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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Action Partnership (Families in Transition) HSG 2024-25 ApplicationHuman Services Grant Application 2024-25 Application Questions Part 1 Basic Information 1. Organization Name * Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc. (CAPSLO) 2. Fiscal Agent (if different than above)* same as above 3. Project/Program Name * Families in Transition (FIT) 4. Requested Amount * $10,000 5. Name of Person Completing Application * Paula Reynolds 6. Name of Person for Grant Communication and Contract for Grant Cycle (if different from above)* Elizabeth “Biz” Steinberg 7. Organization Mailing Address * 1030 Southwood Dr., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 8. Phone * (805) 544-4355 9. Email * esteinberg@capslo.org Part 2 Organizational Information 1. Purpose/Mission Statement * Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc., addresses the causes of poverty, empowering low-income people to achieve self-sufficiency through community-based collaborations and programs. 2. Briefly describe your organization’s purpose, vision, primary activities, and operating structures * Established in 1965 as a part of the nationwide network of community action agencies to fight the war on poverty, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc., (CAPSLO) is comprised of two client-focused service areas, Child, Youth & Family Services and Community Services with 28 programs within six divisions: Adult Day Care; Child, Youth, & Family Services (including Head Start, Child Care Resource Connection, and Family and Community Support Services); Energy Services, Health & Prevention; Homeless Services; and Supportive Services for Veteran Families. These divisions and programs are supported by internal administrative services that provide a strong, nimble infrastructure. Community needs are determined by a comprehensive assessment conducted biennially, and a Community Action Plan and Strategic Plan are formed to respond to the population’s needs. CAPSLO has a tripartite board of directors, consisting of 1/3 local government representation, 1/3 low-income representation, and 1/3 community stakeholders. 3. Name of Executive Director * Elizabeth “Biz” Steinberg 4. Name of Board President or Chair * Dee Lacey - President 5. Number of paid staff (full or part-time)* 950 6. Number of volunteers * 580 7. Describe the community(ies) your organization supports * CAPSLO serves over 30,000 economically disadvantaged individuals and families (from pre-birth to senior citizens) throughout 11 California counties annually, with Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Start being the predominant programs outside of San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties. In 2023, 30% of CAPSLO’s clients over age 25 did not graduate high school, compared to 7.9% countywide (U.S. Census QuickFacts, July 2023). Household income for 29% of clients was at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (compared to 11.9% countywide), while 44% were at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. For racial and ethnic breakdown, over 69% were Hispanic/Latino (compared to 23.4% countywide), 1.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 1.6% Black, 13% White. Overall, CAPSLO serves low-income individuals with programs and services that will assist them in lifting themselves out of poverty. The Adult Day Center provides free or low-cost care for individuals with dementia so that their loved ones can go to work during the day. The Health & Prevention Division has two free or low-cost reproductive health clinics and provides prevention education to adolescents. The Family and Community Support Services has several programs to aid at risk families. Energy Services provides utility assistance, weatherization and minor home repair to reduce housing costs. Homeless Services provides 24/7 shelter, case management, and recuperative care for those coming out of the hospital. The community of focus for this grant request is homeless students and their families within the City of San Luis Obispo (SLO) that attend 10 San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) schools. 