HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a. REVIEW OF THE 2026-27 HUMAN SERVICES GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVALCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
City of San Luis Obispo
Human Relations Commission
Staff Agenda Correspondence
DATE: April 1, 2026
TO: Chair and Commissioners
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Administrative
Specialist
VIA: Matt Pennon, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager
SUBJECT: Item #4a – Review of the 2026-27 Human Services Grant Subcommittee
Recommendations and Provide a Recommendations to Council for
Approval
The Human Services Grant Subcommittee has created the attached funding
recommendations worksheet to help guide the funding recommendations conversation
for the 2026-27 Human Services Grant under Item 4a.
The worksheet includes the applicant’s request, the Subcommittee’s recommendation,
and their reasoning for such recommendation.
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Human Relations Subcommittee
Human Services Grant 26-27 Funding Recommendations
Our subcommittee approached this review process with clear intention and care. In developing our funding recommendations, we
focused on organizations that strongly align with the City’s primary funding priorities, demonstrate a direct and meaningful impact on
specific populations within the City of San Luis Obispo, and have shown a consistent ability to provide positive value to the
community members they serve.
We also considered each organization’s track record, the clarity of their proposed outcomes, and how their work contributes to the
broader well-being of our community.
With that context, we are pleased to share a summary of our funding recommendations below:
Organization Program Description Req.
Amount
Rec.
Amount Reasoning
CAPSLO
Homeless
Prevention/Stable
Housing Project
This program will provide emergency
financial assistance to City of SLO
households that are at risk of being evicted
and need assistance with a rental payment,
or who need financial assistance to secure
housing. The program will also provide
case management for 6 months. Funds will
be used for financial assistance payments,
case manager salary, and some indirect
expenses.
$20,000 $10,000
CAPSLO continues to demonstrate
a strong and consistent commitment
to serving community members
through programs that provide
meaningful and measurable impact.
The subcommittee recognized the
organization’s ongoing ability to
deliver positive value to the
populations they serve, along with
their established presence and
trusted role within the community.
CASA
Preventing
Homelessness
for Vulnerable
Foster Youth
This project will support partial rent for
CASA’s office, a hub for homelessness
prevention services. CASA volunteers rely
on secure internet access, private office
space, and on-site technology to attend
court hearings alongside their youth at the
CASA office. The office also serves as the
primary location for volunteer trainings,
youth meetings, and coordination with
housing providers, mental health services,
and community resources. Funds will go to
rent for their office in SLO City.
$20,000 $10,000
CASA of SLO County is
recommended for funding due to its
continued impact in supporting
youth in foster care with an
increased risk of housing instability.
CASA plays a critical role in
providing stability and advocacy and
their work helps create pathways
toward long-term well-being and
prevents future experiences of
homelessness.
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Human Relations Subcommittee
Human Services Grant 26-27 Funding Recommendations
Family Care
Network,
Inc.
Pathways to
Stability
This program will provide eviction
prevention and shelter diversion services
for transitional age youth who are at
imminent risk of homelessness and
ineligible for existing housing services. The
program will include short-term, financial
support for eviction prevention, landlord
mediation, and intensive housing
stabilization services. Funds would support
direct costs for the participants, such as
rent and utility assistance and security
deposits.
$20,000 $14,000
Family Care Network, Inc., is
recommended for funding for
providing essential support to
Transitional Aged Youth, a
population that is historically at high
risk of becoming unhoused. FCNI’s
approach includes direct financial
assistance, such as eviction
prevention, combined with
coordinated supportive services.
This program’s layered support
model is impactful and aligns with
the goals of the grant.
Food Bank
No-Cook Bags
for Residents
Experiencing
Homelessness
This program provides bags of portable
foods designed for homeless residents who
do not have access to a kitchen and so
cannot benefit from typical Food Bank
distribution items. No-Cook Bags are
distributed by community partners who
work directly with people experiencing
homelessness, including nonprofits, faith-
based organizations, law enforcement
agencies, and social service providers.
Funds would support the purchase of food
for 30,000 bags.
