CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
September 09, 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 CRISIS 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. 2024-115 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF $1,828,000 IN MEASURE H GRANT FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE CRISIS HOUSING PROGRAM AT HOPE FOR HOME HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER (H4H), AMENDMENT OF THE FY 2024-25 OPERATING BUDGET TO INCREASE REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS BY $261,628 Amend the agreement with Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) as the H4H Site Operator by awarding $1,718,320 to operate the Crisis Housing Program; and Authorize the City Manager to execute all agreements, amendments, and any other documentation requested for acceptance of the award, distribution of the funding and operation of the H4H Crisis 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 $1,828,000 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding to operate the Crisis Housing Program to support 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 Los Angeles (VOALA) – will be awarded an allocation of $1,718,320 of this funding to administer and operate the program. The remaining $109,680 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. 2024-115 (Attachment No.1) will authorize the acceptance of $1,828,000 in Los Angeles County Measure H funds, for the operation of the City’s Hope for Home Crisis Housing Program, distributing $1,608,640 to 139-1791-XXXXX-65408 for program operations and $219,360 to 139-1702-XXXXX-65408 for administrative costs. Of the $219,360, $109,680 will be awarded to VOALA for grant administration, and the remaining administrative balance will be utilized by the City of Pomona.
Revenue Account #
Change to 2024-25 Revenue Estimates
Expenditure Account #
Requested 2024-25 Appropriations ($)
139-1702-40903-65408
-$43,440
139-1702-52060-65408
-$4,368
139-1702-52130-65408
-$8,506
139-1702-52140-65408
-$8,846
139-1702-52285-65408
-$21,720
139-1791-40903-65408
+$305,068
139-1791-52285-65408
+$305,068
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On July 17, 2017, the City Council approved Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA) as the selected Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (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 H4H and its programs.
On July 2, 2018, the City Council approved an award of $1,460,000 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding to operate a Crisis Housing Program at Hope for Home from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. On October 19, 2020, the City Council approved a partial contract award of $486,667 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding to operate Hope for Home’s Crisis Housing Program from July 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020. On December 21, 2020, the City Council approved an additional contract award of $973,333 in Los Angeles County Measure H funding to operate the Crisis Housing Program from November 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. LAHSA informed the City of Pomona that it had been awarded an annual renewal of $1,460,000 from the Los Angeles County Measure H funding for operation costs of the 100-bed Crisis Housing Program at H4H at a rate of $40 per bed per day in the calendar year. The award for FY 23-24 was initially increased to $1,464,000 to reflect the additional day due to the leap year. LAHSA later amended the award due to a cost study analysis, which yielded an increased bed rate to $60, and the FY 2023-24 award to $1,677,034. Council approved the amendment to the agreement on April 15, 2024.
DISCUSSION:
On February 9, 2016, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (BOS) adopted the Homelessness Initiative Strategies to Combat homelessness. The Homeless Initiative includes six key areas of focus, and fifty-one strategies were developed to combat homelessness in Los Angeles County. This initiative is, in part, funded by Measure H funds. Measure H represents a one-quarter cent sales tax that Los Angeles County constituents voted for and approved in March 2017 to generate funds for homeless services and resources. Two strategies eligible for funding under the Homeless Initiative are: 1) Create a Coordinated System and 2) Enhance the Emergency Shelter System.
On September 19, 2017, the City of Pomona responded and applied to a Request for Proposals (RFP) released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to fund 100 crisis beds in the Year-Round Emergency Shelter – Hope for Home Homeless Services Center, constructed by the City of Pomona. In October 2017, LAHSA awarded contract number 2017CESSAY54 to the City of Pomona to implement a Year-Round Crisis Housing Program. On June 19, 2018, LAHSA awarded the City of Pomona $1,460,000 for the program beginning on July 1, 2018, with annualized yearly renewals until the current.
VOALA will be awarded $1,718,320 of this award, and funds will be provided to administer and operate the City of Pomona’s Hope for Home Year-Round Crisis Housing program. The Bridge Housing item requests an amendment to extend the Site Operator agreement until June 30, 2025.
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:
_____________________________
Genesis Hernandez
Homeless Programs Coordinator
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2024-115
Authorize Acceptance of Measure H Funding and Amend Contract with VOALA