Council to Review Additional Amendment for Funding Food Banks and Pantries Due to COVID-19

The Pasadena City Council on Monday will review a substantial amendment to the annual action plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program which would allow for part of the federal grant program to be used to assist  low- to moderate-income households who are experiencing food insecurity as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. 

In a public hearing included in Monday’s special meeting, the council will deliberate on a proposal by the Pasadena Housing Department to approve the submittal of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Community Development Block Grant CV Round 3 Program Year 2020-2021 (CDBG-CV3) entitlement funds amounting to $1,220,949. 

This application will also require the submission of a substantial amendment to the 2020-2021 annual action plan so that the amount can be used toward food aid distribution by local food banks and pantries to affected households. 

CDBG funds are ordinarily used for such vital services as youth services, sidewalk improvements, housing rehabilitation, public facilities improvement, and fair housing services that some nonprofit agencies and city departments implement. 

By “substantially amending” the 2020-2021 annual action plan, the city will be able to receive funding from HUD through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which allocates funds restricted to activities that prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19, including food assistance to the most vulnerable families in Pasadena.  

The council published the substantial amendment for public review from Nov. 12 to 23, which included a notice for Monday’s public hearing. Housing staff will present to the council any public comments received as a result of the publication.   

In an agenda report for Monday’s meeting, the Housing Department said the city has used $1 million in CDBG-CV funds to implement an emergency rental assistance (ERA) program, and has allocated $425,000 of its CDBG annual allocation to provide grants to small businesses affected by COVID-19 since the pandemic started. 

About $50,000 of the $1 million have not been expended in part because Los Angeles County also implemented a back-rent relief program which was made available to Pasadena residents. In addition, state and federal unemployment insurance benefits were also available. 

Now, as unemployment benefits expire, the demand for back-rent relief is expected to remain high and may be considered by the City Council for continued support with the new CDBG funds. The allocation can also be used to  support other eligible COVID-19 related activities, including addressing food insecurity. 

A survey by the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Science showed that current levels of food insecurity in LA County are much higher than pre-pandemic levels. It said more than one in four Los Angeles County households experienced at least one instance of food insecurity from April to July and among 42 percent of low-income households. By comparison, during all 12 months of 2018, 27 percent of low-income households struggled with food insecurity. 

In Pasadena, the City Council allocated funding to 10 food banks and pantries to help feed vulnerable residents from May to October. An initial funding of $159,607 for May to July allowed these agencies to serve an average of 12,900 individuals monthly. 

In July, the City Council approved an additional $151,200 to these agencies to meet the surge in demand for food services, allowing the agencies to serve an average of 16, 141 individuals per month from August to October.  

Earlier this month, the council appropriated an additional $206,200 to continue to support local food programs through January 2021.

The Housing Department report said a number of the food banks say their operations are currently stressed, and without continued city funding they will not be able to meet the increased demand for services expected in the upcoming months. 

In staff’s estimation, curtailment of food operations is likely in the absence of additional city funding. Below is the list of food banks and pantries receiving city support. 

Monday’s presentation will include a recommendation to use $1.1 million in CD8G-CV3 funds to create a new food insecurity program to be called the “Pasadena Food Pantry Program” that will be operated for one year through the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. 

Pasadena food banks and pantries that wish to participate in the new program will be able to submit an agency capacity review application and proposed program budget for review by city staff. Organizations that are selected through an exempt, non-competitive selection process will enter into a subrecipient agreement that will be submitted to the City Council for approval in December. 

The online meeting on Monday begins at 2 p.m. and may be accessed through www.pasadenamedia.org as well as www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/agendas.