8. Approximate Annual Budget * 120,634,259 9. Major Sources of Funding * Ninety-nine percent (99%) of CAPSLO’s funding comes from the following governmental agencies: Department of Health and Human Services, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Energy, multiple departments in the State of California, County of San Luis Obispo, and local city governments. Part 3 Project/Program Information 14. In the table below include a minimum of four (4) metrics or performance outcomes that relate to the implementation/success of the project. Examples include: # of SLO City residents served, # of referrals provided to individuals seeking social services. Methods of Evaluation Indicators of Success / Measurable Outcomes Case management notes Provide 10 families (5 homeless families and 5 families at risk of eviction) with housing-related case management services, including housing navigation, accessing credit scores, public housing eligibility, and rental payments schedules with landlords for past-due rent. Case management notes, payment voucher, check stub, and canceled checks Provide 5-10 families (either homeless or at risk of eviction) with $500-$1,000 of financial assistance for rent, housing applications, rental security deposits, credit score fees, or any other housing fees. Case management notes and a pre/post assessment (baseline vs. 90-day comparison) using the Housing Stability category of CAPSLO’s Self-Sufficiency Matrix. 80% (4 of 5) homeless families will demonstrate an improvement in housing stability after 90 days of housing-related case management services. Case management notes and a Financial Assistance Survey to be completed 90 days after case management begins. 80% (4 of 5) families at risk for eviction will demonstrate an improvement in financial stability after 90 days of housing-related case management services. 1. Please provide an executive summary of proposed project/program * In accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act’s definition of homelessness (that includes families or youth living in multi- family housing, couch surfing, or hotels/motels), CAPSLO is requesting funding from the City of SLO’s Human Services Grant (HRC) to support Families In Transition (FIT), a longstanding program and partnership with SLCUSD focused on supporting homeless students and their families. FIT utilizes family advocates (FAs) as the first point of contact after homeless youth and their families have been identified. The advocates then develop a case plan and provide intensive case management to address and eliminate barriers to youth enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school, with lack of safe and stable housing as a primary focus. Housing-related case management includes assistance with housing navigation, completing rental applications, obtaining credit scores, and direct financial support to secure housing. Funding from HRC will be used to support 10 families with children (five homeless, five at risk for eviction) enrolled in SLCUSD that reside in the City of San Luis Obispo. Activities to be funded include housing-related case management services (described above) and direct financial support to secure and maintain permanent housing for these youth and their families. 2. Total Project Cost?* $10,000.00 3. Requested Project Amount * $10,000.00 4. Please provide a detailed description of proposed project/program * The Need San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) is the second largest school district in San Luis Obispo County, educating students from preschool through the twelfth grade, with over half of its students residing in the City of San Luis Obispo (SLO). The district has the second largest homeless student population of the county ’s four largest school districts. Approximately 9% of students experience homelessness, 35% are socio-economically disadvantaged, and 50% are eligible for the free and reduced meals program (California Department of Education, Dataquest, 2022-2023). SLCUSD students experiencing homelessness are most likely to be from marginalized populations and experiencing multiple self-sufficiency challenges. They are most likely to be young; Latino; an English Language Learner; a student with a disability; and/or live in a temporary shelter. According to California Department of Education district data, 10-12% of students in each of the grades K-2 experienced homelessness (Dataquest, 2022-2023). Although only 30% of SLCUSD students are Latino, 56% of homeless students are Latino. One-quarter (25%) of homeless students are either an English Language Learner or a student with a disability. While only 9% of the county’s homeless students live in temporary shelters, 21% of SLCUSD’s homeless students reside in temporary shelters. Program Request Families In Transition (FIT) provides four FAs to SLCUSD schools to case manage homeless students with the goal of providing support and improving school attendance