CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
January 22, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Gutierrez, Acting City Manager
Submitted by: Beverly Johnson, Assistant Neighborhood Services Director Subject: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT (MHSA) FUNDING FROM TRI CITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER FOR 31 CRISIS SHELTER BEDS AT HOPE FOR HOME SERVICES CENTER (H4H) AND AWARD VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA LOS ANGELES (VOALA) FOR SITE OPERATION SERVICES RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolution:
Resolution No. 2024-08– A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, Authorizing the Acceptance of $396,025 in Mental Health Services Act Funding from Tri City Mental Health Center to operate 31 crisis shelter beds at THE hope for home homeless services center (H4H) and CARRYING OVER $202,852 FROM FY 2022-23 TO INCREASE REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS BY THE SAME AMOUNT Amend the agreement with Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) as the H4H Site Operator by awarding $554,762 to operate the Crisis Shelter Beds; and Authorize the City Manager to execute the contracts and other documentation requested for acceptance and implementation of the grant awards, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On December 18, 2018, the City approved an agreement using Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) funding from Tri City Mental Health Center (Tri City) to reserve 28 beds at Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (H4H). These shelter beds are used to accommodate approximately 100 eligible homeless adults annually, providing beds, food, case management and other coordinated services identified to assist persons in obtaining permanent housing. Of the total grant award, $356,425 is awarded to Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) as the site operator of H4H to oversee and operate the MHSA crisis shelter beds. In addition, $39,600 is reserved for the use of City administrative costs. Each fiscal year, the grant contract term is renewed and the City must accept the award amount annually until June 30, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption of Resolution No. 2024-08 (Attachment No. 1) authorizes the acceptance of the Tri-City Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) award from Tri City, totaling $396,025 from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. The carryover of unspent funds from FY 2022-2023, amounting to $202,852, will lead to an amendment of the FY 2023-24 Operating Budget in the MHSA grant (Fund 215). This will result in an increase in revenue estimates and appropriations by the same amount. The following table details the fiscal impacts associated with the recommended action:
Revenue Account #
Change to 2023-24 Revenue Estimates
Expenditure Account #
Requested 2023-24 Appropriations ($)
215-1702-40873-58681
+$4,216
215-1702-52285-58681
+$4,216
215-1791-40873-58681
+$198,636
215-1791-52285-58681
+$198,636
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On August 6, 2018, the City Council authorized the City to enter into an agreement with Tri City to accept $357,700 in MHSA funding for 28 crisis shelter beds at Hope for Home. On January 1, 2019, the City amended the original contract with Tri City’s Governing Board to increase funding from $357,770 to $396,025. The amended contract also increased the number of crisis shelter beds from 28 to 31 and extended the contracting period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022. On July 1, 2022, the second amendment to the agreement was entered into by both parties, extending the term for another three years to June 30, 2025, for a total sum of $1,188,075. The funding will continue to be used for crisis shelter beds for MHSA clients referred by Tri City and will assist in related costs associated with Hope for Home and the Access Center. In addition to the $396,025 award for FY 2023-24, the City will also utilize the carryover of Tri City MHSA funds previously awarded in FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21, totaling $229,556, extending to FY 2022-23. The City Council approved the carryover of MHSA funds on September 20, 2021, and since the initial award, the balance has been carried over year after year. In FY 2022-23, $202,852 remained unspent and will be carried over to FY 2023-24 for continued use in the aforementioned services. The City will continue to carry over any unspent funds each year thereafter until fully expended.
DISCUSSION:
Since January 1, 2019, Tri City has been utilizing MHSA funds to cover the cost of the 31 crisis beds reserved for homeless adult clients in need of shelter. The City entered into an agreement on December 18, 2018, for Tri City’s financial participation at Hope for Home in reserving these crisis shelter beds. This agreement also provided funding for purchasing beds and lockers within the shelter along with office furnishings within the Hope for Home Access Center. Since the original agreement was signed, the grant contract term is renewed each fiscal year. The City will accept the award of $396,025 annually until June 30, 2025, to cover the cost of the crisis shelter beds and other operational costs, as previously stated. These crisis shelter beds will accommodate approximately 100 eligible homeless adults annually, providing beds, food, case management, and other coordinated services to assist homeless persons in obtaining permanent housing.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS:
This action supports City Council Goal K – to reduce the unsheltered homeless population by 10% annually and take actions to mitigate the impacts of homelessness on the community.
Prepared by:
_____________________________
Veronica Perez
Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2024-08
Authorization to Accept Tri City MHSA Funds