Committee to Consider $4.7 Million Federal Housing and Homelessness Funding Plan

A City Council committee will consider approval of a nearly $4.7 million federal housing and homelessness funding plan next week that would direct money toward affordable housing, street outreach, rapid rehousing, infrastructure improvements and public services.

The Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee is scheduled Wednesday to review the city’s 2026 Annual Action Plan and related applications for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“The overarching goals of the City’s federally funded programs are to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities for LMI residents,” the report states, referring to low- and moderate-income households.

The committee is expected to forward a recommendation to the full City Council, which is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the plan June 15.

According to a staff report prepared by Housing Director James Wong, the City expects to receive a total of $4,688,396 in federal entitlement funds, including $3,077,000 in CDBG funds, $662,156 in HOME funds and $949,240 in ESG funding.

The proposed spending plan includes $1.125 million for street resurfacing and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements, $500,000 for sidewalk improvements and $250,000 for ADA pushbutton upgrades. Another $170,000 would fund alerting equipment upgrades at Fire Station 36.

Housing and homelessness programs would receive significant portions of the funding.

The City proposes allocating $300,000 toward tenant-based rental assistance and $212,156 toward affordable housing activities through the HOME program. ESG funding would support $378,770 for rapid rehousing, $203,562 for emergency shelter services and $197,495 for street outreach.

The plan outlines goals for the coming year that include assisting 10 housing units through rental assistance programs, serving 450 people through public service programs, providing street outreach to 35 people and assisting 14 households through rapid rehousing efforts.

The Annual Action Plan represents the second year of Pasadena’s 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and serves as the city’s roadmap for using federal housing and community development funds.

The report notes Pasadena conducted a community needs survey in early 2025 that drew 794 responses. Respondents ranked creation of affordable housing as the city’s highest overall community priority, followed by infrastructure improvements and improvements to facilities providing public and community services.

Among individual categories, educational facilities and mental health services tied for the highest-rated community needs, followed closely by health services and parks and recreational facilities.