The Hawaiian Gardens City Council on June 25 approved participation in the Los Angeles County Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) program and authorized the mayor to sign a reimbursable contract with the Los Angeles County Development Authority to reserve a shelter bed at the Salvation Army’s Bell Shelter in Bell.

City staff said Hawaiian Gardens is eligible to receive about $60,000 through PLHA, funding created by the 2017 Building Homes and Jobs Act. The staff report said the city proposes to use the allocation to reserve one “bridge housing” shelter bed at the Bell Shelter for the upcoming year; the shelter bed cost cited in the report is $89 per night. The report said participants may stay up to 90 days, with monthly extensions permitted while a participant works on a housing plan.

The staff report described services provided by the Bell Shelter, including three meals a day, linens and hygiene supplies, case management, referrals to health and mental-health services, substance‑abuse support, life‑skills classes, employment assistance and help obtaining identification and transportation. Staff also said the city’s homeless‑services representative, identified in the meeting as Adriana, would coordinate referrals between Hawaiian Gardens residents and the shelter once a contract is in place.

During discussion, council members asked whether the city had used PLHA funds previously and whether any Hawaiian Gardens residents had been served under a prior reservation; staff said the city had reserved beds in the past but that no new placements would occur until the new contract is executed. The public hearing drew no public speakers on Zoom or in person before the council closed the hearing.

The council voted unanimously to approve the agreement and adopt Resolution 015-2025. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Council Member Farfan, Council Member Roa, Council Member Vargas and Mayor DePaola.

The council’s action authorizes the mayor to enter the reimbursable contract with the Los Angeles County Development Authority; staff said placements would begin after the shelter accepts the contract terms and the city notifies its homeless‑services coordinator. No additional program details, including the precise number of Hawaiian Gardens residents expected to be served in the first year, were specified in the staff report.

The contract and resolution secure a single shelter bed reservation for the year; implementation depends on the Bell Shelter’s acceptance of contract terms and the city’s referral process.