Pasadena Housing and Homeless Network (Network) is made up of representatives of more than 20 community-based public and private organizations. The Network has a history as the primary community planning entity concerning housing and homeless needs and services within the City of Pasadena.

In December of 1991, under the direction of the Department of Planning and Development/Housing Division, an ad hoc group of housing and homeless service providers first began to coordinate homeless and housing service delivery efforts with the City in response to the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) in 1990. Local housing and homeless service providers and staff from several City departments were invited to attend several workshops concerning the CHAS by the Housing Division. In the end, a housing and homeless strategy was developed which included 12 priority statements and numerical goals. Several priorities were for homeless persons. The process worked so well that City staff and representatives of community agencies decided to form a coalition and meet on a regular basis. Thus, the Network was created with the initial goal of implementing the priorities outlined in the CHAS as part of an overall strategy to address homelessness in Pasadena.

The Network's history as a primary community planning entity concerning housing and homeless needs and services also includes Consolidated Planning. Beginning in 1995, the Network served as the principal planning entity for both of the City's Consolidated Plan submissions--1995 - 2000 and 2000 - 2005. Also, since 1995, the Network has served as the principal planning entity for every Continuum of Care application submission to HUD.

As a result, the Network has grown into a diverse group of public and private agencies during the past twelve (12) years. Representatives are committed to implementing an effective city-wide continuum of care system. With the leadership of Housing Division staff (described below), the Network has established the following guiding principles/values to carry out its goals and objectives:

1. be a collaborative effort of City staff, County staff, other public agency staff, private non-profit organizations, and other community organizations who are committed to preventing and ending homelessness in Pasadena;

2. serve as the primary community-based organization dedicated to the implementation of the city's continuum of care for homeless individuals and families;

3. provide homeless persons with access to a broad range of supportive services and housing opportunities;

4. promote individual self-sufficiency, positive self-esteem, dignity, and personal growth that will help homeless people achieve and maintain stable sources of income, housing, and social relationships.

The Network is co-chaired by a member of one of its private agencies and a staff member of the Housing Division. The Housing Division not only supports the Network with a staff member who is a co-chair but with other staff members who support the Network on an on-going basis. Such support is helpful because Housing Division staff are responsible for the administration of numerous federal entitlement and competitive grant programs including: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), and the Continuum of Care for Homeless Assistance Programs. In addition, the Housing Division oversees the development of the Consolidated Plan and provides funding and monitors the activities of the City’s designated Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), which provide a variety of affordable housing activities.

The Housing Division is the agency that is most familiar with the City’s continuum of care system. Staff administers the Supportive Housing Program (SHP) and Shelter Plus Care (S+C) funds currently used to provide services and housing within the County’s continuum of care system. Staff also provides technical assistance and oversight in the implementation of homeless programs and with grant compliance. In addition, each year, staff conducts a formal monitoring of SHP funded programs. This process includes a review of client files, beneficiary documentation, financial systems, rent calculations, and habitability standards. A report is prepared based upon the findings of each monitoring visit.

For more information contact Anne Lansing at alansing@ci.pasadena.ca.us or Joe Colletti, Ph.D. at jcolletti@iurd.org.

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