and academic success. A primary role of the FAs is to secure stable housing for homeless students and their families, assuming that if students have access to safe and stable housing, this will help alleviate chronic absenteeism and support academic learning. In accordance with McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, SLCUSD’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is used to identify each student’s housing status from the beginning of their school enrollment until graduation. Once a student is identified as homeless, the bilingual/bicultural FAs are the first point of contact and act as a mobile “Family Resource Center” by going to individual school sites or directly to the families rather than being solely located at one physical location. FAs will immediately enroll the student and their family into the FIT program, providing a myriad of intensive case management services. Once the youth and their family are enrolled in the program, the FA works closely with CAPSLO’s Homeless Services Center and coordinates case management services to ensure there is seamless and unduplicated housing advocacy and support being provided to homeless families in the City of San Luis Obispo. While the family advocates manage and provide many non-housing-related services to families (e.g., enrolling them in public benefit programs, food assistance, counseling, child care, tutoring, etc.), funding from HRC will solely be used for securing stable housing for homeless families. HRC funding will provide 90 days of housing-related case management for 10 families for eviction, including budget planning, housing navigation, assistance with accessing credit scores, rental applications, and housing-related fees. Additionally, the family advocate will work with property managers, landlords, or public housing programs to provide direct financial assistance for housing application fees, first month’s rent, accessing credit scores, housing security deposits, or payments for unpaid rent. CAPSLO will write a voucher for the financial assistant payment, obtain the tax ID of the landlord or property manager, and provide a check to them directly, not the client. Families facing eviction will receive financial planning support and develop budgeting skills and a sustainable budget plan that will reduce the likelihood of another eviction notice being issued. While the FA works with the family for 90 days providing housing assistance; they will also link these families to community services for which they are able eligible to offset the family’s current expenses and free up funds that can be applied to future rent payments. 5. Describe the community/population the project/program will support.* The City of San Luis Obispo benefits when children and youth stay and succeed in school, and less families are homeless. Education is often disrupted for homeless children and youth, and difficulty accessing and connecting homeless families to community support services puts them at increased risk of instability. The FIT program ensures that case management for these families is consistent and ongoing throughout the year, eliminating the gap in services. 6. The HRC has identified homeless prevention including affordable and alternative housing, supportive services, and transitional housing as the main funding priority. Does your grant request meet this funding priority?* Yes No 7. Which other priority of the non-ranked HRC funding priorities does your request support? Please check the appropriate boxes:* Hunger and malnutrition prevention Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need Services for seniors and/or people with disabilities in need Supportive and developmental services for children and youth in need Services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in marginalized communities 8. Provide timeline for project * It is an unfortunate reality that the price of rental housing assistance quickly consumes even the maximum award allotted in this funding stream. CAPSLO makes efforts to distribute the financial assistance throughout the fiscal year the grant is awarded. 