HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5a. Review 2024-25 Human Services Grant Funding Recommendations Item 5a
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 4/3/2024
Item Number: 5a
FROM: Nestor Veloz-Passalacqua, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager
Phone Number: (805) 781-7073
E-mail: nveloz@slocity.org
SUBJECT: REVIEW 2024-25 HUMAN SERVICES GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL
RECOMMENDATION
Receive preliminary recommendations from the Human Services Grant Subcommittee
and provide a recommendation to the City Council for final approval.
BACKGROUND
The Human Services Grant (HSG), formerly titled Grants-in-Aid, had a Council approved
name changed in 2022 to better reflect the objectives of the grant program. The HSG
program provides financial support to non-profit organization that promote the economic
and social well-being of the community members of San Luis Obispo. Grants are made
to local organizations or agencies based in neighboring communities whose services
contribute to the quality of life of City residents. The 2024-25 HSG application cycle
opened on January 22, 2024, and closed on March 1, 2024, and a total of 37 applications
were received. Three commissioners from the Human Relations Commission (HRC) met
as a subcommittee on Tuesday, March 12, and Tuesday, March 19, 2024, to review, and
provide initial recommendations for the rest of the Human Relations Commission to
consider.
The HSG has total available funds of $150,000 to distribute and the subcommittee took
into consideration the main funding priority, which is: homeless prevention including
affordable and alternative housing, supportive services, and transitional housing. City
Council also included additional priorities, which include 1) hunger and malnutrition
prevention; 2) supportive physical and mental health services for those in need; 3)
services for seniors and/or people with disabilities in need; 4) supportive and
developmental services for children and youth in need; a nd 4) services encouraging
diversity, equity, and inclusion in marginalized communities.
NEXT STEPS
Receive preliminary funding recommendations and discuss the subcommittee’s findings,
and vote on the final funding recommendations for Council.
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Item 5a
ATTACHMENTS
A - 2024-25 Human Services Grant Review Subcommittee Funding Recommendations
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2024-25 Human Services Grant Review Subcommittee Funding Recommendations
Organization Project or Program Description of Project/Program Requested
Amount
Recommended
Amount
1 5 Cities Homeless
Coalition
Homeless Prevention &
Rapid Re-Housing
This program provides wrap-around services including case management and direct
financial assistance with a special emphasis on the housing support program. It will ensure
services are low-barrier and accessible and assist them to resolve their housing crisis
before focusing on other non-housing related services. The use of the funds will be for
rental assistance and relocation stabilization (staff & application fees and deposit).
$20,000 $10,000
2
Big Brothers Big
Sisters of San Luis
Obispo County
Mentoring to Help
Disadvantaged Youth
Meet their Full Potential
This program provides professional caseworkers to pair and sustain mentoring
relationships for disadvantaged youth residing SLO. Caseworkers (bilingual) will screen,
train, pair with a mentor, support, assess, and provide referrals to address physical, mental
health, and developmental service needs, including connections to hunger prevention
programs. The funds will be used for local government/schools and for staff salaries.
$10,000 $0
3 CASA of San Luis
Obispo County, Inc.
General SLO CASA
Program Support
This program advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the
court system. CASA recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers who advocate for this
vulnerable population with the goal of ensuring that each and every child grows up in a
safe, nurturing, and permanent home. The funds will be used for rent and utilities.
$20,000 $10,000
4 City Farm 2025 Youth
Empowerment Program
This program supports the Summer of 2025, City Farm SLO’s Youth Empowerment
Program (YEP) will provide 1,500 individual instruction hours to 35 teens. 5,000 pounds of
produce will be delivered to the SLO Food Bank as a result of programming, impacting
thousands of residents. The funds will be used for two facilitators, a farmer, food and
beverage, tools and materials, and liability insurance.
$15,000 $6,974
5
Community Action
Partnership of SLO
County
Homeless
Prevention/Stable
Housing Services
This program will provide emergency financial assistance to residents in households in
SLO that are at risk of being evicted and need help with a rental payment, or who need
support securing housing with first month’s rent and/or a security deposit. The funds will be
used for financial assistance payments and "indirect expenses @8%".
