City Set to Receive $105,000 to Help Homeless in COVID Fight

The City Council on Monday is expected to approve a contract with the state that will bring more than $105,000 in emergency funds to Pasadena to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus among homeless people.

The money is the city’s share of a $100 million state emergency fund signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 17, to help local governments protect “this vulnerable population and reduce the spread of COVID-19 by safely getting individuals into shelter and providing immediate housing options.’’

According to a city staff report, “The funding is intended for COVID-19 prevention and containment efforts for temporary shelters, including, but not limited to, medically indicated services and supplies, such as testing and handwashing stations, and enhancements to existing shelter facilities.

“Funding can also be used for acquiring new shelters, supplies and equipment for emergency shelter operations, increasing shelter capacity, street outreach, and acquiring locations to place individuals who need to be isolated because of COVID-19 illness or exposure.’’

The city’s $105,625.89 share comes from allocations that were divided proportionally among eligible jurisdictions based on the previous allocations through the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program.

It’s part of an overall total state appropriation of up to $1 billion to provide assistance to California counties, Continuums of Care (CoCs) and the state’s 13 largest cities to help fight the spread of COVID-19 among the homeless.

The money came from Senate Bill 89, which passed the Legislature unanimously.

The contract before the council on Monday is a pro forma move, with cities required to enter into a standard agreement with the state’s Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency (BCSH) to receive the funding in the form of a block grant.

“Approval of the recommended action has the potential to protect the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena, provide emergency prevention and containment interventions, and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak among a highly vulnerable population,’’ the city staff report said.