housing developers, property management companies, local organizations, and the Coordinated Entry System (CES) on several newly constructed housing projects targeted to help unhoused veterans and their families.
A2
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 10
During the reporting period, the PHA continued to work with the following affordable housing developers: AMCAL, Jamboree Housing Corporation, and Cesar Chavez Foundation, and has allocated project-based VASH vouchers dedicated to veterans experiencing homelessness.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 11
In 2021, AMCAL completed the construction of Veterans Park Apartments. The apartment complex is an affordable multi-family apartment complex in Pomona, and consists of 61 units. By the end of 2022, all units were leased. At Veterans Park Apartments, tenants receive veteran services, care coordination, and on- site child and family resources. Additionally, the PHA is expected to see construction for Jamboree Housing Corporation’s Villa Esperanza Apartments completed in 2023. The apartment complex consists of 57 units for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, with 8 units reserved as project-based units for veterans. Lastly, the Cesar Chavez Foundation anticipates beginning construction for the East End Apartments in 2025.
Image: Veterans Park Apartments Image: Villa Esperanza Apartments The PHA continued to grow its special purpose voucher programs. In 2021, the PHA applied, and was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 78 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) as authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act allowed HUD to direct EHVs to PHAs operating in areas where the EHV’s eligible populations have the greatest need. The EHVs are able to provide assist individuals and families who are (1) homeless, (2) at-risk of homelessness, (3) fleeing, or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or (4) recently homeless. In 2022, all EHVs were issued and leased.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 12
The property will provide non-congregate shelter to homeless families, where other interventions, such as motel vouchers, rapid-rehousing program, or congregate shelter may not be suitable for them. The property is undergoing rehabilitation. On September 19, 2022, the City of Pomona accepted a grant award from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chief Executive Office Homeless Initiative (CEO-HI) to assist cities in the County that are in need of financial operational and administrative support at interim and emergency housing sites. The grant award will be utilized for the 1172 E. Pasadena St. project.
Furthermore, as part of the
ongoing effort to address long-
term strategies for the provision
of affordable housing programs,
the City of Pomona has been
looking for ways to increase
emergency shelter access for
families with children. On October
18, 2021, the City of Pomona was
given the authorization to acquire
a property located at 1172 E.
Pasadena St. that will be utilized
for temporary emergency shelter. Image: City of Pomona's Family Interim Housing Property STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 13
HOUSEHOLDS CONNECTED TOVOUCHER PROGRAMS
The graph above indicates the number of households who were connected to one of the voucher programs in 2021 and 2022 the Pomona Housing Authority (PHA) administers. Out of the total number of households who received voucher assistance, the graph also breaks down the number of households who were experiencing homelessness. The graph highlights the totals based on reporting year.
2021 Households2021 Households Experiencing Homelessness2022 Households2022 Households Experiencing Homelessness 0 250 500 750 1,000
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)
Mainstream Voucher (MSV)
Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
Foster Youth to Independence Intiative (FYI)
Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV)
Voucher Type
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
Mainstream Voucher (MSV)
Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative
Total 2022 Allocation
866
43 453
Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) 69
Total 2021Allocation
858
26 29
4 14
866
858
24 41
29 45
4 3
14 69
40 46
24 41
29 45
4 3
14 69
The table represents the overall total of households who were provided voucher assistance, which includes people experiencing homelessness.
Increase Incomes for Self-Sufficiency and Housing Stability A3 Goodwill of Southern California continued to be a site partner at Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home). Goodwill provides employment resources and assistance with income attainment. Individuals have the opportunity to forge job interviewing skills and set employment and financial goals with Goodwill staff. Goodwill offers individuals the chance to enroll into a work stipend program to gain work experience at a local Goodwill store and earn income. Individuals earn a certificate, which allows them to work at any Goodwill store location.
In 2021, Hope for Home began a partnership with Project Horseshoe Farm, an organization that focuses on cultivating fellowships for aspiring leaders who have a desire to strengthen community health and improve community quality of life.
Project Horseshoe Farm offers an onsite clothing and basic goods closet at Hope for Home, where individuals are able to request and receive clothing for job interviews. Individuals are given the tools, such as dressing for success, as a step to secure employment.
Additionally, the City has focused on the prioritization of increasing resources for unhoused families with children. The City of Pomona has connected with local agencies, such as PCS Family Services, to refer families to supportive services.
PCS Family Services offers families parenting classes, anger management classes, food assistance or basic necessities, all of which are steps for families to reach self-sufficiency. Although PCS Family Services does not currently offer internal services with housing assistance, if there is a crisis circumstance, PCS Family Services is able to offer a family a few days to stay at a nearby motel.
Assisting families financially were made possible through the City’s Mayor grant.
PCS Family Services helped refer between 40 to 50 families in Pomona to social services, and between 10 to 20 families were referred to rental assistance programs or motel voucher programs.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 14
Strengthen, Expand and Support the Pomona Homeless Outreach Program
The Pomona Police Department (PD) continues to operate the City of Pomona’s homeless street outreach program. PD’s homeless street outreach operations occur daily with one Officer accompanied by a Mental Health Officer or Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) Clinician. There is a total of 4 outreach Officers on the PD team. PD Officers build rapport with unhoused residents to identify their needs and refer them to mental and primary health services, and shelter, such as the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center or Tri-City Mental Health Services' Community Navigator program. Recently, PD began to refer unhoused residents to substance abuse counseling programs provided by street medicine doctors from the LA-USC Medical Center. During the reporting period, PD outreached and made contact with a total of 5,465 individuals. This total reflects both unduplicated and duplicated individuals. Data for homeless street outreach is collected through an ArcGIS Survey123 smart form tool. The survey captures demographic data and is transferred into the individual’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) profile.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) also has various homeless engagement teams throughout Los Angeles County. A LAHSA team is assigned to the eastern region of the county, which includes Pomona, Claremont, La Verne, San Dimas, Diamond Bar, Rowland Heights, and City of Industry. In 2021-2022, LAHSA continued to conduct outreach, providing water and other basic necessities along with referrals to resources an individual requests or needs.
Referrals have been typically for interim housing, the Hope for Home access center, mental and primary health service providers, public social services, and during this period LAHSA referred individuals to Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs). LAHSA continued to work collaboratively with Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA), Union Station Homeless Services Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), Tri-City Mental Health Authority, DMH, Foothill Aids Project (FAP), and David and Margaret Youth and Family Services in order to streamline referrals for both individuals and families.
A4
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 15
Provide Programming and Wrap-Around Resources for Unhoused Families and Survivors of Domestic Violence
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Pomona has prioritized building connections with the Pomona Unified School District to assist families with minor children. There is an immense need to address family homelessness and rapidly reconnect unhoused families to permanent housing. The City of Pomona and the Pomona Unified School District have referred families to programs overseen by Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) and Tri-City Mental Health Services' Community Navigator program that focus on financial assistance, case management services, employment assistance, mental health counseling, and childhood services. Families have been enrolled in the City’s motel voucher program, where they are offered case management, credit repair, legal aid, and meals through God’s Pantry, a local faith-based organization. From 2021 to 2022, approximately 20 families who were enrolled in the motel voucher program were connected to Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs). Families who received an EHV were also recruited and enrolled in the City’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. The FSS program is a 5-year program designed to help voucher holders achieve their goals of becoming self-sufficient. The FSS program offers case management, financial and educational workshops, and referrals to additional supportive services such as vocational training, job search assistance, and subsidized childcare.
The City also began to outreach to domestic violence agencies to support survivors of domestic violence and ensure individuals and families have access to these types of services. One agency the City made contact with was House of Ruth. House of Ruth has provided several services for survivors within the Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. All programming is equally open to women, men, and their children. House of Ruth offers outreach, counseling for adults and children (ages of 4-17), support groups, legal advocacy, and CalWorks case management. House of Ruth does offer different housing programs, which includes rapid rehousing, prevention assistance, housing navigation, housing case management, and emergency and transitional shelter.
