CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
February 2, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Beverly Johnson, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF TWO CONTINUUM OF CARE GRANT AWARDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD), AMEND THE FY 2025-26 OPERATING BUDGET, AND AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OF LOS ANGELES (VOALA) RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-07 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF TWO CONTINUUM OF CARE GRANTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) TOTALING $3,918,172 AND AMENDMENT OF THE FY 2025-26 OPERATING BUDGET Award a Professional Services Agreement to Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA) in the amount of $1,240,997 and Authorize the City Manager, to execute all contracts, subcontracts, amendments and any other documentation requested for acceptance of the award and operation of the above listed Continuum of Care Programs for submission to funders and subcontractor VOALA, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Approval of this action will authorize the acceptance of $3,918,172 in Continuum of Care (CoC) funding and approve a professional services agreement with Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA), in the amount of $1,240,997. Conditional approval is requested for the Operation Porchlight program pending routing of the agreement from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
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:
Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-07 (Attachment No. 1) will authorize the acceptance of two Continuum of Care (CoC) grant awards from HUD totaling $3,918,172 for the City’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Program and the Operation Porchlight Program (OPL). The PSH grant award is for $2,693,449 of which $114,841 will be allocated to administrative costs and $2,578,608 will be allocated to the operation of the program. Of the $2,578,608, $42,000 will be awarded to VOALA for a life skills program.
The OPL grant award is $1,224,723, of which $51,453 will be allocated to administrative costs and $1,173,270 to the program's operations. Administrative funds are divided between the City of Pomona and VOALA, whereas all operational funds are awarded to VOALA.
Approval of the grant will amend the City’s FY 2026-26 Operating Budget by increasing revenue estimates in the amount of $3,918,172 and a corresponding increase in appropriations by the same amount. An additional increase of 25% for each Continuum of Care grant is required in Grant-Match funds. Below is a summary of the fiscal impact.
Worktags
Change to Revenue Estimates
Worktags
Change to Appropriations
Fund: FD218
Cost Center: CC1791
Revenue Category: HUD-Grant
Grant: GR-000003
+$2,578,608
Fund: FD218
Cost Center: CC1791
Spend Category: Various
Grant: GR-000003
+$2,578,608
Fund: FD218
Cost Center: CC1702
Revenue Category: HUD-Grant
Grant: GR-000001
+$114,841
Fund: FD218
Cost Center: CC1702
Spend Category:
Various
Grant: GR-000001
+$114,841
Fund: FD218
Cost Center: CC1791
Revenue Category: Soft-Match
Grant: GR-000002
+$644,652
Fund: FD218
Cost Center: CC1791
Spend Category: Staff Salaries In-Kind
Grant: GR-000002
+$644,652
Fund: FD218
Cost Center: CC1702
Revenue Category: Soft-Match
Grant: GR-000002
+$28,711
Fund: FD218
Cost Center: CC1702
Spend Category: Staff Salaries In-Kind
Grant: GR-000002
+$28,711
Fund: FD215
Cost Center: CC1791
Revenue Category: HUD-Grant
Grant: GR-000006
+$1,173,270
Fund: FD215
Cost Center: CC1791
Spend Category: Controllable Contract Services
Grant: GR-000006
+$1,173,270
Fund: FD215
Cost Center: CC1702
Revenue Category: HUD-Grant
Grant: GR-000004
+$51,453
Fund: FD215
Cost Center: CC1702
Spend Category: Various
Grant: GR-000004
+$51,453
Fund: FD215
Cost Center: CC1791
Revenue Category: Soft-Match
Grant: GR-000005
+$293,318
Fund: FD215
Cost Center: CC1791
Spend Category: Staff Salaries In-Kind
Grant: GR-000005
+$293,318
Fund: FD215
Cost Center: CC1702
Revenue Category: Soft-Match
Grant: GR-000005
+12,864
Fund: FD215
Cost Center: CC1702
Spend Category: Staff Salaries In-Kind
Grant: GR-000005
+12,864
DISCUSSION:
Background
The HEARTH Act, enacted into law on May 20, 2009, consolidated three of the separate homeless assistance programs administered by HUD under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act into a single grant program called the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program. The HEARTH Act also codified the CoC planning process into law. The CoC Collaborative Applicant is the one entity per planning area identified in the planning process. For Los Angeles County, the CoC Collaborative Applicant is the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). The CoC must designate eligible applicants from nonprofit organizations, State and local governments, and public housing agencies to submit an application to HUD for grant funds. LAHSA has designated the City of Pomona and the Pomona Housing Authority to submit two grant applications annually to renew the two CoC programs.
The Continuum of Care Program
The CoC Program assists individuals and families experiencing homelessness. It provides the services needed to help such individuals move into transitional and permanent housing with the goal of long-term stability. More broadly, the purpose of the CoC Program is to promote community-wide planning and strategic use of resources to address homelessness to 1) to improve coordination and integration with mainstream resources and other programs targeted to people experiencing homelessness; 2) to improve data collection and performance measurement; and 3) allow each community to tailor its programs to the particular strengths and challenges in assisting homeless individuals and families within that community.
Permanent Supportive Housing Referring Agencies
The City has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Agreements for the CoC-Permanent Supportive Housing program with four homeless provider referral agencies: VOALA, Foothill Aids Project (FAP), Tri-City Mental Health (TCMH), and Prototypes. FAP is an organization whose mission is to improve the lives of those affected by HIV through comprehensive supportive services. TCMH is the mental health authority and primary provider of outpatient services for individuals experiencing mental health conditions in the three cities that make up the Tri-Cities: Pomona, La Verne, and Claremont. Prototypes support women, children, and communities impacted by substance use, mental illness, and domestic violence. These agencies are responsible for identifying homeless persons with permanent disabilities or families with an adult or child member with a permanent disability and referring them for services.
Volunteers of America of Los Angeles
Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA) is one of Pomona's most prominent homeless service providers. The County of Los Angeles selected them to manage and operate the Pomona Project Roomkey, launched to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19. They are the site operators for the Hope for Home Homeless Services Center. VOALA has established an ongoing relationship with individuals and families experiencing homelessness and provides ongoing case management, housing navigation, and life skills training.
In June 2025, the City was granted renewal funding by HUD in the total amount of $3,918,172 for the two CoC programs, effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. The action taken by the City Council will accept these awards and award a Professional Services Agreements with VOALA for $1,240,997 of these funds. VOALA is a sub-recipient of both grants and written into the grant application.
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. 2026-07
Attachment No. 2 – Continuum of Care Program Grant Agreement Acceptance of Continuum of Care Grants
February 2, 2026
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