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CC - CONSENT ITEM: (1) Authorization of Acceptance of a Grant Funding Award in the Amount of $257,108 from the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency Through the Westside Cities Council of Governments Under the Renter Protection and Homelessness Prevention Program; (2) Approval of the Council Standing Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee Recommendations on the Uses of the Grant Award; and (3) FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Approval of a Related Budget Amendment to Appropriate the Grant Funds.
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Meeting Date: October 27, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Tevis Barnes, Housing & Human Services
Shannon Louis, Housing & Human Services
Phone Number: Housing and Human Services Office - (310) 253-5780
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (10/22/2025); Landlord Tenant Mediation Board (10/22/2025); and (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (10/22/2025)
Department Approval: Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services Director, (10/14/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) authorize the acceptance of a grant funding award in the amount of $257,108 from the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA) through the Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG) under the Renter Protection and Homelessness Prevention Program (RPHP); (2) approve the Council Standing Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee recommendations on the uses of the grant award; and (3) approve a related budget amendment to appropriate the grant funds (budget amendment requires a four-fifths vote).
BACKGROUND
In 2022, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 679, the Los Angeles County Regional Housing Finance Act (SB 679), which created the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA). The purpose of LACAHSA is to increase the supply of affordable housing in Los Angeles County by providing significantly enhanced funding and technical assistance at a regional level for renter protections, affordable housing preservation, and new affordable housing production.
In 2024, Los Angeles County voters approved Measure A, a half-cent sales tax to fund homeless services and affordable housing development throughout the County. The tax replaces Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax for homeless services approved by voters in 2017. The goal of Measure A is to significantly reduce and prevent homelessness in Los Angeles County. Measure A is expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue annually. Just over one third (35.75 percent) of revenues generated by Measure A will be directed to LACAHSA for affordable housing production and preservation, renter protection and homelessness prevention, and technical assistance. LACAHSA, in turn, must pass through 70 percent of this funding to Eligible Jurisdictions.
The identified Eligible Jurisdictions are the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Long Beach, the City of Glendale, the City of Santa Clarita, and the Councils of Government (COGs) in Los Angeles County. COGs may pass through funding to their member cities (except to cities that are Eligible Jurisdictions that receive allocations directly from LACAHSA).
As a member of the WSCCOG, Culver City is deemed an Eligible Jurisdiction to receive an allotment of RPHP funds. Culver City is earmarked to receive $257,108 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026.
DISCUSSION
LACAHSA’s RPHP activities aim to address housing instability, reduce evictions and displacement, and prevent people from falling into homelessness. In accordance with SB679, LACAHSA is required to use a minimum of 30 percent of annual funding for RPHP.
RPHP achieves this by providing a comprehensive combination of renter protection and
homelessness prevention services within an integrated, accessible, countywide approach.
Eligible uses of RPHP funds include:
• Marketing, Assessment, Eligibility, and Referral
• Legal Services and Renter Education
• Emergency Rental and Flexible Financial Assistance
• Temporary Rental Assistance
• Short-Term Income Support
RPHP assistance is intended to be temporary, short-term, and delivered to individuals and families who are currently housed in order to prevent the loss of housing or to resolve a housing crisis in a timely manner. RPHP funds are not intended to provide supports or services to people experiencing homelessness, nor to provide permanent housing assistance (longer than six months).
Households may receive either Emergency Rental and Flexible Financial Assistance OR Temporary Rental Assistance but cannot receive both during the same 24-month period of assistance. Households receiving Emergency Rental and Flexible Financial Assistance or Temporary Rental Assistance may also receive Short-Term Income Support, but assistance cannot be provided concurrently. Households may also receive Short-Term Income Support independently (i.e. without also having received Emergency Rental and Flexible Financial Assistance or Temporary Rental Assistance) based on the needs identified in the intake and assessment of the household.
To receive assistance under the RPHP, a household must meet the following criteria:
• Live in Los Angeles County
• Have an annual income at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI)
• Have experienced an emergency, crisis, or unexpected event within the previous 12 months that puts the household at risk of losing their housing, such as:
§ Action of landlord or property management
§ Unlawful detainer (eviction lawsuit)
§ Threat of displacement or housing instability
§ Loss of income
§ Loss or delay of public income benefits
§ Medical emergency
§ Change of household (birth, death, loss of income earner)
§ Natural disaster
§ Sudden increase in critical expenses
§ Other emergency that threatens housing stability
Standing Council Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee Recommendations
On October 7, 2025, the Council Standing Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee (Council Members Fish and McMorrin) convened to discuss and recommend to the full Council how to use the awarded grant funds in the amount of $257,108 under RPHP, which is fully detailed in the Fiscal Analysis section of this report.
On April 14, 2025, City Council directed staff to return to the full Council with options related to a direct rental assistance program. During its October 7, 2025 meeting, the Council Subcommittee considered the use of grant funds to support such matters as a Right to Counsel Program and rental assistance for Culver City renter households in receipt of a Notice of Termination and facing financial instability, including those impacted by recent immigration enforcement actions.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Eligible Jurisdictions, such as Culver City, must spend at least 20 percent of their RPHP allocation on Legal Services (inclusive of eviction defense and other legal services) and at least 40 percent of their RPHP allocation on Emergency Rental and Flexible Financial Assistance (inclusive of financial assistance to households and staff costs to provide financial assistance). The balance of 40 percent can be used by the Eligible Jurisdiction at their discretion.
With an allocation of $257,108 in RPHP funding, Culver City must use at least 20 percent or $51,422 for legal services. Forty percent or $102,843 of the RPHP funds must be used to support Emergency Rental and Flexible Financial Assistance. The balance of 40 percent or $102,843 can be used at the discretion of City Council.
During its October 7, 2025 meeting, the Council Subcommittee made the following recommendations for how to expend the funds:
• Legal Services 20% or $51,422
o 20% or $51,422 to expand the City’s current contract with Bet Tzedek to provide free legal services, specifically to tenants facing unlawful detainers
• Rental Assistance (40% or $102, 843)
o 20% or $51,422 toward one-months’ worth of Emergency Rental and Flexible Financial Assistance at a maximum of $3,500 per household
o 20% or $51,422 toward Temporary Rental Assistance at $1,000 per month, per adult, not to exceed six months
• Discretionary Funding (40% or $102, 843)
o $50,000 pursuant to Council’s direction to staff on September 29, 2025 to support persons facing immigration enforcement actions with financial assistance at $1,000 per month, per adult, not to exceed six months
o $52,843 toward a potential Culver City Housing Trust Fund if approved by City Council and deemed eligible by LACAHSA
Since the notification of the award occurred after the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 was adopted the grant funding was not included. These funds are new and are not currently earmarked for other activities. Staff is requesting City Council accept the grant funds and approve the related budget amendment to appropriate $257,108 in grant funds (requires a four-fifths vote). If approved, Finance staff will create a Fund 414 operating grant account for the revenue and expenditures.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
1. Authorize acceptance of a grant funding award in the amount of $257,108 from the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency through the Westside Cities Council of Governments under the Renter Protection and Homelessness Prevention Program; and
2. Approve the Council Standing Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee recommendations on the uses of the grant award; and
3. Approve a related budget amendment to receive the $257,108 in revenue and appropriate the grant funds for expenditure (four-fifths vote required); and
4. Provide other direction to the City Manager as deemed necessary.