A5
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 16
Build Community Youth Partnerships and Expand Programming for Transition Age Youth Experiencing or At-Risk of Homelessness The City currently administers the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative, a voucher program dedicated to transition age youth (18 to 24 years of age) who have been involved in the foster care system, and are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. The program requires that community partners coordinate effectively to identify, target, and connect eligible youth to housing and related supports such as mental health services and health care needs. The Pomona Housing Authority (PHA) also met with youth advocacy groups to recommend policies that would strengthen the FYI's program and referral process.
The program is managed by the PHA and works in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), who is the responsible agency to refer youth to the program and provide supportive services. Examples of supportive services include information/counseling on money management, use of credit, housekeeping, proper nutrition/meal preparation and access to health care (e.g., doctors, medication, and mental and behavioral health services). The FYI program is 36-months, with the opportunity to extend the voucher assistance for an additional 24-months. The youth can potentially receive a voucher extension if they enroll in the PHA’s Family Self- Sufficiency (FSS) program, are enrolled in an educational or workforce development program, or employed, or they meet statutory exemptions set forth by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The PHA currently administers a total of 3 vouchers, and will be applying for additional vouchers in 2023.
The PHA attended community meetings in the San Gabriel Valley, or also known as Service Planning Area (SPA) 3 in Los Angeles County, to network with other youth service providers and remain informed on youth programming and funding opportunities to broaden the City's expertise on addressing youth experiencing homelessness.
A6
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 17
The City of Pomona established Goal B with the objective to coordinate several services that will contribute to reducing the issues of homelessness in the community. Under Goal B, a strategy was created to designate a space that is designed to provide a safe place for Pomona’s unhoused to obtain basic needs and supportive services through the Coordinated Entry System (CES). The City of Pomona developed a centralized services center and communal kitchen at the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home) in 2021. The two spaces act as centralized locations to deliver daily meals and resources.
The centralized services center, also known as the Hope for Home Access Center, is operated by the City’s partner agency, Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA). The Hope for Home Access Center serves as a site to screen client referrals from the Los Angeles County CES and community organizations to conduct initial screening, provide various types of referrals (e.g. emergency, supportive services, etc.), problem solve, complete initial assessments, and provide case management. The Hope for Home Access Center follows a housing-first, low-barrier, and harm reduction model to assist clients experiencing homelessness. VOALA oversees and operates the Hope for Home communal kitchen. The construction of the communal kitchen was an additional Goal B strategy to streamline the coordination of food distribution in the community in a safe and healthy way. Previously, the community faced several health and safety concerns regarding food preparation, distribution and disposal. Since 2021, the communal kitchen has improved the delivery of meals, food donations, and overall distribution to unhoused individuals in the City.
The City has also identified other services that are instrumental to reducing negative impacts that arise from the issue of homelessness. These services include assisting individuals with safely storing their personal belongings at the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center and providing free transportation. Goal B also includes strategies that focus on the City’s collaboration with health service providers, neighboring cities, Pomona’s Continuum of Care Coalition (PCOCC) and volunteers. The City has consistently embraced community collaboration models to ensure the entire community, which includes unhoused populations have a healthy quality of life.
GOAL B
Reduce the Impacts on Community Spaces through the
Coordination of Services
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 18
B1 Establish a Service Center for Centralization and Coordination of Services B2 Establish a Communal Kitchen for the Provision of Food Services B3 Coordinate Community-Based Volunteer Services for Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness and Agencies Serving Them
B4 Collaborate with Health Services to Address Systems Impacting Homelessness in Pomona
B5 Advocate for Fair-Share Participation with Neighboring Cities B6 Provide Transitional Storage Lockers for Personal Belongings
GOAL B STRATEGIES
B7 Coordinate a "Filling the Gap" Transportation System for Clients Referred to Agencies and Appointments
B8 Enhance, Strengthen and Support the Pomona Continuum of Care Coalition (PCOCC) to Help Implement A Way Home Strategies
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 19
Image: Aerial view of the Hope for Hope Homeless Services Center Establish a Service Center for Centralization and Coordination Services
The City of Pomona's Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home) officially opened in December 2018. Not only did the City believe in the importance of constructing a site for emergency shelter, but also believed in order for basic needs to be met, a centralized services center must be in collaboration with the shelter. Hope for Home’s Access Center serves as a hub of centralized services where unhoused individuals can access the Coordinated Entry System (CES), housing case management, and problem solving services.
Hope for Home’s Access Center received an occupancy permit in March 2020 and officially opened July 2020. The Access Center continues to serve as a core on-site building for Hope for Home program participants and non-program participants to have access to Hope for Home site partners, a health clinic, and supportive services such as mental health and addiction services, benefits attainment, and legal assistance.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 20
B1
Image: The Hope for Home Homeless Services Center and Access Center Establish a Communal Kitchen for the Provision of Food Services The City of Pomona developed Strategy B2 to address food distribution in the community for unhoused populations. Food distribution was evaluated in order to ensure safe operations and well-coordinated meal plans and scheduling. A proposed solution to providing safe meals was to construct a communal kitchen with indoor and outdoor eating space, sanitation facilities and a commercial kitchen with both dry and refrigerated food storage placements.
The communal kitchen is located at Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home) and received an occupancy permit in March 2020, and has since been open. The communal kitchen continues to provide a well-managed and secure food availability program, and meets a fundamental basic need. Hope for Home does receive donations from community members, churches, and food organizations however, Hope for Home requires that all food donations meet Food Facility Operators Guidelines for Safe Food Donation published by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Environmental Health.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 21
B2
Image: The Hope for Home Homeless Services Center's Communal Kitchen Coordinate Community-Based Volunteer Services for Individuals & Families Experiencing Homelessness & Agencies Serving Them STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 22
B3
In the previous reporting period, all volunteer services and events were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during 2021-2022, volunteer services and events slowly began to resume. All volunteer services that occurred at Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home) were overseen by the site operator, Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA). Project Horseshoe Farm opened at Hope for Home and is operated by student fellow volunteers who participate and lead community based programs with local housing partners. Project Horseshoe Farm administers a clothing shed for individuals staying at Hope for Home. The shed is open every Wednesday from 10am-12pm. Project Horseshoe Farm assisted 113 individuals with clothing items that were essential for job interviews, housing navigation, and personal every day wear. Student fellows were also able to connect individuals with external resources such as housing assistance programs that could help with rent, security deposits, and utility expenses.
Volunteer services and donations have
been imperative to assisting individuals
at Hope for Home get back on their
feet. Some donations have included
hygiene kits, feminine products,
clothing, bus passes, blankets, Easter
baskets, Thanksgiving meals, food gift
cards, and food (e.g. fruit). There were
also free community events hosted by
Western University, who have provided
podiatric medical care and hosted a
pet clinic, which involved physical
veterinarian exams, vaccinations,
parasite control, microchips, and free
pet supplies.
Image: Donation and Community Events in the City of Pomona STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 23
Another critical volunteer event that
took place is the Greater Los Angeles
Point-in-Time Homeless Count. In 2021,
the event was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic however, resumed
in 2022. The City of Pomona participated
and coordinated the Point-in-Time
Homeless Count in February 2022 to
estimate the number of individuals
experiencing homelessness. Assigned
City staff were responsible for volunteer
recruitment and marketing the event.
