Background Information

During the spring of 1991, under the direction of the City of Pasadena/ Housing and Community Development, an ad hoc group of housing and homeless service providers began to coordinate homeless and housing service delivery efforts with the City in response to the HUD-required Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS). Local housing and homeless service providers and staff from several City departments attended several workshops concerning the CHAS.

Through the CHAS, a housing and homeless strategy was developed which included 12 priority statements and numerical goals of which several priorities were for homeless persons. The process worked so well that City staff and representatives of community agencies decided to form a coalition and meet on a regular basis. The coalition was formed and met for the first time in December of 1991. The coalition adopted the name Pasadena Housing and Homeless Network and set as its primary goal the implementation of the goals outlined in the CHAS as part of an overall strategy to address homelessness in Pasadena.

The Network's history as a primary community planning entity concerning housing and homeless needs and services also includes Consolidated Planning. Beginning in 1995, the Network served as the principal planning entity for both of the City's Consolidated Plan submissions for 1995 - 2000 and 2000 - 2005. Also, since 1995, the Network has served as the principal planning entity for every Continuum of Care application submission to HUD.

As a result, the Network has grown into a diverse group of public and private agencies during the past several years. Representatives are committed to implementing an effective city-wide continuum of care system. With the leadership of Housing Department staff, the Network has established the following guiding principles/values to carry out its goals and objectives:

1. be a collaborative effort of City staff, County staff, other public agency staff, private non-profit organizations, and other community organizations who are committed to preventing and ending homelessness in Pasadena;

2. serve as the primary community-based organization dedicated to the implementation of the city's continuum of care for homeless individuals and families;

3. provide homeless persons with access to a broad range of supportive services and housing opportunities;

4. promote individual self-sufficiency, positive self-esteem, dignity, and personal growth that will help homeless people achieve and maintain stable sources of income, housing, and social relationships.