City Council Backs Measure A for Affordable Housing and Homelessness Solutions

As part of Monday’s consent calendar, the Pasadena City Council voted to support Measure A, the Affordable Housing, Homelessness Solutions, and Prevention Now Transactions and Tax Use Initiative.

The proposed half-cent sales tax will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot and is aimed at funding critical homelessness services and affordable housing developments throughout Los Angeles County. 

The tax will not apply to groceries, gasoline, diapers or anything that can be purchased with an EBT card. 

If it passes, Measure will replace Measure H, not to be confused with the local rent control initiative, which expires in 2027. 

“Measure H will sunset and there will be no replacement for those dollars,” said Vice Mayor Steve Madison, who presided over Monday’s meeting. 

Madison called for the City to get its fair share of the proceeds.

If approved by voters in November, Measure A would generate approximately $1.071 billion countywide each year. 

The funds would be split between several County-affiliated entities, with 60% going to “Comprehensive Homelessness Services,” 35.75% to a newly formed Los Angeles County 

Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), 3% to the Los Angeles Community Development Authority (LACDA) for “Local Housing Production,” and 1.25% to the County for Accountability, Data, and Research. 

Pasadena stands to benefit from multiple funding streams under the proposed measure. 

The City could receive an estimated $713,000 annually from the Local Solutions Fund, which comprises 15% of the Comprehensive Homelessness Services allocation. Additionally, Pasadena is projected to receive $4.38 million per year through its participation in the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Regional Housing Trust. 

Measure H has provided significant funding for homelessness services since its approval in 2017. 

Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax, has generated between $400 million to $600 million annually to support a range of services for those experiencing homelessness. The City of Pasadena has received approximately $8.86 million from Measure H, funding programs such as emergency shelters and housing assistance. However, with Measure H set to expire, Measure A is positioned to fill that financial gap.