City staff marketed the event on the City’s social media accounts (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), the City Manager’s report, and community led meetings such as the Pomona Continuum of Care Coalition (PCOCC) meeting. Seventy-four volunteers signed up for the event. Volunteers were divided into groups and were either responsible for being the driver, navigator, or counter. Each group was assigned to a specific survey area of Pomona and tasked with counting the number of individuals they observed residing on the street, or in a tent, car, RV camper, or makeshift shelter. Results of the 2022 Homeless Count were announced in September 2022, reporting 722 persons were experiencing homelessness in Pomona.
Image: The City of Pomona Point-in-Time Homeless Count Event 2022 Point-in-Time
Homeless Count
The City of Pomona annually participates in the countywide Point-in-Time Homeless Count that is organized by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). The count was conducted over a three-night period in Los Angeles County and took place in February 2022. As part of the San Gabriel Valley, the City of Pomona conducted its count the first night. The 2022 count revealed a decrease in the City’s overall homeless population with a total of 722 persons experiencing homelessness, in comparison to 2020, with a total of 726 unhoused persons. The total count reflects both the unsheltered and sheltered populations in the community. In 2022, 463 persons were unsheltered and 259 persons were residing in a shelter. An unsheltered person is defined as an individual residing in a place not meant for human habitation such as a car, van, RV/camper, makeshift shelter, tent, or street. Sheltered persons represent an individual who is staying in a transitional housing placement or emergency shelter during the night of the count. In 2022, there was a 13% increase in the unsheltered population from 2020, and a 21% decrease in the sheltered population from 2020.
With the 2022 count findings, the City of Pomona has discussed and identified funding and programs that are required to reduce the overall total of individuals experiencing homelessness, and transition them into permanent housing in the years to come. During the 2021-2022 period, the City secured new funding for homeless prevention, motel vouchers, and interim housing in an effort to tackle all complexities of homelessness effectively. As well as, continuing to invest in services that target the unique needs of subpopulations that are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness such as families and youth. The City has also remained committed to maintaining services and site partnerships at Hope for Home Homeless Services Center and Access Center to quickly move unsheltered individuals into a shelter setting as a link into permanent housing and reaching self-sufficiency.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 56
Point-in-Time Homeless Count
Data Charts
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 57
City of Pomona's Unhoused Population (2016 through 2022) 0 100 200 300
Persons in Cars
Persons in Vans
Persons in RVs/Campers
Persons in Makeshift Shelters
Persons in Tents
Persons on the Street
0 50 100 150 200 250
Persons in Transitional Housing
Persons in Emergency Shelters
2022 Unsheltered and Sheltered Population
This chart shows the total Point-in-Time Homeless Population in the City of Pomona from 2016 through 2022.
Source: Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Homeless Count by City Dashboard
66.8 (14.43%)
16.8 (14.43%)
60.5 (13.07%)
37.8 (8.16%)
17.9 (3.86%)
263 (56.83%)
24 (9%)
235 (91%)
Unsheltered Persons
Sheltered Persons
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022
600
400
200
0 367 390
587
439 406 463
194
375
188
257
320
259
These charts show the total of both the
unsheltered and sheltered populations
counted during the 2022 City of Pomona
Point-in-Time Homeless Count. The total
number of the unsheltered population is the
sum of persons residing on the street or in a
dwelling not meant for human habitation. The
unsheltered count is documented by
volunteers who are tasked with going out in the
community to estimate the number of persons
on the street or in a dwelling. The sheltered
population represents the total number of
persons staying in either emergency shelter,
transitional housing, or safe haven programs on
the night of the count. Source: Los Angeles
Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)
Homeless Count by City Dashboard
The City has collaborated with a health provider agency to identify solutions and practices related to tackling health challenges many unhoused individuals experience. The City increased access to health services for unhoused individuals by partnering with East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC) to open an on-site health clinic at Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home). Through this partnership, the City has examined gaps in service and made recommendations to strengthen healthcare resources in the community.
Furthermore, the City and EVCHC have streamlined communication to support one another in the delivery of services and reduce barriers to health access.
EVCHC’s clinic is located at Hope for Home’s Access Center. Individuals are able to receive healthcare screenings for chronic illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or HIV, or can receive a wellness check-up, dental care, vision services, or counseling. Individuals can also be assisted by EVCHC if they are uninsured under specific programs, or can be assisted with insurance enrollment. During the reporting period, several services were offered such as telemedicine, emergency room follow up, nutritional review, new Medi-Cal enrollment, immunizations, lab testing, new patient adult physicals, HIV screening, women wellness check, health benefits plan, x-rays, and pre- operatives. A total of 1,163 program participants were serviced at the EVCHC clinic.
Collaborate with Health Provider Agencies to Address Health Challenges Impacting Unhoused Populations in Pomona
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 24
B4
Images (Credit to EVCHC): EVCHC Medical Staff and Insurance Enrollment Specialist Advocate for Fair-Share Participation with Neighboring Cities STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 25
B5
The City of Pomona is one of 31 member cities of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) who share responsibility and efforts on homelessness. In coordination with the SGVCOG, a regional standard has been established where each city within the region would commit resources equal to their registered Homeless Point-in-Time Count. The City took the lead to form a cohort between the City of Claremont and City of La Verne as a joint power to take on their fair share. The cohort also participates in the Regional Housing Trust Fund, a fund to finance the planning and construction of homeless housing projects, and extremely low, very low, and low-income housing developments.
In 2020, the cohort was awarded $250,000 for the SGVCOG Implementation Grant and the City received $15,000 for the SGVCOG Prevention and Diversion Program Grant. Both grants ended in 2021 and were able to provide funding for encampment cleanups, street outreach, legal services, a permanent supportive housing program, and homeless prevention services. In 2022, the cohort continued to seek grant funding from the SGVCOG, and secured a new award for $150,000 to support Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home) shelter beds and a homeless prevention program. The grant award identified Tri- City Mental Health Services' Community Navigator program as the sub-recipient to be responsible for referrals and administering program assistance to households at-risk of homelessness. Under the grant, Tri-City Community Navigators are able to utilize funding for rental arrears, utility assistance, relocation and move-in costs, security deposit, tenant legal services, and credit repair. The cohort shares shelter beds at Hope for Home. There are 5 cohort beds, 2 beds are assigned to the City of Claremont, 2 beds for the City of La Verne, and 1 for the City of Pomona. Individuals who are enrolled in a cohort bed are connected to Volunteers of America Los Angeles' (VOALA) case management team, supportive services, meals and showers, lockers, and are able to access additional resources at Hope for Home’s Access Center. The grant will end in 2023.
Provide Lockers for Storage of Personal Belongings
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 26
B6
Often people experiencing homelessness carry various items such as clothing, blankets, non-perishable foods, along with vital personal documentation and medication. Since it can become difficult to travel with and protect many items, a solution the City implemented was a well-managed transitional storage locker program. Lockers are a resource to safely store personal belongings. All lockers are located at Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home).
Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) manages all locker operations and connects Hope for Home program participants and non-program participants to this service. During 2021-2022, 495 individuals utilized the lockers and were connected to supportive services through the Hope for Home shelter program or the Hope for Home Access Center.
Image: The Hope for Home Homeless Services Center's Transitional Storage Lockers Image: A Certificate of Appreciation to Emily
Lu from Diamond Bar High school for creating
and selling her artwork to earn money to
purchase tap cards for Hope for Home
program participants. Mayor Tim Sandoval and
Lieutenant Manuel Ramos presented the
certificate award to Emily for volunteering her
gifts and talents to provide an important
resource.
Coordinate a "Filling the Gap" Transportation System for Clients Referred to Agencies and Appointments
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 27
B7
Transportation services for Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home) program participants is funded through Measure H and is overseen by Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA). VOALA operates a bus and van.
