Pasadena Housing Department Proposes $46 Million Budget for 2024-25 Fiscal Year

The City of Pasadena Housing Department’s recommended operating budget of $46,447,327 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year goes before the Economic Development and Technology Committee on Tuesday.

The proposed budget, which represents a 13.96% increase from the prior year’s adopted budget, includes funding for affordable housing developments, rental assistance programs, homelessness services, and community development initiatives.

Notable accomplishments in the current fiscal year include the completion of several affordable housing projects, such as the 65-unit Salvation Army Hope Center for single people experiencing homelessness and the 179-unit Pasadena Studios micro-units rental complex.

The Department also provided monthly rental assistance to 1,265 households and awarded 17 new Housing Choice Vouchers.

In terms of homelessness services, the department reported permanently housing 152 households through city-funded programs as of March 22. An additional 470 formerly homeless individuals were provided permanent supportive housing, including 65 people at the newly opened Hope Center.

The proposed budget allocates $4,763,676 for personnel costs, a 9.94% increase attributed to cost-of-living adjustments and benefits. The Department has requested funding for two additional full-time positions in the Rental Housing Assistance Programs Fund.

Services and supplies account for $40,569,464 of the budget, a 14.79% increase largely due to grants for supportive housing programs and rental assistance payments. Internal service charges increased by 5.09% to $672,187.

Priorities for the 2024-2025 fiscal year include utilizing regional housing trust fund allocations to assist pipeline projects, maximizing utilization of Emergency Housing Vouchers and Mainstream vouchers, and implementing the new five-year Pasadena Homelessness Plan.

The budget proposal will be considered for approval by the Pasadena City Council in the coming weeks.