9. Identify any partnerships/collaborations that are supporting this project/program and their roles * CAPSLO has a long-standing tradition of partnering with organizations to enhance, not duplicate, services. With the commitment to providing participants with easier access to care, CAPSLO has worked diligently to collaborate with providers to bring necessary services on- site. CAPSLO is the lead agency in Coordinated Entry, in coordination with 5Cities Homeless Coalition (5CHC) and El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO). Through the development of a shared case management data system, Client Track, CAPSLO is able to provide assessments and connect individuals and families to the most appropriate services countywide. CAPSLO routinely works with other organizations including those within the SLO Supportive Housing Consortium, and actively advocates with the partner organizations that provide permanent housing, including Transitions Mental Health Association (TMHA) and the Housing Authority (HASLO). CAPSLO refers appropriate clients to other organizations, including the Food Bank, HomeShare SLO, Los Osos Cares, Dignity Health, Tenet Health, Community Counseling Center, CenCal Health, Community Health Center of the Central Coast Restorative Partners, Legal Assistance Foundation, Middlehouse, Casa Solana, and Family Resource Centers throughout the county. 10. Describe your plan for sustainability beyond the City’s one-year award funding * The operation and maintenance costs for FIT are funded through a combination of local government grants, private foundation grants, and from community donations through the fundraising efforts of CAPSLO. However, the FIT program depends on grant funding from the County of San Luis Obispo for its ongoing operations. 11. Describe the plan for promoting this project, program, or service within the City of San Luis Obispo * Given the high costs of rent in the City of SLO, and because the program will use half of the requested funding for rental assistance, there are not enough resources to fund the total need in the City. There is no need to promote the program, as CAPSLO will be able to fully expend funds with the 164 youth and their families served per year. 12. Est. Number of people served through this project/program * 10 13. Est. Number of SLO City Residents served through this project/program * 163 Attachments Copy of Organization’s most recent complete fiscal year financial statement (for the previous year because it is the middle of the current fiscal year) including a statement of financial position/balance sheet, statement of revenue & expenses/income statement, profit & loss. Financial Statement * 2023 Audit CAPSLO Financial Statements Final.pdf 562.8KB 1-page Organization Chart * CAPSLO Org Chart 09.23.pdf 128.26KB Document Certifying Federal Tax-Exempt Status * IRS Determination Letter.pdf 379.75KB 1-page detailed budget for the program including how the total requested amount of grant would be spent.   Budget * 2024-25 FIT HRC budget.xlsx 11.89KB 1-page DEI statement that includes: Applicants’ understanding and application of DEI Affirming language that creates access and a sense of belonging in our community apart from grant Explain how this project will advance DEI in the City of SLO DEI Statement * DEI for HRC.pdf 89.1KB W^>KŽĂƌĚŽĨŝƌĞĐƚŽƌƐƵĚŝƚŽŵŵŝƩĞĞWůĂŶŶŝŶŐŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ,ƵŵĂŶZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ&ŝŶĂŶĐĞŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ>ŝĂŝƐŽŶŽŵŵŝƩĞĞƐdžĞĐƵƟǀĞŽŵŵŝƩĞĞŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶƐŝƌĞĐƚŽƌDĂƌĐŝ^ƉĞƌůŽŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ>ĂƵƌĂDŽƵŶƚĂŝŶͲdƵůůĞƌ&ƌŽŶƚKĸĐĞZŽƐĂǀŝůĂĂƌůŽƩĂ,ĞƌďƐƚƌĞŝƚsŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌWƌŽŐƌĂŵ,ƵŵĂŶZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĂŶĚWĂLJƌŽůůƌĞŶĚĂŶDĐDĂŚŽŶŚŝĞĨdžĞĐƵƟǀĞKĸĐĞƌůŝnjĂďĞƚŚ͞ŝnj͟^ƚĞŝŶďĞƌŐĚ,ŽĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĞƐŽĂƌĚ^ĞůĞĐƟŽŶŽŵŵŝƩĞĞŽĂƌĚEŽŵŝŶĂƟŽŶŽŵŵŝƩĞĞDŝŐƌĂŶƚĂŶĚ^ĞĂƐŽŶĂů,ĞĂĚ^ƚĂƌƚWŽůŝĐLJŽƵŶĐŝů,ĞĂĚ^ƚĂƌƚWŽůŝĐLJŽƵŶĐŝůŚŝůĚ͕zŽƵƚŚĂŶĚ&ĂŵŝůLJ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐDĞůŝŶĚĂ^ŽŬŽůŽǁƐŬŝŚŝůĚĂƌĞZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶ^ŚĂŶĂWĂƵůƐŽŶ,ĞĂĚ^ƚĂƌƚͬĂƌůLJ,ĞĂĚ^ƚĂƌƚͬ^ƚĂƚĞŚŝůĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚĚƌŝĂŶĂĂƌƌŽŶDŝŐƌĂŶƚĂŶĚ^ĞĂƐŽŶĂů,ĞĂĚ^ƚĂƌƚ&ůŽƌĂŚĂĐŽŶ&ĂŵŝůLJĂŶĚŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ^ƵƉƉŽƌƚ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐDĂƌŝĂŶŶĂ'ƵƟĞƌƌĞnjŚŝĞĨKƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐKĸĐĞƌ^ƵnjĂŶŶĞ>ĞĞĚĂůĞ&ĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ:ĂƐŽŶ>Ăů&K:ŽĂŶ>ŝŵŽǀ/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶdĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJƌŝĂŶƌĂǁĨŽƌĚŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJWƌŽŐƌĂŵƐŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ>ĂǁƌĞŶZĂŵŽƐĚƵůƚĂLJĞŶƚĞƌDĂƌĂtŚŝƩĞŶŶĞƌŐLJ:ŝŵDĐEĂŵĂƌĂ,ĞĂůƚŚΘWƌĞǀĞŶƟŽŶZĂLJĞ&ůĞŵŝŶŐ,ŽŵĞůĞƐƐ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ:ĂĐŬ>ĂŚĞLJ^ƵƉƉŽƌƚŝǀĞ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐĨŽƌsĞƚĞƌĂŶ&ĂŵŝůŝĞƐƌĂŶĚLJ'ƌĂŚĂŵKƵƚƌĞĂĐŚĂŶĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ>ŽƌĞŶ>ĞŝĚŝŶŐĞƌWůĂŶŶŝŶŐĂŶĚWƌŽŐƌĂŵĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ^ĂůůLJZŽŐŽǁ͕DĂŶĂŐĞƌtĞůůŶĞƐƐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚŽƌůŝŶĂ,ĂŐĂƌ&ŝŶĂŶĐĞͬWWƵƌĐŚĂƐŝŶŐ COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES 2024‐25 GRANTS‐IN‐AID BUDGET Hrs/Day FTE Mos/Yr Hrs of  Svc Total  Expense PERSONNEL Family Advocate TBD 0.55 6.88% 12.00       2,080     3,218             TOTAL SALARIES 3,218             FRINGE BENEFITS Payroll Taxes 246                 Health & Disability Insurance 772                 Worker's Compensation Insurance 23                   TOTAL FRINGE BENEFITS 1,041             Subtotal Personnel 4,259             DIRECT CLIENT ASSISTANCE (eviction prevention)5,000             TOTAL DIRECT CHARGES 9,259             INDIRECT CHARGES @ 8% 741                 TOTAL BUDGET 10,000$         C. CAPSLO’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement 1. Applicant’s understanding and application of DEI Nearly 60 years ago, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO) and 1000+ community action agencies nationwide were established in the context of the civil rights movement, as part of President Lyndon B Johnson’s War on Poverty, and in that spirit, continues to denounce and fight against all acts of racism, oppression, brutality, and dehumanization. In June 2020, the Board of Directors formally adopted an agency Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) statement: “To support a workplace that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all employees.” CAPSLO strives to create an environment that promotes Respect and Fairness – one of its Core Values. As part of the community action network, CAPSLO values diversity and is dedicated to treating people with the utmost dignity and respect. The agency is committed to achieving a vision centered on respect and on the dignity, security, freedom from hardship, safety, health, and well-being of everyone’s, and to creating solutions to social disparities that impact the social determinants of health. As part of its mission, CAPSLO’s staff work toward a future where all people have an equal opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency. Further, discrimination is a violation of CAPSLO's policies and values, as stated in its Employee Manual. CAPSLO prohibits retaliation against any employee who reports possible violations of agency policies. Each year, CAPSLO’s Planning Department reports the complete demographics of CAPSLO’s clients to the Board of Directors, and those demographics are compared to the most recent US Census, to ensure no categories of citizens are underrepresented in those we serve. 2. Affirming language that creates access and a sense of belonging in our community apart from a grant. Activities that create access and sense of belonging include: • Formation of a DEI committee, which sponsors monthly learning activities and book club; conducts agency-wide “lunch and learns”; oversees content on our intranet, which contains rich and diverse resources; and a DEI observance calendar. • CAPSLO’s client intake form was revised to be inclusive of all genders. • Five strategic planning goals around DEI were crafted with the help of consultants and integrated into the agency’s 2023-2025 strategic plan. • CAPSLO has an organization on retainer that provides Mixteco translation services. • The agency’s 2023 employee satisfaction survey, which for the first time included demographic questions, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability status as a means to disaggregate responses and identify solutions. Results were shared agency-wide. • Recruitment practices that seek individuals from various race and ethnic backgrounds for board, leadership and staff positions and review of compensation data across the organization and by staff levels to identify disparities by race/ethnicity. • Signage at each site stating “CAPSLO welcomes everyone (all races/ethnicities, religions/beliefs, nationalities, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities/disabilities, and ages). We stand with you, you are safe here.” 3. Explain how this project will advance DEI in the City of San Luis Obispo. Homeless families and children can be invisible, less able to advocate for themselves, and the homeless prevention and case management services proposed will help advance equity in finding and maintaining housing, basic needs, and other critical resources.