Both vehicles have been the most efficient way to transport individuals. All individuals are registered to utilize the bus and van shuttle service, which has eliminated the transportation gap for those who need to attend medical appointments, unit viewings, and job interviews. During 2021-2022, there have been # rides provided. Additionally, VOALA was able to provide tap cards to Hope for Home program participants. Tap cards were essential to those who needed to attend their job, search for work, be present for their Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) appointments, or court appointments, and visit their caseworker at agencies off site. VOALA distributed a total of 63 tap cards.
Another form of transportation assistance
that was allocated to individuals and families
who were experiencing homelessness in the
Pomona community was gas cards. VOALA
provided 26 gas cards to help individuals and
families travel to where they needed to go.
Enhance, Strengthen, & Support the Pomona Continuum of Care Coalition to Help Implement A Way Home Strategies
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 28
B8
The Pomona Continuum of Care Coalition (PCOCC) remains an active community network supporting the strategies and programs of the City of Pomona and Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home). The PCOCC consists of local, regional and countywide partners who each provide monthly updates on current programs, initiatives and/or grant opportunities.
Meetings continued to be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From January 2021 through December 2022, the PCOCC met 20 times. During these meetings, the PCOCC also hosted informational workshops and presentations on topics related to homelessness and housing. Presentations varied from homeless providers presenting on what type of services and resources their organization assists with to an instructional presentation on the Coordinated Entry System (CES). The City of Pomona presented on the Moving to Work Demonstration Program (MTW), the HOME American Rescue Plan funding plans, the City’s Housing Services Annual Action Plan, and the City's Planning Department’s 2021-2029 Housing Element. PCOCC members contributed feedback on these presentations, such as best practices around homeless solutions and encouraged Housing First and Trauma Informed Care approaches to addressing homelessness. Discussions at these meetings also included program outcomes, recruitment for LAHSA’s Lived Experience Advisory Board, and results of the 2022 Point-in-Time Homeless Count. The PCOCC has been effective in coordinating and is strategically positioned to support and advise the City as it continues to implement new efforts that strengthen the homeless strategic plan.
Effective communication and engagement are required to foster awareness of homelessness, establish policy and program decision-making, and implementation of community recommendations. Communities have different perceptions on the issue of homelessness. It has been the priority of the City of Pomona to develop strategies that seek to provide clear and accurate information through different communication methods and local networks. Goal C focuses on addressing homelessness by making information and data sources publicly available to illuminate the scope of the issue, efforts being made, evidence-based practices being used, and available services and resources.
The Strategic Plan recommends the City’s Homeless Programs Team take the lead on communicating ongoing updates taking place in Pomona as it relates to homelessness.
Consistent messaging remains vital to ensure information is understood, what is helpful and within the capability of the City, individuals, and service providers, and current protocols and requirements for providing safe, effective homeless assistance. In addition, the City’s Homeless Programs Team has remained responsible for providing community members with tools to access services and address homelessness issues, such as resource guides, brochures, flyers, and monthly community meetings where updates are frequently shared. The City continues to gather more data and information on residents preferred communication platform and, as appropriate, provide data and information on homeless solutions to the community through these avenues. Goal C strategies have also been supported through the Pomona Continuum of Care Coalition (PCOCC). The PCOCC, with the combined partnership of the City staff, local agencies, residents, and lived experience, has served as an engagement arm to promote a collective knowledge and awareness on homelessness. With ongoing engagement efforts as these, this will continue to connect a range of constituents and interested agencies to the latest information and progress, as well as support calls to action to addressing homelessness.
GOAL C
Have an Engaged and Informed Community Regarding
Homelessness and Homeless Solutions
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 29
C1
Communicate Accurate Information Effectively and Inform the Community of Homeless Solutions Initiatives
C2 Create A Way Home Strategies Webpage and Dashboard
C3 Provide an Annual Report on Homelessness and Housing Developments Within the City C4
Provide Training on When, Where, and How Food and Basic Needs Items may be Distributed within the City and Provide Volunteer Coordination C5
Increase Business Owners' Knowledge of Homeless Solutions and Provide Supportive Tools
GOAL C STRATEGIES
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 30
C6 Engage and Inform Pomona Residents on Issues Regarding Homelessness C7 Strengthen Service Provider Networks and Increase Resource Visibility C8 Increase Homeless Persons Access To and Use of Resources Image: Pomona Connect and Food Delivery Community Events Communicate Accurate Information Effectively and Inform the Community of Homeless Solutions Initiatives
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 31
C1
To effectively address homelessness, it requires the City to engage with all stakeholders. To work together to tackle homelessness, the community needs clear, accurate information, a common language and awareness of the context in which decisions and recommendations are being made. The City has utilized various segments and platforms as methods of communication to reach organizations, community groups, and lived experience. These communication platforms include: community newspapers, social media accounts (e.g.
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook), community meetings, email, and mailed letters. All homeless and housing programs overseen by internal City staff are available to the public through the front desk to help community members understand what programs and resources are available.
The City focuses on consistent messaging to ensure clarity and accuracy on current services, or when introducing and implementing new programs and strategies. For example, during the reporting period, the Pomona Housing Authority (PHA) received designation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to become a Moving to Work (MTW) agency in 2021.
As a MTW agency, the PHA would undergo various changes to its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and establish new policies for both voucher holders and households who are experiencing homelessness. The PHA communicated about its MTW designation at City Council meetings, Pomona Continuum of Care Coalition (PCOCC) meetings, and marketed it on social media, the local newspaper, and via postal mail. All current information regarding programming at the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home) is communicated at PCOCC meetings, Hope for Home leadership meetings, and any policy and procedure changes are communicated with clients residing at Hope for Home. Hope for Home has a Facebook page, which also shares information with all Pomona residents, businesses, and City officials.
Create A Way Home Strategies Webpage and Dashboard
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 32
C2
In 2020, the City of Pomona was awarded Implementation grant funding from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG). The grant provided the City the opportunity to develop a website specifically to host information, data, interactive maps, and community surveys focused on housing and homeless programs, including the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home). The website is to present several program metrics and outcomes to convey the impact the City has been able to make.
In 2021, the City used the SGVCOG funding to purchase a software platform that the website will be hosted on. The City completed a sole source memo and identified the software, EngagementHQ – Bang the Table. EngagementHQ is an all-in-one digital engagement platform dedicated to public participation to manage programs and projects all while collecting community feedback and data. The platform would help the City to understand community needs, identify areas of interest, highlight policy issues, and analyze which groups of key stakeholders are involved in addressing this issue. The City has also begun to work with the City’s contractor, DrawTap GIS, for ArcGIS services to create maps and survey tools that would be embedded in the website. ArcGIS is a web-based mapping software that helps agencies gain new perspectives and enhanced details on geographical and demographic data taking place in a specific jurisdiction. DrawTap GIS has worked with the City’s Homeless Programs Team to develop maps curated to show data on homeless street outreach, homeless count, available resources and services, and demographics data (e.g. median income, household size, median household rent, etc.).
The City continues to work on Strategy C2 to convey clear and accurate information on a mainstream media platform. The goal to complete a website early 2024.
Provide an Annual Report on Homelessness and Housing
Developments Within the City
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 33
C3
The City of Pomona provides an annual update and status report on homeless efforts through its “A Way Home: Community Solutions for Pomona’s Homeless.” The annual update on homelessness informs the community as to whether current approaches and models to addressing homelessness are functioning successfully or if adjustments need to be made. The report not only highlights data related to homelessness, but the City annually collects data on the number of housing units developed. The City's Planning Department analyzes and evaluates policies that could affect the construction of affordable housing in the community, and presents solutions to counter policy challenges.
From 2021 to 2022, the City’s Planning Department made several strides. On March 18, 2021, an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance came into effect. Per this ordinance, any residential project of 3 or more units, an affordable housing unit would need to be set aside or an in-lieu fee would need to be paid. In the same year, on August 2, 2021, SB330 Overlay Ordinance passed. This ordinance implements applicable regulations from SB330 and provides an entitlement pathway for the development of eligible non-residential properties to construct residential projects as well as provide for the ability to build multi-family housing in previously single-family zoned properties. Lastly, on December 19, 2022 is the effective date of the Accessory Dwelling Unit (“ADU”) Urgency Ordinance. This ordinance updates the City’s ADU standards to be compliant with the latest State of California standards. These new standards “loosen” existing ADU regulations therefore, making it easier for individuals to build ADUs. ADU permits applied for during 2021 were 159 and 178 in 2022. The City actively encouraged developers to utilize the State of California's density bonus law in order to incentivize the development of affordable units. While there are no flexible policies at the moment in regard to motel and hotel conversion, the Planning Department will continue to explore zoning ordinances and new use developments.
Provide Training on When, Where, & How Food & Basic Needs Items may be Distributed within the City and Provide Volunteer Coordination
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 34
C4
During 2021-2022, the City's Planning Department underwent a comprehensive zoning code update, which included a revised list of permitted uses. A beneficial zoning mechanism that can aid in expanding the number of community gardens will be the explicit listing of such uses as permitted. Most single-family residential zones allow for the “raising of crops” which in 2018 was interpreted through a Determination of Similarity to include community gardens in its definition.
Furthermore, though the City’s current street vending ordinance may pose challenges with restrictive standards for carts, most challenges for vendors lie with the Los Angeles Public Health Regulatory system and the equipment required for a health permit. Major barriers stem from Los Angeles County Health food safety requirements. Barriers tend to arise from expensive and complex permit requirements, strict food safety protocols, and extensive limitations on what type of food can be prepared/offered.
Due to such challenges, City Councilmember Victor Preciado of District 2 hosted food delivery services to increase food access. In 2021, 20,625 food deliveries were made to families, and 82,500 individuals. In 2022, there were 22,000 families and 88,000 individuals who received food delivery services, and 1,300 households were served at food drives. Food drives were also hosted by God’s Pantry. God’s Pantry is a faith-based organization, offering a wide array of supportive services including a food pantry. In 2021 and 2022, God’s Pantry hosted weekly and monthly distributions as well as one-time events partnering with public schools, city governments, and NGO’s to address food insecurity and access. God’s Pantry hosted 2 consistent distributions every week (approximately 750 families fed) plus other events in partnership with Pomona Unified School District (PUSD), LACARE and other community partners.
Increase Business Owners' Knowledge of Homeless Solutions and Provide Supportive Tools
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 35
C5
The conduct of daily business can be impacted when crises occur involving unhoused individuals. To address this, businesses need information regarding resources, and local service providers, and an understanding of their rights and those of unhoused individuals. The Pomona Police Department (PD) has been tasked with overseeing and handling business owners’ knowledge of available supportive tools. In 2021-2022, PD still worked to inform business owners of homeless street outreach efforts.
PD conducted business watch meetings, which consisted of the specific business who issued an inquiry on homelessness. Prior to these meetings, PD invited surrounding businesses to attend and puts together a Q&A. PD received on average of 8 emails daily from local businesses. PD met with the following businesses: Casa Herrera, the City’s Community Services, Cardenas Markets, Pomona Unified School District (“PUSD”), Orange Line Metro , Foothill Gold Line, City’s Public Works Department, Orange Line Oil Company, Walgreens, Los Angeles County Public Works, Caltrans, Allied Air, O.R. Refrigeration, CET Properties Inc., Davita Dialysis, SGS Turf, Southridge Apartments, MG Properties Group, Professional Property Management, Frontier, Ettie Lee Youth and Family Services, Spirit Legacy Investments LLC, Victory Outreach Pomona, LBA Logistics, House of Ruth, Contractors’ Warehouse, Route 66 Self Storage, Inland Valley Hope Partners, Pep Boys, Fallas Discount Stores, USA Mexico Furniture, Muuu Meat Solutions, 7-Eleven convenience store, Kwon’s Restaurant, Mariscos Jalisco, Concrete West, Jack in the Box, Rite Aid Store, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Pomona Coin Laundry, Brown Motor Works, Chevron Gas, Pomona Valley Dental, USA Gasoline, CVS Pharmacy, First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Taco Bell, T-Mobile, Mochinut, Hi Brow, Good Tyme Car Wash, Church of Christ, F&H Tire, K & F Burger, Manna Donuts, Ebell Club House, 99 Cents Only Stores, Pomona Tile & Stone, The Home Depot, Pomona Catholic School, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Purpose Church, and Planet Fitness.
Engage & Inform the Residents of Pomona on updates
Regarding Homelessness
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 36
C6
A Way Home: Community Solutions for Pomona’s Homeless
The Hope for Home Services Center: A Holistic Approach to Ending Homelessness in Pomona
The City informs residents on homeless programs, reports, and available resources via the City Manager Report, the City website, and social media platforms. The following reports will be available on the City website in October 2023:
Strengthen Service Provider Networks & Increase Resource Visibility
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 37
C7
Similar to Strategy B8, the Pomona Continuum of Care Coalition (PCOCC) remains an active community network promoting access to resources in Pomona and throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Local, regional, and countywide partners, and Pomona residents are invited to collaborate and share resources available to people experiencing homelessness in Pomona.
Increase Homeless Persons Access To & Use of Resources
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 38
C8
Individuals and families experiencing homelessness need easy access to resources and information. Resource information should be readily available in formats used by and at locations frequented by people who are experiencing homelessness. In 2021-2022, the City worked on developing Pomona Connect.
Pomona Connect is a hub for updates and resources available to the community including vaccine events, rent relief information, food resources, volunteering, and more. Pomona Connect hosted 26 community events during the reporting period. Pomona Connect also formed several community partners that can increase the available resources and services for unhoused individuals and families. These community partners include: California Rent & Utility Relief, Empower Utility Relief Program, God’s Pantry, Assistance League of Pomona Valley, Project Hope Youth Support, Pomona Valley Transit Authority, Active SGV, Day One Pomona, NAACP Pomona Valley, Pomona Public Library, City of Pomona’s Water Resources, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis’ Office, Hope for Home Homeless Services Center, San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps, FedEx Employment, and Pomona Community Services Employment.
The City also put together a 2021-2022
Community Resource Guide to highlight
several of the City’s community partners
and local agencies. The resource guide was
completed in partnership with the Cal Poly
Pomona Singelyn Center for Innovative
Analytics faculty and students. The
resource guide has been shared with the
community, and distributed at the City’s
Neighborhood Services Department front
desk. The City will be making updates to
the guide for the 2023-2024 cycle.
Image: Pomona Connect Resource Table at
Community Event
All ordinances of the City of Pomona should be fair, legal, and obligatory. The City developed Goal D to review areas of concern regarding homelessness that can best be addressed through City policies and ordinances. Goal D strategies have been designed to also determine what streams of funding will be required to call forth specific change concerning the issue of homelessness, and what staffing will be responsible for overseeing funding and policy development for the City. Successful implementation of Goal D strategies are dependent upon diverse staffing expertise, which requires knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, grant writing, and homeless systems and models (e.g. Housing First).
The City, with the Homeless Advisory Committee, evaluated ordinances that impact unhoused persons, which are the use of City parks and public spaces, storage of personal property, and distribution and depositing of food. In December 2018, the opening of the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home), helped to mitigate environmental and social factors impacting homeless persons health and wellbeing and the community as a whole. Public areas, such as the City’s Civic Center and parks, encountered frequent congregation and apprehensions for health and safety arose. Hope for Home acted as a solution for homeless persons to access emergency shelter and supportive services to transition and secure affordable, permanent housing. Hope for Home has illustrated that the needs of homeless persons can be better met than places not meant for habitation. At Hope for Home, homeless persons have access to storing their personal belongings in storage lockers, receive meals daily through the communal kitchen, and are able to visit the on-site health clinic, showers, and laundry facility. In addition, Hope for Home secured state funding to assist homeless persons with their pets and provide veterinarian services and pet supplies. During the reporting period, City staff evaluated what further steps can be taken in other parts of Pomona, and not only at Hope for Home. The City has found centralized locations, such as Hope for Home, essential to balance the needs and rights of unhoused individuals while also balancing the concerns of the broader community and partner organizations regarding public spaces and distribution of basic needs (e.g. food, clothing, etc.).
