CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
September 9, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Gutierrez, City Manager
Submitted By: Beverly Johnson, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE BRIDGE HOUSING PROGRAM AT HOPE FOR HOME HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER AND AMENDMENT OF THE FY 2024-25 OPERATING BUDGET RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-116 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF $1,078,710 IN CONTINUUM OF CARE (COC) HOMELESS HOUSING, 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 2024-25 OPERATING BUDGET TO DECREASE REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS BY $16,290 Authorize the City Manager to amend the site operator agreement with Volunteers of America of Los Angeles for an additional 2 years extending it until June 30, 2025; and Amend the agreement with Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA) as the H4H Site Operator by awarding $1,013,988 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) awarded the City of Pomona $1,078,710 in Continuum of Care Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (CoC HHAP) and Measure H funds to operate the Bridge Housing Program for adults experiencing homelessness. The contract period for this award is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. In addition, the selected Hope for Home site operator – Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA) – will be awarded an allocation of $1,013,988 of this funding to administer and operate the program. The remaining $64,722 will be utilized by the City of Pomona for administrative costs.
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. 2024-116 (Attachment No. 1) authorizes the acceptance of $1,078,710 from the County of Los Angeles CoC HHAP and Measure H special funds for the Bridge Housing Program operation at H4H. The total award includes $897,900 in CoC HHAP funds and $180,810 in Measure H funds.
Of the total $897,900 CoC HHAP award, $790,152 will be allocated to 215-1791-52285-58720 for operation and $107,748 to 215-1702-XXXXX-58720 for administrative costs. The administrative funds will be divided, with VOALA receiving $53,874 and the City of Pomona utilizing the remaining $53,874.
Of the total $180,810 Measure H award, $159,113 will be allocated to 139-1791-52285-58720 for operation and $21,697 to 139-1702-XXXXX-58720 for administrative costs. The administrative funds will be divided, with VOALA receiving $10,849 and the City of Pomona utilizing the remaining $10,848.
Revenue Account #
Change to 2024-25 Revenue Estimates
Expenditure Account #
Requested 2024-25 Appropriations ($)
215-1702-40873-58720
-$7,805
215-1702-52285-58720
-$7,805
215-1791-40873-58720
-$25,845
215-1791-52285-58720
-$25,845
139-1702-40903-58720
+$5,850
139-1702-52285-58720
+$5,850
139-1791-40903-58720
+$11,510
139-1791-52285-58720
+$11,510
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On January 7, 2017, the City Council adopted “A Way Home: Community Solutions for Pomona’s Homeless,” which included Goal A—Reduce the Number of Unsheltered Homeless Persons in Pomona. On July 17, 2017, the City Council approved to award a contract to VOALA as the selected H4H Site Operator for an initial 5-year period of November 30, 2018 through June 30, 2023, designating them as the sole source recipient of future funds identified to operate Hope for Home and its programs.
On December 2, 2019, the City Council approved $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. On December 21, 2020, the City was awarded the extended funding of $862,512, a combination of Los Angeles County Measure H funding and HEAP funds, to operate from November 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
On September 21, 2021, the City was awarded $912,500 to continue operating the 50-bed Bridge Housing Program at a rate of $50 per bed per day in the calendar year with a combination of Los Angeles County CoC HHAP and Measure H funds for the period of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023. The FY 2023-24 award was initially increased to $915,000 to reflect the additional day due to the leap year. The award was later amended due to a cost study conducted by LAHSA, increasing the bed rate to $60 and the FY 2023-24 award to $1,006,000. Council approved the amendment to the agreement on March 18, 2024.
DISCUSSION:
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 and is a priority through the Coordinated Entry System (CES) for safe and supportive housing resources. This emergency housing intends to provide participants with stability to maintain contact with housing navigation and case management services and facilitate safe and supportive housing placement. In FY 2020-21, the City of Pomona awarded funding for 64 beds at H4H. In the following years, the City of Pomona was awarded 50 beds per FY with Bridge Housing funding.
City staff recommends accepting the award and amendment to the Agreement with VOALA to operate the Bridge Housing Program for an amount not to exceed $1,013,988—funds used for program operation, including staffing, food, facility, security, and administrative costs. The City was awarded $1,078,710 in Los Angeles County CoC HHAP and Measure H funding to operate the 50-bed Bridge Housing Program from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. This item is requesting the City Manager to extend the Site Operator agreement from June 30, 2023 until June 30, 2025. The agreement is being extended retroactively as the request for proposal for site operator has been delayed to the upcoming year.
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. 2024-116
Authorize Acceptance of CoC-HHAP and Measure H Funding and Amend Contract with VOALA