$10,000 $10,000
6
Community Action
Partnership of SLO
County
Families in Transition
(FIT)
This program is a long-standing program and partnership with SLCUSD focused on
supporting homeless students and their families. This project is intended to support 10
families with children (five homeless, five at risk for eviction) enrolled in SLCUSD that
reside in the city. The funds will be used for housing-related case management services
(described above) and direct financial support to secure and maintain permanent housing
for these youth and their families.
$10,000 $0
7 Community
Counseling Center
Sharing the Therapeutic
Space: Professional and
Affordable
Psychotherapy Options
for Underprivileged
Populations in the City
of San Luis
Obispo
This program supports the small collective of volunteer therapists and coordinators of a
flourishing organization that serves thousands of low-income residents, students, and
unhoused individuals and provides training opportunities to current and future mental
health professionals. The funds will be used towards 3 salaries, telehealth annual fee,
rent/mortgage, and operating expenses. $5,000 $0
8 Corazon Latino
Support Groups -
Corazon Latino Central
Coast
This program will have reoccurring focus groups where marginalized communities will
have access to multiple agencies providing information and support regarding homeless
prevention, hunger and malnutrition prevention, language services, and physical/mental
health services. It also aims to provide childcare, food, and ongoing rotation of partner
agencies at these support groups. The funds will be used towards 5 salaries and food &
beverage.
$20,000 $0
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9 Diversity Coalition
BIPOC Board
Leadership Training
Program
This project supports the ongoing efforts of the BIPOC Board Leadership program that
conducts 2 trainings per year with 12-15 diverse BIPOC participants, that is followed by
board placement assistance for BIPOC individuals with nonprofit boards. It also supports
their partnership with Spokes in providing DEI trainings to agencies aiming to diversify their
boards. The funds will be used for staff salary, training materials, and meals for cohort.
$10,000 $0
10 Family Matters
Consulting
Circle of Security -
Prevention Program
This program aims to address the systematic injustices marginalized children experience
in the education system. This is done by addressing the challenges by implementing
evidence-based interventions with Circle of Security focused on promoting equity and
inclusion in early childhood education. The funds will be used for two facilitators and one
program coordinator who will provide accessible support groups.
$15,000 $0
11 Food Bank of SLO
County
No-Cook Bags for SLO
County Residents
Experiencing
Homelessness
This program will provide continued funding for our No-Cook Bags program, bags of
portable foods designed for homeless residents who do not have access to a kitchen an d
cannot benefit from typical Food Bank distribution items. This program has proven to be
very successful in the City of San Luis Obispo, with approximately 1,500 No -Cook Bags
distributed each month to homeless residents of the city to ensure access to nutritious
meals. The funds will be used to purchase food for program.
$20,000.00 $0
12 Hospice of SLO
County
Caregiver Support and
Grief Counseling
This program is meant to offer a variety of services to help keep home caregivers healthy
and well as they care for a loved one with a life-limiting diagnosis. The funds for this
program will be to support the personnel costs associated with sustaining the Caregiver
Support and Grief Counseling program so that they can meet the community’s ongoing
need for in-home caregiver support and grief counseling services.
$20,000 $0
13 Housing Authority
San Luis Obispo
Housing Stability with
Supportive Housing
Program
This program's objectives include housing stability, transitioning from homelessness and
rapid-rehoused and evection prevention. The funds will be focused on 4 areas including
transportation, hunger, transitional housing, and incentives and this program intends to
serve 1,099 residents in the city.
$20,000 $10,000
14 Independent Living
Resource Center
Disability Rights and
Cultural Awareness in
San Luis Obispo
The program will focus on providing a series of workshops to community members in two
key areas Workshop Focus #1: Advocacy Skill Development and Workshop Focus #2:
Disability Inclusion in the Workplace, followed by a Disability Culture Night. The funds wi ll
be for workshop consultant, travel, lodging, space, supplies, support, and access
accommodations.
$8,691 $0
15 Jack's Helping Hand
Assistance for Single
Mothers of Children with
Special Needs in the
City of San Luis Obispo
This program is designed to empower and enable families, professionals, and the broader
community to meet the unique physical, mental, and medical needs of special children and
young adults under the age of 21 within SLO County. There are currently 35 children
receiving direct assisted, 54% of whom are being cared for by a single or divorced parent.
