Costa Mesa approves expanded Families Forward rental assistance contract; council OKs additions and renewals

The Costa Mesa City Council unanimously approved a contract amendment on April 1 to increase funding for Families Forward’s tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) program by $50,000 for the current fiscal year and authorized up to three additional yearly renewals of up to $200,000 each if federal HOME grant funding remains available.

Staff said the TBRA program — started as a pilot in 2021 and later made permanent — has served 92 people (29 households) since its inception. The staff presentation reported the average rent subsidy per household was $1,436 per month (staff corrected an earlier figure during the meeting), the average duration of assistance was about 5.4 months per household and the program allows up to 24 months of support. Total rent subsidies paid to date were listed at $327,000, with an additional $78,711 in project-delivery costs that include required HUD inspections, housing navigation and case management.

Families Forward representative Rosalinda Bermudez told the council the organization often receives referrals from city outreach teams and that the program runs a progressive engagement case-management model that tapers subsidy as participants move toward self-sufficiency. She said the program had a wait list and urged council to approve the additional funds to serve people on that list.

Council Member Marr moved the staff recommendation and Council Member Reynolds seconded; the motion passed 7–0. During debate, Council members said they wanted clearer reporting on program outcomes; staff said the item could be presented as a one-year amendment if the council preferred and that the multi-year language was intended to provide stability for the provider if federal funds are renewed.

The amendment is funded from federal HOME grant allocations; staff noted that multi-year renewals would be contingent on the availability of those grant funds.