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San Fernando approves $50,000 Habitat for Humanity agreement to expand home-repair services with ARPA funding
Summary
The San Fernando City Council approved a professional services agreement with Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to administer an ARPA-backed home-repair program that will prioritize aging-in-place modifications and leverage other benefits when available; staff said a contract would encumber $50,000 and meet ARPA contracting deadlines.
The San Fernando City Council on Tuesday approved a professional services agreement with Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to run a home-repair program funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.
Staff and Habitat representatives told the council the agreement would encumber $50,000. City staff said ARPA funds must be contracted by Dec. 31, 2024; if the funds are encumbered in a contract they would not all have to be disbursed to recipients by that date and could be spent through Dec. 2026.
The program aims to help homeowners with safety and accessibility improvements such as handrails and shower modifications and includes labor support that Habitat said it will provide when materials are donated or available. Erin Rank, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles, said the organization asks applicants about existing benefits and will coordinate with other service providers but noted not all homeowners are covered by Medicare or Medi‑Cal and some larger repairs are not provided through those programs.
"We certainly will ask that," Rank said when asked whether Habitat would pursue other available resources for eligible homeowners.
Council members asked staff to build procedures into the program to maximize use of available benefits before using city funds and to include installation and other needs that grant recipients may require. City staff confirmed the agreement can be structured to require referrals and eligibility checks so that Medicare, Medi‑Cal or other utility-supported donations are pursued first, and the city can reserve ARPA funds for services that are not otherwise covered.
Councilmember Joe Fajardo moved to approve the agreement; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call vote.
Next steps: staff will finalize the contract with Habitat and return to council with any program guidelines and a timeline for outreach and enrollment. The council directed staff to ensure the program maximizes non-city funding sources when available.