The funds will be used for food gift cards, lodging for out of town medical appointments,
transportation/fuel expenses, medical equipment, medical bills and emergency needs.
$10,000 $0
16
Jewish Family
Services of San
Luis Obispo
Homeless Support
Services
This program will provide necessary support services to the homeless population of by
offering services such as: DMV registration, vehicle insurance, car repair, and gas cards;
additional needed assistance for items such as: storage, food, impound fees, propane, rent
and deposits, medical and legal expenses. The grant will be used for operating and
administrative costs.
$7,300 $7,300
17 Literacy for Life The Literacy Program
This program's mission is to recruit and train community members to become volunteer
tutors to work one-on-one with learners and guide them to set and meet their individual
literacy learning goal (s). The goals can be as vary by the needs of the student. The funds
will be used for general operating expenses. $10,000 $10,000
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18
Long Term Care
Ombudsman
Services of San
Luis Obispo County
Ombudsman Services
This program has services for people who live in long term care facilities (skilled nursing or
residential care facilities for the elderly) or who are seeking information about facilities.
Services include resident advocacy, facility monitoring visits, complaint investigations and
resolution, information and assistance, and systemic advocacy. The funds will be used for
staff salaries.
$5,000 $5,000
19 Lumina Alliance
Emergency Shelter
Program for Sexual
Assault and Intimate
Partner Violence
Survivors
This program is the only agency on the Central Coast that operates a rape crisis center
and has shelters that are consistently at capacity and receive an ever-increasing number
of requests for services and calls to the 24/7 Crisis & Information Line. The funds will be
used for utilities, equipment, repair, and food to support general operating costs, as well as
any necessary repairs, for our shelters that arise.
$20,000 $0
20 One Cool Earth Garden Education
Program
The project will support our programming at four (4) SLO school gardens, providing year-
long nutrition learning for 1669 students. A Garden Educator is provided to school
campuses who teach a series of 108 seasonally-aligned, hands-on, and standard-based
lessons per school per year. The Garden Educator will also hold two (2) community garden
workdays and one family cooking night per school. The funds will be used for educator
wages, garden supplies, and cooking supplies.
$5,000 $0
21 PathPoint
Independent Living
Technology for People
with I/DD
This program will provide independent living technology that will enable people with
intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities served in the Independent Living
Services (ILS) and Coordinated Family Supports (CFS) to learn the skills necessary to
retain stable housing, live productive lives, and achieve maximum independence. The
funds will be used for smart home hubs, automated medication dispensers, tablets, visual
alert systems, livescribe pens, smart cooking devices, smart televisions, smartwatches,
and electric lift desks.
$15,000 $0
22
People's Self-Help
Housing
Corporation
SLO Supportive
Housing Program for
Low-Income
Households
This program will provide an average of 16 hours of service every week benefitting
PSHH’s San Luis Obispo residents. New residents receive information about SHP services
upon move-in from Residence Managers, who live onsite. Managers also provide
additional outreach whenever a resident speaks to them about a particular difficulty with
which social workers could assist.
$20,000 $0
23
Pregnancy and
Parenting Support
of SLO County
Nurture SLO Families
This program provides local families with emotional support, practical assistance and
connections to community resources from pregnancy through early childhood. They offer
free psychotherapy with trained clinicians through partnership with Community Counseling
Center. The funds will be used for 3 staff positions, rent, program supplies and staff
training.
$15,000 $0
24 RACE MATTERS
SLO Shop Talk
This project seeks funds to support 12 monthly programs centered on Black wellness and
healing, as well as wellness and healing for other communities of color, through our
program, “Shop Talk,” which advances health equity and well being through clinician -led
discussion groups. The funds will be used for all costs (staff, honoraria, facility rental,
admin, cleaning, marking, food, and supplies.
$10,000 $0
25 Restorative
Partners, Inc. Opportunity to Fund
These programs designed to assist individuals facing financial barriers, mental health
issues, and substance abuse challenges as they reintegrate into our community. This year,
they expect to assist 80 individuals as they work to overcome homelessness,
unemployment, and stigma. The funds will be used for client's emergency needs.
