CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
October 6, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Beverly Johnson, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE GRANT FUNDING AWARD AND AMEND SITE OPERATOR AGREEMENT FOR VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA LOS ANGELES (VOALA) TO OPERATE THE HOPE FOR HOME HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Amend the agreement with Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA) as the H4H Site Operator by awarding $6,505,145 to operate the Interim Housing programs; and
Authorize the City Manager to amend the site operator agreement with VOALA from July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2026, preventing a lapse in staffing and services; 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 Hope for Home Homeless Services Center, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Approval of this item will amend the Hope for Home Site Operator Agreement (Attachment No. 1) beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, for the total amount of $6,505,145 to support the city-owned Hope for Home Homeless Services Center to operate the Interim Housing Program to help adults experiencing homelessness. The contract period for this award is July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
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 $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 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:
Authorize the award of $6,505,145 for the operation of the Hope for Home Interim Housing Program, distributing funds as follows:
PROJECT
ACCOUNT
PROGRAM
VOA ADMIN
AWARD AMOUNT
LAHSA Interim Housing Program
141-17xx-52285-65410
$3,186,779
$177,043
$3,363,822
CEO-HI Local Solutions Fund
141-17xx-52285-58820
$ 877,095
$48,728
$ 925,823
Tri-City MHSA
215-1791-52285-58681
$2,103,000
$2,103,000
ESG-RUSH Access Center
186-1791-52285-58811
$ 112,500
$ 112,500
Total Award
$6,505,145
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 awarding a contract to Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA) as the selected H4H Site Operator for an initial 5-year period, from November 30, 2018, through June 30, 2023, designating them as the sole source recipient of future funds identified for operating 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, to 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 $862,512 in extended funding, 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, which expanded the bed rate to $60 and increased the FY 2023-24 award to $1,006,000. Council approved the amendment to the agreement on March 18, 2024.
On July 7, 2025, the City Council approved the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) awarding the City of Pomona $3,540,865 to operate the Interim Housing Program, which supports adults experiencing homelessness from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2031.
DISCUSSION:
On December 6, 2024, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) released a request for proposal (RFP) for an Interim Housing contract to fund congregate and non-congregate shelters serving people experiencing homelessness. The site owner, City of Pomona, responded to the RFP with site operator VOALA requesting funding for the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center (H4H). On April 21, 2025, LAHSA notified the City that it would fund 109 beds at the $89 bed rate for a total award of $3,540,865 (109/beds x $89/bed rate x 365/calendar days) for the term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The contract was not received until July 2025. On July 7, City Council approved the acceptance of the award with a retroactive date of July 1, 2025.
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. It is a priority through the Coordinated Entry System (CES) for safe and supportive housing resources. This emergency housing program aims to provide participants with stability, enabling them to maintain contact with housing navigation and case management services, and facilitating 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 recommended 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. .
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(S):
Attachment No. 1 – Second Amendment to H4H Site Operator Agreement Authorize H4H Site Operator Award