Families and Individuals who are presently housed but are
at-risk-to-homelessness

There are approximately 50,000 adults and children living in Pasadena that are members of households with an estimated household income of less than $25,000 according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Of these persons, nearly 30,000 adults and children are members of households with an estimated household income of less than $15,000. Many of these households are at-risk-to-homelessness.

What makes these households at-risk-to-homelessness is the “overpayment” for their housing. Overpayment refers to a household paying more than 30% of their gross income for rent or mortgage including costs for utilities, property insurance, and real estate taxes as defined by the Federal Government.

Households with an estimated household income of less than $25,000 usually pay more than 30% of their gross income for rent or mortgage. Households with an estimated household income of $15,000 pay as much as 67% of their income for a one-bedroom apartment and utilities and households with an estimated household income of $25,000 pay as much as 50% of their income for a two-bedroom apartment.

Local and national data and information underlines the fact that most households at-risk-to-homelessness did not know about, or how to access, the services that could have helped them remain in their housing until after they lost their housing. Such services include case management, landlord/lender intervention, landlord/renter intervention, rent/mortgage/utility assistance, code enforcement, free or sliding scale health care, free food and clothing, and other services that prevent homelessness.

Thus, the City of Pasadena 10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness will focus on:

a. providing adequate emergency homeless prevention assistance such as rental assistance for households who are unable to afford to pay their rent;

b. providing adequate household assistance such as free food, clothing, and utility assistance in order for households not to have to choose between paying for daily basic living needs and paying their rent;

c. providing case management services and referrals for households to employment services and mainstream resource programs (e.g. public assistance) in order to maintain or increase their household income;

d. providing adequate emergency homeless prevention services for households threatened with eviction assistance so they are able to maintain their housing;

e. providing adequate emergency homeless assistance services for households who lose their housing because of eviction so they are re-housed as quickly as possible;

f. ensuring that households at-risk-to-homelessness know about, and how to access, these services.

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