GOAL D
Balance the Needs and Rights of Unhoused Persons and
Community through Updated Fair, Legal, and Obligatory
Policies and Ordinances
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 39
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5 Evaluate Staffing Needs to Ensure Adequacy of Program and Strategy Implementation Evaluate Current Policies and Ordinances and Create Policies and Ordinances that Support the A Way Home Strategies
Create a Safe and Secure Park, Civic Plaza and Public Space Experience In Conjunction with Communal Kitchen, Create and Implement Policies and Ordinances Around the Provision of Food in the City
Secure Additional Resources to Address Homelessness
GOAL D STRATEGIES
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 40
Images: Community Resource Fairs in the City of Pomona
Evaluate Current Policies and Ordinances and Create Policies and Ordinances that Support the A Way Home Strategies
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 41
D1
All policies and ordinances of the City of Pomona must reflect the current realities intersecting the issue of homelessness, and should be fair, legal, and enforceable. Strategy D1 requires the City Attorney to review each of the City’s policies and ordinances that are related to housing and homelessness, as well as policy recommendations produced by City staff who work directly with housing and homeless programs.
Since the opening of the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home), policies have corresponded with the development of Hope for Home’s communal kitchen, lockers, and Access Center. The City and Hope for Home staff must permit food donations. More specifically, all food distributors, including Hope for Home kitchen staff, must have a Los Angeles Food Handler Card certifying they are permitted to be involved in the preparation, storage, or service of food. Furthermore, Hope for Home, incorporates policies that are in alignment with Housing First philosophies to promote the development of affordable, permanent, and permanent supportive housing.
The City Attorney with City staff also continued to evaluate new homeless grant contracts and agreements, which included new Measure H and federal programs to fund rental assistance, housing voucher programs, and legal services between 2021-2022. Due to the increase of need to help households at-risk or experiencing homelessness, the City also took measures to propose and instate an emergency rental stabilization ordinance. The City Attorney, with the guidance of the Mayor and City Council, drafted the ordinance and presented it to the public over a course of several city council meetings, receiving community feedback from both tenants and landlords. On August 1, 2022, the City Council passed the rent stabilization ordinance, limiting annual rent increases to no more than four percent (4%) or the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less.
Create a Safe & Secure Park, Civic Plaza, & Public Space Experience
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 42
D2
Between 2021-2022, Community Services worked with the City’s Public Works and Water Department to evaluate infrastructure needs such as improvements to park bathrooms, playgrounds, and installation of new water fountains.
Community Services continued to host programming for youth, encouraging youth to participate in a program in partnership with the Pomona Unified School District (PUSD). The program received $300,000 in funding to work with 11 city parks that are nearby schools, encouraging students to participate in outdoor activities, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Community Services also received $375,000 from PUSD to integrate sportsmanship learning fundamentals. Community Services resumed all afterschool programs and day camps in 2022 for ages between 4 to 17 years old. Community Services began to participate in PUSD meetings and share updates on youth programming.
Community Services hired a temporary technician position to improve their website and social media platforms. Improving these platforms has been a way to receive recommendations on new ideas to approach issues, such as youth homelessness, from community partners and commissions. In addition, the City Council allocated funding for full-time programming and administrative staff.
Community Services staff also carried on with its partnerships with the Pomona Police Department’s HEART and OATH teams to address homelessness occurring at parks. Both teams continued to conduct outreach at the park and monitor nighttime activity, specifically during nighttime park events. Staff continued to contact Tri-City Mental Health Authority’s Community Navigator Program to connect individuals to homeless resources. Staff received training from the Community Navigator Program in order to become aware of what resources and services are available, as well as contacting other City staff to remain informed on the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home).
Similar to Strategy B2, the City of Pomona created policies on how and where food and basic needs items may be distributed within the City to assist unhoused individuals and families. Although there are several community and faith-based organizations who participate in the distribution of meals in city parks and other open spaces, the City encourages meals and food donations be directly distributed at the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (Hope for Home). Hope for Home has operated a communal kitchen since 2020.
In Conjunction with the Communal Kitchen, Create & Enforce Policies & Ordinances Around the Provision of Food in the City STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 43
D3
The City has aimed to centralize food
distribution in order to recycle and
properly dispose of food. Based on
California’s SB 1383, the City shall aim to
reduce emissions of short-lived climate
pollutants. To remain in compliance with SB
1383, the City must establish a food
recovery program, strengthen existing food
recovery networks, and maintain records.
The program is divided into two phases.
Phase 1 entails assessing potential food
recovery agencies, identifying local edible
food waste generators and assessing their
compliance with SB 1383, preparing
guidance and assisting with outreach
efforts, implementing inspection and
enforcement programs, and completing a
Regional Food Recovery Report assessing
food capacity, program staffing, space,
transportation, etc. Phase 2 will be to
establish regional food recovery hubs.
Image: SB 1383 Organic Waste Reduction Campaign
Secure Additional Resources to Address Homelessness
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 44
D4
Legal Services to support households at risk for homelessness Life Skills support and meetings
Grocery Store Cards to support Pomona residents (housed and unhoused)
Gas Cards for families experiencing homelessness
Furniture and appliances
Clothing and household items
Subsidized Rent with Rapid Rehousing funding for households without vouchers (undocumented families eligible)
Tenant Based Rental Assistance, including Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV), Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), Mainstream Vouchers (MSV), HOME TBRA, and VASH Vouchers (Veterans)
Similar to Strategy B8, the Pomona Continuum of Care Coalition (PCOCC) remains an active community network promoting access to additional resources in Pomona. Local, regional, and countywide governmental agencies, non-profit service providers, faith-based organizations, and residents collaborate to bring comprehensive resources to people experiencing homelessness in Pomona. Some of these resources included:
Evaluate Staffing Needs to Ensure Adequacy of Program & Strategy Implementation
STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2022 UPDATES PAGE 45
D5
The magnitude of the effort required to implement A Way Home strategies is significant. Successful implementation of the City Council approved strategies is dependent upon adequate staffing levels. In some cases, temporary assistance or consultants may be required.
The City examines current staffing and makes appropriate additions and adjustments to allow for the execution of homeless programs and housing projects. The City of Pomona’s Homeless Programs team consists of a Homeless Programs Supervisor, Homeless Programs Coordinator, Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator, Housing Analyst, and Housing Technician. Throughout the reporting period, the Homeless Programs team also hired temporary assistance to help with processing applications for tenants seeking rental and utility assistance through the State of California’s Housing is Key program and other homeless prevention programs.
The roles of the Homeless Programs team are essential to the overall homeless systems model established in Pomona. The team oversees several homeless grants and federally funded housing voucher programs as well as partners with an extensive network of community agencies to allocate resources and services to unhoused residents and residents at-risk of homelessness. The team also monitors and analyzes all program data and budgets to ensure program metrics are met. The team does provide case management and referrals to several individuals and families under short, medium, and long-term housing programs as well.
Beyond the reporting period, the City will continue to seek and increase administrative funding to support necessary staffing, hire new staff, and train and develop staff for the purpose of fulfilling the goals stated in A Way Home and adding value and diversity to the team.
