HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3 - 2021-22 Funding Priorities Staff Report Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report Meeting Date: October 7, 2020
Item Number: 3
DATE: October 7, 2020
FROM: Cara Vereschagin, Housing Coordinator
SUBJECT: Development of 2021-22 Grant Funding Priorities
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing to solicit public comments to develop funding priorities for the upcoming
CDBG and GIA grant programs.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City’s annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Grants-in-Aid (GIA)
review method provides the public with opportunities to provide early input in the grant award
process. Establishing funding priorities is the second step in the procedure, which helps to ensure
an open, inclusive, and fair grant application process. The role of the Human Relations
Commission (HRC) is to solicit public comments in order to create these funding priorities, of
which will be used to develop future grant funding recommendations.
Previously Adopted CDBG and GIA Funding Priorities
After hearing and reviewing public testimony over the past several grant cycles, the HRC has
upheld the recommended funding priorities for both the CDBG and GIA programs. The previous
funding cycle for the 2020-21 program year was no exception, including ranked priorities for the
CDBG program, and one identified area of importance with other remaining, non-ranked
objectives for the GIA program:
Community Development Block Grant (ranked):
1. Provide emergency and transitional shelter, homelessness prevention and services
2. Develop and enhance affordable housing for low and very-low income persons
3. Promote accessibility and/or removal of architectural barriers for the disabled and elderly
4. Enhance economic development (to include seismic retrofit, economic stability, low and
moderate income jobs)
Grants-in-Aid:
Main Priority: Homeless prevention, including affordable and alternative housing, supportive
services and transitional housing
Other Priorities:
• Hunger and malnutrition prevention
• Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need
City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subti tle
Community Needs Workshop for 2021-22 Grant Programs
Page 2
• Services for seniors and/or people with disabilities in need
• Supportive and developmental services for children and youth in need
The HRC is not obligated to keep the previously adopted priorities, and should consider public
testimony received during the Community Needs Workshop, when developing priorities for the
2021-22 program cycle.
NEXT STEPS
Once the HRC develops funding priorities for the CDBG and GIA grants, they will be forwarded
on to the City Council for affirmation or revision. The HRC will then review the various grant
applications and make funding recommendations in light of the priorities. These priorities will also
guide Council’s final funding decisions, when they consider CDBG funding recommendations in
February 2021, and GIA recommendations in Summer 2021.