HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5b. Human Services Grant Community Needs Workshop Item 5b
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 9/3/2025
Item Number: 5b
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, DEI Administrative Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: HUMAN SERVICES GRANT COMMUNITY NEEDS GRANT WORKSHOP
RECOMMENDATION
The Human Relations Commission to take public feedback and vote on the funding
priorities and information for the Human Services Grant as deliberated during the
meeting.
BACKGROUND
Every two years, the Human Relations Commission (HRC) will review the funding
priorities for the Human Services Grant. This process began last month with an initial
review of the revised funding priorities and information for the Human Services Grant at
the August 6, 2025 HRC meeting. The next and current step is to hold a Community Need
Grant Workshop to allow the public to provide comments on current human service needs
in the community as it pertains to the Human Services Grant. This input will be used by
the HRC to review, update, and approve funding priorities for the next two Human
Services Grant cycles.
The purpose of the Human Services Grant is to provide financial support to non-profit
organizations that promote the economic and social well-being of its community
members. In 2025-26, the Human Services Grant had $150,000 total to distribute to local
nonprofits and the main funding priority was:
Homelessness prevention, including affordable, alternative, transitional
housing, and supportive services
To allow for maximum flexibility for applicants, the grant had additional secondary funding
priorities, which would only be funded if all qualified applicants who met the main priority
were allocated funding first. The secondary priorities included (not listed in order of
importance):
Hunger and malnutrition prevention
Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need
Services for seniors, veterans and/or people with disabilities in need
Supportive, developmental, and care services for children and youth in need
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Item 5b
Services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in marginalized
communities, including access to language services
To more completely align with the City Council’s primary funding priority—homelessness
prevention—the Office of DEI has updated the Human Services Grant guidelines and
funding priorities. These revisions were shared with the HRC for review ahead of the
current Community Needs Grant Workshop. HRC had a couple of edits which have been
incorporated in Attachment A.
While homelessness prevention remains a core focus, the updated guidelines expand
eligible funding uses to include related services such as street outreach, emergency
shelter, and hygiene services. Through these changes, the Office of DEI is working to
ensure that Human Services Grant funding directly supports efforts to address the
ongoing homelessness crisis, while maintaining flexibility for other grantees who address
various human service needs.
Once the Human Services Grant funding information and priorities are finalized, they will
go to City Council for approval and adoption.
ATTACHMENTS
A - Revised Draft 2026-27 Human Services Grant Funding Information and Priorities
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2026-27 Human Services Grant (HSG) Program
Grant Information – Updated Draft – 8/6/25
PURPOSE
The City of San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission (HRC) Human Services Grant (HSG)
Program provides financial support to non-profit organizations that promote the economic and
social well-being of its citizens.
FUNDING PRIORITIES
Main Funding Priority:
For the 2026-27 Fiscal Year, the main funding for the City of San Luis Obispo will be preventing
and addressing homelessness. More specifically, the City will prioritize funding services that:
1) Provide permanent housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve those
experiencing homelessness
2) Provide homelessness prevention activities that can prevent homelessness or serve
those experiencing homelessness
3) Provide interim housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve those
experiencing homelessness
4) Provide non-housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve those
experiencing homelessness
Category 1: Permanent Housing Solutions
Eligible Use Category Examples
Rapid Rehousing/Rental
Subsidies
Rental subsidies; landlord incentives (such as security
deposits, holding fees, funding for needed repairs, landlord
relationship management costs); and move-in expenses.
Operating Subsidies for
Permanent Housing
Operating subsidies in new and existing affordable or
supportive housing units serving people experiencing or at risk
of homelessness, new or existing residential care facilities.
Permanent Housing Services
and Services Coordination
Supportive services for people in Permanent Housing,
including, but not limited to, intensive case management;
coordination of mental health, substance use, or primary care
treatment; other evidence-based supportive services.
Category 2: Homelessness Prevention Activities
Eligible Use Category Examples
Prevention and Diversion
In addition to rapid rehousing and rental subsidies,
prevention programs that prioritize households with incomes
at or below 30% AMI; problem solving and diversion support
programs that prevent people at risk or recently experiencing
homelessness from entering homelessness (such as legal
aid).
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Category 3: Interim Housing Solutions
Eligible Use Category Examples
Interim Housing/Motel or
Hotel Vouchers
Operating expenses for congregate and non-congregate
shelters, emergency shelters, and transitional housing;
vouchers for motels or hotels for short-term stays for people
experiencing homelessness.
Interim Housing Services and
Services Coordination
Supportive services for people in Interim Housing, including,
but not limited to, intensive case management; housing
navigation; coordination of mental health, substance use, or
primary care treatment; other evidence-based supportive
services.
Category 4: Non-Housing Solutions
Eligible Use Category Examples
Services and services
coordination
Street outreach; engagement services; case management;
housing navigation; hygiene services; harm reduction
services; etc.
Operating or administrative
costs for organization
Includes costs incurred to administer homeless services to
City residents, such as salaries, office supplies, rent, etc.