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Pomona urgently committed and focused its support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and households at-risk of homelessness. Many households who faced economic and medical hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic fell behind on their rent and requested arrear assistance.
Los Angeles County adopted the COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution, which took effect on March 4, 2020, providing certain tenant protections. When the Resolution ended, tenants were required to resume normal rent payments to avoid eviction. Prior to the end of the Resolution, tenants and landlords requested relief through the State of California’s Housing is Key program. Housing is Key began to accept applications for rent relief and utility support, assisting households hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tenants and landlords were able to request up to 18-months in assistance between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022. The City of Pomona partnered with local agencies – Inland Valley Hope Partners, Catholic Charities, and Tri-City Mental Health Authority – to assist households with completing Housing is Key applications. Although Housing is Key provided relief for households, once the program ended, there were still numerous households on the verge of facing eviction and remained behind on their rent and utilities. The program ended on March 31, 2022.
The City of Pomona prioritized connecting households to homeless prevention programs, motel vouchers, and other rental assistance programs. Not only did the City witness the influx of rental assistance requests, but also the rise of rent causing housing to be unaffordable. The City responded by issuing a rental stabilization ordinance that prohibited landlords from increasing rent beyond 4% per year. The rental stabilization ordinance became effective on August 1, 2022. The City hired a consultant agency – RSG – to oversee the ordinance, respond to community requests and questions, and ensure landlords and tenants are in compliance. The City also forged a partnership with Neighborhood Legal Services Los Angeles (NLSLA). NLSLA operates a weekly onsite legal services clinic to help tenants understand their housing rights.
The City has developed Goal E Housing Stabilization with new strategies related to policies and programs focused on rental assistance, landlord incentives, legal services, and financial literacy services.
GOAL E
Housing Stabilization
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E1
Introduce New Policies and Implement New Grant Funding to Support Homeless Prevention Efforts
E2
Partner with a Legal Service Agency to Provide a Weekly Legal Clinic to Inform Community Residents of Tenant and Landlord Rights
E3
Present and Offer Financial Literacy Services and Housing Resources to Individuals and Families At-Risk or Experiencing Homelessness
E4 Administer a New and Existing Rental Assistance Programs E5
Engage and Expand Relationships with and Incentives for Landlords in Pomona with the Objective of Assisting Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness or Have High Risk of Housing Instability
GOAL E STRATEGIES
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Image: City of Pomona
Introduce New Policies and Implement New Grant Funding to Support Homeless Prevention Efforts
The City of Pomona remained proactive with evaluating current policies and determined if new policies or innovative programs were needed to reflect today’s political climate. On August 1, 2022, City Council passed an emergency rental stabilization ordinance (Ordinance No. 4320), limiting landlords from increasing the rent beyond 4%, or the change in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”), whichever is less, annually. The majority of Pomona residents are paying beyond 30% of their monthly income towards rent and several households live in poverty. This reality threatens the health, safety, and welfare of Pomona residents by forcing them to choose between paying rent and providing basic needs, and medical care for themselves and their families. The City’s 2013-2021 Housing Element states almost 17,000 Pomona Households (43.7%) have incomes that are less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), the low income threshold defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The City Council has collaborated with RSG Consultants to evaluate rent stabilization policies protecting residents from unreasonable rent increases while ensuring landlords of residential real property may earn a fair and reasonable return on their property. RSG Consultants have met with several stakeholders, such as City staff, local service providers, grassroots organization – Pomona United for Stable Housing (“PUSH”) – residents, and landlords, to explore more permanent solutions related to housing.
The City also received a $14,996 grant award from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to implement a prevention and diversion program.
The program incorporated a problem-solving model to prevent clients from falling into homelessness or minimizing the amount of time from which clients are facing homelessness. The grant award was able to help households with short- and medium-term rental assistance, security deposits, utility deposits and payments, housing stabilization, tenant legal services, and credit repair. The grant concluded in December 2021.
E1
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Partner with a Legal Service Agency to Provide a Weekly Legal Clinic to Inform Community Residents of Tenant and Landlord Rights
The COVID-19 pandemic has economically affected several households in Pomona. Despite eviction moratoriums being in place, and the State of California’s Housing is Key program offering rent relief, it was still not enough to assist households who were behind on their rent. Once moratoriums and rental assistance programs ended, households were served with an eviction notice because they were unable to pay back their rental arrears. The City partnered with Neighborhood Legal Services Los Angeles (NLSLA) to assist households with legal aid. NLSLA is a legal organization who provides free legal assistance to more than 160,000 individuals and families throughout Los Angeles County every year.
NLSLA staff specialize in areas of the law that disproportionately impact people living in poverty, including affordable housing and eviction defense, access to public benefits, support for domestic violence survivors and their children, access to healthcare, and work and consumer rights.
NLSLA hosts a legal clinic twice a week at City Hall in the Neighborhood Services Department. The main legal service requested by households in Pomona involve housing and homeless prevention. NLSLA works to preserve affordable housing and rent control, prevent unlawful evictions and foreclosures, and address discrimination in Section 8 and other government-subsidized housing. When assisting a household under any homeless prevention program, City staff also refers the household to schedule an appointment with NLSLA, particularly if they have been served an eviction. NLSLA is able to work one-on-one with households and explain the eviction process. NLSLA staff assist households with preparing for court, collecting supportive documentation, understanding their tenant rights, and going through the trail process. During 2021-2022, NLSLA helped # households with legal services.
E2
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Present and Offer Financial Literacy Services and Housing Resources to Individuals and Families At-Risk or Experiencing Homelessness
The City of Pomona has recognized the importance of financial literacy and has encouraged clients to participate in financial services as they work one-on-one with staff to reach self-sufficiency. The City’s Homeless Programs Team has utilized several tools to assist clients with their relationship to money and improve their budgeting skills. The Homeless Program Team’s Family Self- Sufficiency (FSS) Coordinator and Housing Analyst have both been trained and certified in the Financial Social Work program. The program is a National Association Social Worker- Accredited Training for Social Workers and Non- Social Workers. The program offers diverse methodologies and tools to engage, educate, support, and motivate clients in regard to finances. The program trains staff to coach clients and improve or rid of certain financial behavior. Staff has been trained to discuss challenging conversations on finances, such as spending triggers, financial boundaries, financial behavior change, financial goal setting, financial self-care, and inner money self.
Under tenant-based rental assistance programs, clients do complete a monthly budget worksheet. The worksheet is organized based on living expenses (e.g. rent, utilities), basic needs (e.g. food, childcare, personal care items), transportation expenses (e.g. auto payment, gas, auto insurance), debt owed, and savings. The worksheet serves as a resource for clients to remain on track and follow their budget, and save income for emergencies, with the goal that they will become self-sufficient. In addition, working on the budget helps clients to feel empowered when financial goals are met throughout the program duration.
Similarly, the Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator administers the Family Self- Sufficiency program to assist Section 8 voucher holders with securing earned income, meeting financial goals, and accruing escrow for a 5-year term.
E3
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Administer a New and Existing Rental Assistance Programs The City of Pomona administered new and existing rental assistance programs in 2021-2022. On September 21, 2020 the City accepted funding from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to administer a prevention and diversion program for a total of $14,996. The program was designed to initiate problem solving conversations with a client in order to identify the actions needed to either ensure they remain housed or move them quickly into housing.
The program would target individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness and provide rental assistance, utility assistance, security deposit, move-in costs, relocation and restabilization, and legal aid. The grant officially ended on December 2022.
In August 2022, the City of Pomona received funding under a different grant from the SGVCOG. The City received $69,500 to administer a homeless prevention program. The City identified and partnered with sub-grantee, Tri-City Mental Health Services, to perform activities under the homeless prevention program through its Tri-City Community Navigator program. The program was not only for the Pomona community, but was a shared grant award between the Cohort Cities – City of Claremont and City of La Verne. The grant is expected to end on May 31, 2023.