$10,000 $6,974
26
San Luis Obispo
Child Development
Resource Center
Child and Family Play
Therapy Program
This program will fund the therapy team in providing additional counseling and
rehabilitation services. Grant funds will expand services, accommodating 20 additional
therapy clients annually. The funds will be used to provide 325 therapy hours and 8 hours
of professional development, focusing on cultural competencies. $10,000 $0
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27
San Luis Obispo
Committee for
Education on
Alcoholism, dba
Middle House
Alumni Housing
This project seeks to help clients of Middle House to relocate to independent living after a
satisfactory stay at Middle House, which is difficult to find housing due the extreme
expense of pre-rental requirements (i.e.., security deposit, first & last months’ rent, etc.). $6,250 $6,250
28
San Luis Obispo
Committee for
Education on
Alcoholism, dba
Middle House
Homeless Prevention
This project seeks to help clients of Middle House with the opportunity to continue and
improve their path of recovery and wellness in a safe, healthy and appropriate
environment. $5,600 $5,600
29
San Luis Obispo
County Bicycle
Coalition, dba Bike
SLO County
Cycling Without Age
The new Bike SLO County program, Cycling Without Age, addresses social isolation for
seniors by offering bicycle rides for those who can no longer cycle. The funds will be used
for materials, marketing, insurance, and background checks to increase volunteer efforts. $5,500 $0
30
San Luis Obispo
Legal Assistance
Foundation
Senior Legal Services
This program provides assistance to approximately 2,000 SLO County residents in need of
legal assistance or referrals to other resources, 700+ being seniors. SLSP’s resulting
caseload of 250+ clients each year includes civil matters such as homelessness
prevention, elder abuse, consumer finance, government benefits appeals, and preparing
for incapacity/end-of-life. The funds will be used for all operating costs.
$20,000 $0
31 Senior Nutrition
Program Meals that Connect
This program strives to meet the growing needs to feed the senior population, especially
those who are at or below the poverty level. The funds will be used to cover food costs,
kitchen staff labor, supplies, rent, transportation cost for our San Luis Obispo dining site at
the United Church of Christ Congregational.
$15,000 $7,500
32 Shower the People Shower the People
The program will continue to provide access to a free shower to the homeless at our
current four (4) sites in San Luis Obispo. It provides clients with a shower as well as a new
pair of underwear, socks, t-shirts, a comb and hand sanitizer. $20,000 $20,000
33 SLO County
UndocuSupport
Direct Housing Aid for
Immigrant Families
This program is intended to provide aid to local undocumented focused community -based-
organizations that directly interface with the undocumented population to provide direct
housing aid in the form of rental assistance, security deposit, and/or utility payment to
avoid shut-off. The funds will be used for grants, staff, and administrative fees.
$7,442 $7,442
34 SLO Noor
Foundation
Whole Community Care
Project
This program will open a solely owned and operated mobile health clinic in addition to
expanding capacity at its existing two clinic sites in San Luis Obispo. It will provide new
and existing clinical programs, a new care coordination program, and a new co mmunity
outreach campaign to better reach and serve “hard-to-reach” populations in the City of San
Luis Obispo. The funds will be used for staffing and program services.
$20,000 $0
35 Smart Share
Housing Solutions
Community Housing
Provisions/Homeless
Prevention
The program is a two-pronged approach, providing immediate direct housing to City
residents and planning for broader longer term housing support in upcoming years through
the Waterman Village Residency Plan. The funds will be used for research, training,
stakeholder input, draft review and final draft.
$14,460 $5,960
36 Transitions Mental
Health Association
Growing Grounds
Downtown
This program is one of three Growing Grounds social enterprises that provides vocational
training and paid employment to 20 TMHA clients with the hopes of adding 4 clients, with a
focus on individuals who are at risk of homelessness. The funds will be used for staff
salaries, client wages, PR taxes, credit card/service charges, insurance, and
telecommunication.
$20,000 $10,000
37 United Way of San
Luis Obispo
Community -Driven
Initiative in San Luis
Obispo: Preventing
Poverty and Building a
Sustainable Community
This program focuses on two primary areas of impact that include community collaboration
and poverty prevention by providing tax resources, a resource fair, a financial literacy
program, and by increasing volunteer engagement. The funds will be used for staff
salaries, administrative costs, advertising, "miscellaneous," and platform subscriptions.
$20,000 $11,000
TOTAL $495,243 $ 150,000
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