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 Measure H Funds from the SGVCOG for the Hope for Home Access Center and Hope for Home Crisis Beds RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-02 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF $240,510 IN MEASURE H FUNDS FROM THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (SGVCOG), AMENDING THE FY 2023-24 OPERATING BUDGET BY INCREASING REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS in the same amount Award Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) funding totaling $240,510 to operate the Hope for Home (H4H) Access Center and Cohort Crisis Shelter Beds for the Cities of Pomona and Claremont.
Authorize the City Manager to execute the memorandum of understanding, 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:
In March 2023, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) opportunity for cities within the San Gabriel Valley to apply for Measure H funding to supplement existing homeless programs and fill gaps within the existing homeless services system.
The City of Pomona (Project Lead), in partnership with the City of Claremont (Cohort City), identified the need to continue providing housing navigation, case management, access center services, and interim housing to unhoused residents and submitted an application to the SGVCOG for funding to implement the H4H Access Center and to fund additional Housing Navigation and Interim Housing Program. The SGVCOG approved the Cohort’s application and awarded a total of $240,510 for the implementation of the City of Pomona’s program and project administration. The City of Pomona has been designated as the project lead. The grant term shall begin upon execution of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and shall continue through June 30, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption of Resolution No. 2024-02 (Attachment No. 1) will amend the FY 2023-24 Operating Budget by increasing revenue estimates and appropriating $229,510 (215-1791-52285-58724) to implement the City of Pomona’s Program and $11,000 for project administration (215-1702-52285-58724).
FUNDING SOURCE
PROJECT
REVENUE ACCT #
INREASE TO REVENUE ($)
EXPENDITURE ACCT #
APPROPRIATE ($)
Measure H
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG)
215-1791-40903-58724
$229,510
Controllable Contract Services
215-1791-52285-58724
$229,510
Measure H
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG)
215-1702-40903-58724
$11,000
215-1702-52285-58724
$11,000
DISCUSSION:
The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) was established to unify cities within the San Gabriel Valley region to utilize resources and services to improve the quality of life within the jurisdictions of its member cities and unincorporated areas. To expand homeless services and support in the region, the SGVCOG entered into a contract with the County of Los Angeles to obtain Measure H funding. Measure H generates funds for homeless services throughout the County of Los Angeles and is generated through a ¼-cent sales tax approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2017. The SGVCOG allocated Measure H funding to support four programs to address homelessness in the San Gabriel Valley, which include services to supplement existing homeless programs, outreach and services for hard-to-reach populations, mobile crisis response programs, and pilot programs.
The City of Pomona (City) responded to the Request for Proposals (RFP) with the desire to participate in a program with the City of Claremont, a cohort city, which will provide housing navigation, case management, access center services, and interim housing to unhoused residents. The SGVCOG Governing Board considered and approved the City’s proposed Pomona-Claremont Access Center and Crisis Program. The term of the Program shall begin upon the execution of the Memorandum of Agreement between the SGVCOG and the City and shall continue through June 30, 2024. The City has been designated as the project lead and will oversee the grant award for $240,510.
The Cities of Pomona and Claremont will offer a program to strengthen the continuum of care for people experiencing homelessness within their sub-region of the San Gabriel Valley. The cities cohort has worked in partnership with Tri-City Mental Health (Tri-City) as the sub-region’s public mental health authority to provide community navigation services, and as means to complement these services, the Program will enable Tri-City to hire two dedicated full-time Homeless Resource Community Navigators to provide a 24-hour response to unhoused individuals and families request for assistance. The Cities will also engage Tri-City to provide a Housing First model, Mental Health First Aid, Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, and community resilience training to the Cities and other partner agencies to ensure best practices are administered when working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In addition, Tri-City will provide training in Tenant-Landlord rights and responsibilities to increase the supply of rental housing and ensure tenants remain housed.
Other proposed program activities are designed to provide comprehensive support to unhoused cohort residents. These include providing showers, locker and laundry services, meals, and case management through the City’s Hope for Home Homeless Services Center’s (H4H) Access Center and Crisis Housing Programs. Under the Crisis Housing Program, one crisis bed will be reserved for the City of Pomona and two for the City of Claremont, ensuring immediate shelter is available for those in need.
Through implementing both program tasks, the City and fellow cohort city will have the opportunity to continue critical services necessary to combat homelessness and transition individuals and families into permanent housing.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS:
This item supports City Council Goal K: – to reduce the unsheltered homeless population by 10% annually and take actions to mitigate the impacts of homelessness on the community.
Prepared by:
_____________________________
Donyielle Holley
Housing Stabilization Manager
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2024-02
Authorize Acceptance of SGVCOG Measure H Funding for H4H Access Center
Authorize Acceptance of SGVCOG Measure H Funding for H4H Access Center Funding