The City of Pomona also received funding from the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office – Homeless Initiative (CEO-HI). The City and CEO-HI staff worked together to finalize a scope of work, which included funding allocations to motel vouchers and homeless prevention. The total grant award is $106,000, with $45,500 dedicated to homeless prevention and $52,390 distributed to support motel vouchers. Similar to the SGVCOG program, the City will be partnering with Tri-City Mental Health Service’s Community Navigator program to administer grant activities among the three cities of Pomona, Claremont, and La Verne. The grant will begin next year in 2023.
E4
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HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS
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Figure: Households experiencing homelessness who were connected to housing voucher programs during 2021-2022.
2022 2021
0 50 100 150 200 250
Operation Porchlight Rapid Rehousing (OPL)
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
HOUSEHOLDS ASSISTED UNDER
HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Figure: Households who were connected to homeless
prevention programs during 2021-2022.
0 10 20 30
TBRA
SGVCOG Programs
Compassion Fund
Between 2021-2022, households who were experiencing homelessness were connected to Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) and the Pomona Housing Authority (PHA) to help determine if they qualified for housing assistance or a permanent supportive housing voucher.
VOALA oversees Operation Porchlight Rapid Rehousing (OPL-RRH), issuing up to 24-months of rental assistance to households experiencing homelessness. The PHA issued Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) vouchers to unhoused individuals who reported having a disability and were experiencing homelessness.
From 2021 to the end of 2022,
there were a total of 48 clients who
were connected to a homeless
prevention program. Homeless
prevention programs aim to help
households who are at-risk of
falling into homelessness and are in
need of temporary assistance to
get back on their feet. Homeless
Prevention Programs were utilized
for rental arrears and future rent
payments.
60144
9791
6 16
26 Engage and Expand Relationships with and Incentives for Landlords in Pomona with the Objective of Assisting Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness or Have High Risk of Housing Instability
E5
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Relationship building with property owners has been instrumental in the City’s approach to ending homelessness. The City has expanded the opportunities and incentives for landlords to encourage leasing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The City currently administers the Homeless Incentive Program (HIP), which offers monetary incentives to encourage landlords to rent their available units to Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) holders.
The HIP program can also assist with holding fees, application fees, and security deposit. Funding for the program stems from the Homeless Prevention Initiative, a collaborative effort between multiple County agencies and supported by Los Angeles County Measure H dollars. During the reporting period, 3 individuals were assisted under the HIP program and were also provided help with unit furnishings and appliances.
On July 19, 2021, the Pomona Housing Authority (PHA) requested City Council to authorize the PHA to accept the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) grant award and receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). EHVs assists individuals and families who are (1) homeless, (2) at-risk of homelessness, (3) fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, or (4) recently homeless. The PHA received a total grant award of $1,623,396. The PHA issued incentives to landlords who would lease to EHV holders. Participating landlords were eligible for incentive payouts such as: a one-time signing bonus of $2,500 for each unit leased, up to $5,000, or three months’ rent (whichever is less), one- time reimbursement for new contract inspection repairs, and reliable subsidized monthly payments, and a free property listing. All EHV holders have been leased.
This success is attributed to the partnerships the City has built with local landlords and partner agencies.
CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES
In 2021, the Pomona Housing Authority was
awarded Foster Youth to Independence (FYI)
Initiative vouchers from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These
vouchers targeted foster youth who were
experiencing or at-risk of experiencing
homelessness, and were involved in the child
welfare system. In 2022, all clients who received
a FYI voucher successfully secured permanent
housing in Pomona and were connected with
supportive services through the Los Angeles
County Department of Child and Family Services
(DCFS) and local youth service providers. They
will continue to receive voucher assistance until
2027.
In 2022, a family of 8 was experiencing homelessness in Pomona. The family was connected to the City's partner agency, Tri-City Mental Health Services, under their Community Navigator program for assistance. The family was placed in a motel through a Measure H funded motel voucher program. While in the program, the family qualified for an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV). A Community Navigator assisted the family with the application process and with obtaining the required documents. Due to the number of family members in the household, it was initially a challenge to find housing with 4 bedrooms. With the collaboration between the City of Pomona, Tri-City Community Navigator program, and Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA), the family successfully found and secured a 4-bedroom home.
VOALA was also able to assist the family with furniture and appliance purchases. The family is now permanently housed.
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The City of Pomona has witnessed clients successfully move into permanent housing and receive supportive services. All successes illustrate the importance of community partnerships in order to make a difference in a client's life.
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A client entered Hope for Home Homeless
Services Center (Hope for Home) in January
2020. The client had a legal history, causing
challenges to securing employment and
housing. The client was linked to CBEST to
apply for SSDI benefits and worked with Tri-
City Mental Health Services to address her
trauma. At Hope for Home, she addressed
her legal issues and connected with Whole
Person Care, which referred her to a shared
housing program in Los Angeles. The client
moved into the unit in 2021. She viewed this
as an opportunity to gain her independence
and maintain her sobriety.
Pomona Unified School District (PUSD) staff connected a client to the City of Pomona to receive homeless services. The client was a victim of domestic violence, and after leaving her abuser, she slept in her car with her two children. When City staff received the client referral, the client was provided with a grocery card, a gas card, and referrals to other community services such as the Tri-City Mental Health Service’s Community Navigator program, and legal services from the Neighborhood Legal Services Los Angles (NLSLA). She also received referrals to nearby family shelters – the Inland Valley Family Shelter, Foothill Family Shelter and House of Ruth. House of Ruth not only provides shelter, but their services are specific for victims of domestic violence. Their services include counseling, case management, and legal assistance.
A PUSD social worker later referred the client for an Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) in October 2022. The client obtained her EHV voucher and was referred to Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) for a motel voucher to have temporary shelter until she secured housing.
Later, the client successfully leased a 2-bedroom home and received security deposit and furniture assistance.
"I AM SO HAPPY AND GRATEFUL FOR THE
SUPPORT I RECEIVED FROM THE CITY, PUSD, AND
VOALA"
- EHV CLIENT
A client entered Hope for Home Homeless
Services Center (Hope for Home) in December
2019. During her stay at Hope for Home, the
client was able to obtain SSDI benefits,
connect with Tri-City Mental Health Services
for mental health services, and resided in a
Project Room Key site during the COVID-19
pandemic. The client received a housing
voucher from the City of Pomona and
successfully transitioned into a permanent
senior apartment in Pomona in 2021. The client
has expressed her gratitude and looked
forward to having her family visit, especially
her grandchildren.
City of Pomona | Neighborhood Services Department
505 S. Garey Ave. Pomona, CA 91767 | (909) 620-2368
https://www.pomonaca.gov/ | @cityofpomona
WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
Contact
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
The City of Pomona's work is made possible with the immense investment and help of a vast community network, partner agencies, residents, and lived experience. The City's mission is to achieve a future that involves a strong, collaborative homeless crisis response system so that homelessness - when it happens for anyone - is rare, brief, and one-time occurrence. Thank you for being part of all efforts made throughout 2021-2022.
HOPE FOR HOME SITE PARTNERS
Hope for Home is successfully ran by the following site partners:
Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA)
Tri-City Mental Health Authority
East Valley Community Health Center
Prototypes Inc.
Goodwill of Southern California
City of Pomona Police Department
POMONA CONTINUUM OF CARE COALITION (PCOCC) NETWORK
All federal, state, and local partners, as well as Pomona community members and lived experience who actively participate in the PCOCC to share ideas and recommendations to end homelessness.
LOCAL AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The City of Pomona's colleagues from local and partner organizations who work hard to ensure individuals and families who are experiencing or at- risk of homelessness are connected to resources and services.
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