Secondary Funding Priorities:
The following secondary funding priority areas are not listed in order of importance and may not
receive funding:
• Hunger and malnutrition prevention
• Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need
• Services for seniors, veterans, and/or people with disabilities in need
• Supportive, developmental, and care services for children and youth in need
• Services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in marginalized communities,
including access to language services
The Human Relations Commission will first fund all qualified applications that meet the
main funding priority. After qualified main priority applications are funded, the HRC will
consider applications for the secondary funding priorities.
FUNDING EXAMPLES
Examples of previously funded projects, programs, and activities include:
• Direct rental assistance and relocation stabilization housing services.
• Direct financial assistance to residents at risk of being evicted or needing support to secure
housing with the first month’s rent or security deposit.
• Direct financial support to secure and maintain permanent housing for youth and families.
• Funding to support transitional housing and incentives.
• Providing access to showers, clothing, and shower items to individuals experiencing
homelessness.
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• Residential advocacy, facility monitoring visits, complaint investigations, and resolution for
individuals in long term care facilities.
• Covering costs of relocation expenses to independent living conditions after treatment.
• Providing food, household supplies, rent, and transportation cost services targeting the
older adult population.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS
1 Applicants must submit a complete application package within the deadline.
1.1 One-page DEI Statement that includes:
1.1.1 Applicant’s understanding and application of DEI concepts/values.
1.1.2 Affirming language that creates access and a sense of belonging to all
community members.
1.1.3 Explain how the proposal will advance DEI in the City of SLO.
1.2 One-page detailed budget for the proposal including how the total amount requested
will be allocated.
1.3 Organizational chart
1.4 Document certifying Federal Tax-Exempt Status
2 Applications must be submitted through the online portal. Incomplete applications will
not be considered.
3
Grant recipients must comply with the HRC Bylaws which are to create an environment
within the City in which all persons can enjoy equal rights and opportunities regardless
of race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical, mental, or
economic status. HRC Bylaws can be found on the City’s website HERE.
4 Grant recipients must enter into a contract with the City prior to receipt of HSG funds,
located HERE.
5 Grant recipients must complete periodic reports and provide them on a timely basis.
6
Grant recipients must submit a final report at the end of the project/service or at 12
months from start, whichever comes first. Grant recipients are expected to return unused
funds.
7
Grant-funded programs must be available to all City residents, without regard to the
resident’s race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or physical, mental,
or economic status.
8
Grant recipients must adhere to the following definitions when designing grant
applications:
1. People literally experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness
are defined under 24 CFR Section 578.3.
2. Supportive services are defined under 24 CFR Section 578.53.
FUNDING APPLICANT CRITERIA
1 Grants are made only to 501(c)(3) organizations. Organizations without this status will
need to partner with a 501(c)(3) as the lead applicant.
2 100% of the funded activities must occur in the City of San Luis Obispo.
3
Funded activities must primarily serve City residents. Applicants that provide services
to neighboring communities, but also serve a significant number of City residents, will be
considered.
4 Organizations that received previous HSG funding must be in good standing and have
complied with all reporting requirements.
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ADDITIONAL FUNDING INFORMATION
1 Applicants may submit a minimum request of $5,000 and a maximum request of
$20,000. If applying in a partnership, the maximum request amount will be $40,000.
2 A maximum of one (1) grant award is allowed per organization (or per partnership if a
collaborative project).
3
If applying in a partnership, a lead organization must be identified in the application. The
lead organization must be an eligible entity and must act as the fiscal agent. All parties
must enter into the contract.
4 Projects, programs, concepts, and initiatives that leverage existing or other funding
sources to supplement proposal are highly encouraged.
5 Consideration may be provided to proposals who have matching grants secured.
6 Consideration may be provided to projects/programs that have low overhead and
administrative costs.
PROHIBITED USE OF FUNDS
1 Funds CANNOT be used for advancing, campaigning, advocating, promoting, or
highlighting political entities, ballot measures/initiatives, or candidates.
2
Funds CANNOT be used for advancing, advocating, promoting, or highlighting religious
causes, entities, individuals, or activities. Funding CANNOT be used for the purpose of
disseminating religious information in any form.
3 Funds CANNOT be used for profit or personal gain.
FUNDING DECISIONS
The Human Relations Commission (HRC) will exercise discretion when developing funding
recommendations.
The HRC will review, with support from the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, all applications
(that are completed, timely submitted, and meet the funding criteria) and develop funding
recommendations based on the answers and attestations provided in each application, with
guidance and direction from City Council. Please be as specific and detailed in your applications
as possible. Recommendations will be presented to the City Council for approval. Final funding
decisions are at the sole discretion of the City Council. Grants are awarded by available funding
for current grant cycle. Previous grant awards do not guarantee continued funding. This is
a competitive grant process.
The HRC encourages organizations to take innovative, creative approaches to solving
the most prevalent health & human service needs in our community!
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