HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2 - 2020 Community Needs Workshop Staff Report Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report Meeting Date: October 7, 2020
Item Number: 2
DATE: October 7, 2020
FROM: Cara Vereschagin, Housing Coordinator
SUBJECT: Community Needs Workshop for 2021-22 Grant Programs
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing to solicit public comments on current community health and human
services needs in the City of San Luis Obispo.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Community Needs Workshop is hosted annually, to inform the public about upcoming grant
programs and funding amounts, as well as to solicit public comments on current community health
and human services needs within the City. The Human Relations Commission (HRC) then
develops funding priorities for the various programs, based on the feedback from the public and
HRC goals. The HRC then reviews all the grant applications in light of those funding priorities.
This funding cycle, the City has Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Grants-in-
Aid (GIA) funds.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Overview
The CDBG program is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). The County of San Luis Obispo manages this grant and the funding
decisions must be approved by the Board of Supervisors in the County’s annual Action Plan. The
funding is non-competitive, however all projects that are recommended for funding must directly
or indirectly benefit low-income persons. According to the Notice of Funding Availability
released by the County on September 1, it is estimated that the City has about ~$513,086 available
for new projects:
San Luis Obispo County Community Development Grants Notice of Funding Availability, 2020
City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subti tle
Community Needs Workshop for 2021-22 Grant Programs
Page 2
Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Program Overview
The City’s GIA program serves to provide financial support to non-profit organizations that
promote the economic and social well-being of the citizens of San Luis Obispo. Programs
requesting funding must be tied explicitly to at least one established funding priority and must be
consistent with the Purpose statement outlined in HRC bylawsi. The City has an estimated
~$150,000 available for grant awards.
NEXT STEPS
After the Community Needs Workshop, the HRC will develop funding priorities for the CDBG
and GIA grants, which will be forwarded on to the City Council for consideration. The HRC will
then review the various grant applications and make funding recommendations in light of the
priorities. Applications for CDBG grants are due on October 23, 2020 to the County of San Luis
Obispo, and applications for the GIA grants will become available on December 1, 2020.
ATTACHMENT
A – 2020 Community Needs Workshop Flyer
i It is the purpose of the Human Relations Commission (HRC) to advise the Council in its actions to create an
environment within the City in which all persons can enjoy equal rights and opportunities regardless of race, religion,
sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or physical, mental or economic status. The Human Relations Commission
shall make recommendations to the City Council or the City Manager on how these social concerns and human needs
can best be addressed.
OR
by clicking the message
cloud icon to the right