CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
March 18, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Gutierrez, City Manager
Submitted By: Beverly Johnson, Acting Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING AMENDED GRANT FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE BRIDGE HOUSING PROGRAM AT HOPE FOR HOME HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER AND AMENDMENT OF THE FY 2023-24 OPERATING BUDGET RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-27 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF AN ADDITIONAL $91,000 IN CONTINUUM OF CARE (COC) HOUSING HOMELESS, ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION (HHAP) AND MEASURE H GRANT FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE BRIDGE HOUSING PROGRAM AT HOPE FOR HOME HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER (H4H), AMENDMENT OF THE FY 2023-24 OPERATING BUDGET TO INCREASE REVENUE ESTIMATES BY $91,851 AND APPROPRIATIONS BY $88,517 Amend the agreement with Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) as the H4H Site Operator by increasing the award by $86,126 to operate the Bridge Housing Program; and Authorize the City Manager to execute all agreements and any other documentation requested for acceptance of the award, distribution of the funding and operation of the H4H Bridge Housing Program, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) informed the City of Pomona that Continuum of Care Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (CoC HHAP) and Measure H funds to operate the Bridge Housing Program for adults experiencing homelessness had been amended. Effective January 1, 2024, LAHSA increased the bed rate resulting in an increase of award funds for an additional $91,000. The contract period for this award will remain July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. In addition, the selected Hope for Home site operator – Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) – will receive an increased allocation of $86,126 of this funding to administer and operate the program.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☒ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $250 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $250 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption of Resolution No. 2024-27 (Attachment No. 1) authorizes the acceptance of an additional $91,000 in County of Los Angeles CoC HHAP and Measure H special funds for operation of the Bridge Housing Program at H4H. The total amended award is for $1,006,000 and includes $824,920 CoC HHAP funds and $181,080 in Measure H funds. The original award was for $915,000 of which $750,300 were CoC HHAP funds and $164,700 were Measure H funds.
The amended CoC HHAP award for an increased amount of $74,620, will be allocated to 215-1791-52285-58720 for operation in the amount of $66,625 and $7,995 to 215-1702-XXXXX-58720 for administrative costs. The administrative funds will be divided, awarding $3,998 to VOALA and the City of Pomona will be utilizing the remaining $3,997.
The amended Measure H award for an increased amount of $16,380, will be allocated to 139-1791-52285-58720 for operation in the amount of $14,625 and $1,755 to 139-1702-XXXXX-58720 for administrative costs. The administrative funds will be divided, awarding $878 to VOALA and the City of Pomona will be utilizing the remaining $877.
The following increase in revenue of $91,851 and appropriations for $88,517 is required to reflect the increase of the total award amounting to $1,006,000 from LAHSA.
Revenue Account #
Change to 2023-24 Revenue Estimates
Expenditure Account #
Requested 2023-24 Appropriations ($)
215-1702-40873-58720
+$8,846
215-1702-52140-58720
+$1,796
215-1702-52285-58720
+$3,998
215-1791-40873-58720
+$66,625
215-1791-52285-58720
+$66,625
139-1702-40903-58720
+$1,755
139-1702-52140-58720
+$595
139-1702-52285-58720
+$878
139-1791-40903-58720
+$14,625
139-1791-52285-58720
+$14,625
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On July 17, 2017, City Council approved award to VOALA as the selected H4H Site Operator for an initial 5-year period, designating them as a sole source recipient of future funds identified to operate Hope for Home and its programs.
On December 2, 2019, the City Council approved an award of $607,500 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding and HEAP funds to operate the Bridge Housing Program at H4H from November 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020. On October 19, 2020, the City was awarded $304,166, with a combination of Los Angeles County Measure H funding and State Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) funds, to continue the operation of the 64-bed Bridge Housing Program from July 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020 with extended funding through June 30, 2021 anticipated.
On December 21, 2020, the City was awarded the extended funding for $862,512, with a combination of Los Angeles County Measure H funding and HEAP funds, to operate a 64-bed Bridge Housing Program from November 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
On September 20, 2021, the City was awarded $912,500 to continue operating the 50-bed Bridge Housing Program with a combination of Los Angeles County CoC HHAP and Measure H funds, for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023.
On September 18, 2023, the City was awarded $915,000 in a combination of Los Angeles County CoC HHAP and Measure H funds for the 50-bed Bridge Housing program at a rate of $50 per bed for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. There was an increase of $2,500 as reimbursement is calculated by Beds x Bed Rate x Calendar Days resulting in an increase of one day due to the leap year.
DISCUSSION:
City staff is recommending the acceptance of the award and amendment to the Agreement with VOALA, as the H4H Site Operator, to operate the Bridge Housing Program for an amount not to exceed $866,975. The City was recently awarded the extended funding for $915,000 from Los Angeles County CoC HHAP and Measure H funding to operate a 50-bed Bridge Housing Program from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. In an effort to operate the Bridge Housing Program expeditiously, City staff is recommending that $866,975 of the funding accepted, is to be allocated to VOALA for program operation, including staffing, food, facility costs, security and administrative costs. The City will retain $48,025 for administrative costs for oversight and monitoring of the grant.
In 2019, the City of Pomona responded to LAHSA’s Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking funds to establish and operate the Bridge Housing Program to provide interim housing services to homeless adults. According to LAHSA’s RFP, Bridge Housing is a reserved twenty-four (24) hour emergency housing program targeted for eligible persons experiencing homelessness that have been prioritized through the Coordinated Entry System (CES) for safe and supportive housing resources. The intention of this emergency housing is to provide participants with some stability in order to maintain contact with housing navigation and/or case management services and facilitate safe and supportive housing placement. In FY 2020-21, the City of Pomona was awarded funding for the operation of 64 beds at H4H. In FY 2021-22 and in FY 2022-23, the City of Pomona was awarded 50 beds, per FY, with Bridge Housing funding.
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:
_____________________________
Genesis Hernandez
Homeless Programs Coordinator
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2024-27
A Resolution Accepting Amended Bridge Housing Program Funds and Amending VOALA Agreement