I’m pleased to share, that after careful consideration, it has been decided that the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) will not be locating their Winter Shelter Program in the city of Pomona this year. LAHSA runs the Winter Shelter Program every year as a way to provide shelter during the winter for homeless people throughout Los Angeles County. Additional efforts are crucial in the winter, when falling temperatures make living on the streets particularly dangerous.

The Armory in Downtown Pomona has served as a winter shelter on a number of occasions over the years. Last year, our Hope for Home Services Center hosted the program, and was the center of the Winter Shelter Program for the County. In this capacity, it was able to help over six-hundred homeless people during the four-month program. However, this year Hope for Home is focusing its efforts on other important projects for helping those who are homeless and for enriching the community.

Instead, the Program is looking at a location in Bassett Park in La Puente as a site for the upcoming winter. There, it will continue to operate as it has in the past to provide much-needed aid to the entire county of Los Angeles. Hope for Home will likewise be able to continue to pursue the projects that allow them to do the most good. We believe that this is the best use of resources in order to help as many people as possible.

Pomona has a long history of providing for those in need. I’m pleased that this winter other communities will be stepping up to do their part. With both the Winter Shelter Program and Hope for Home doing important work, we are taking another step in fighting the homelessness crisis that has affected so many people in our city.