$15,000 $15,000
The Food Bank Coalition of SLO
County provides direct and
immediate support to individuals
and families experiencing food
insecurity. Food Bank’s ability to
deliver measurable results and a
fundamental need within the
community has a clear and tangible
impact on the well-being of City
residents.
HASLO
Housing Stability
with Supportive
Services
This program prevents homelessness and
strengthens tenancy outcomes for residents
in HASLO housing, with emphasis on
people exiting homelessness, medically
vulnerable residents, seniors, families, and
people with disabilities. Grant funds will
provide targeted, flexible, assistance,
including rental and utility gap support,
move‑in essentials, transportation, and
short‑term food support.
$20,000 $15,000
HASLO was recommended for its
strong alignment with the purpose of
the grant, particularly its focus on
early intervention and housing
stability. HASLO’s ability to support
individuals and families before they
experience homelessness was
recognized as having a significant
and preventative impact within the
community.
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Human Relations Subcommittee
Human Services Grant 26-27 Funding Recommendations
Jewish
Family
Services
SLO City
Emergency
Homelessness
Prevention &
Support Program
This program will provide financial
assistance to individuals experiencing
homelessness or at imminent risk within the
City of SLO. Through referrals from
established City-serving agencies JFS
distributes targeted micro-grants (up to
$200) to remove immediate barriers to
housing stability. Funds would support
services like deposit support, rent gap
funding, gas for Safe Parking participants,
vehicle repairs needed for employment,
storage fees, and others.
$10,000 $10,000
Jewish Family Services of SLO
demonstrated strong alignment with
the City’s funding priorities,
particularly through a clear and
compelling connection to belonging
and community support. The
subcommittee also recognizes the
organization’s collaborative
approach and ability to provide
direct financial assistance to
populations in need.
LTC
Ombudsman
Services of
SLO County
Ombudsman
Services
This program includes resident centered
advocacy, resident empowerment,
information and assistance/referrals,
systemic advocacy, complaint
investigations and resolutions, facility
monitoring visits, eviction prevention,
community education, facility staff trainings,
and witnessing advanced health care
directives for residents in skilled nursing
facilities. Funds would support staff
salaries.
$5,000 $5,000
LTC Ombudsman Services is
recommended for its focused work
supporting older adults, particularly
those at risk of housing instability or
residing in care facilities. The
organization plays a key role in
advocacy, ensuring that a specific
and often overlooked population
receives support, protection, and
access to resources.
Lumina
Alliance
Emergency
Shelter Program
for Sexual
Assault and
Intimate Partner
Violence
Survivors
This program would support the operating
costs of Lumina’s emergency shelter
program in Atascadero and San Luis
Obispo with a total of 26 beds and 4 cribs
for survivors of sexual assault and intimate
partner violence and their children. Funds
would cover a portion of the costs of repair
and maintenance, supplies, food, and staff
time.
$20,000 $15,000
Lumina Alliance is recognized for
providing comprehensive,
wraparound services to a specific
population, including women and
children. Lumina Alliance funding
will directly support services within
the City of San Luis Obispo and
provides complex needs with a
holistic approach.
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Human Relations Subcommittee
Human Services Grant 26-27 Funding Recommendations
Middle
House
Community
Service for
Housing Grant
This project would allow Middle House
residents to volunteer at non-profit
organizations in exchange for housing –
one hour of volunteering would covers one
days rent (i.e. thirty hours of volunteering
covers thirty days rent). The facility
includes: furnished living areas, unlimited
food, hot daily meals, structured drug free
environment, donated clothing, laundry
facilities, internet access, cable TV and
group activities. Funds would support 800
days of rent at $25 per hour.
$20,000 $10,000
Middle House serves a specific and
vulnerable population within the
community, offering long-standing
support for individuals in recovery.
While the population served may be
smaller in number, the depth and
meaningfulness of this program is
large.
Restorative
Partners
Opportunity to
Fund
This program provides assistance to
formerly incarcerated participants facing
significant barriers to employment and
housing, while advancing stability and
community reintegration. Eligible expenses
include short-term rental assistance,
housing application fees, vital identification
documents, public transportation, basic
hygiene supplies, and professional attire for
job interviews and housing appointments.
Funds would support transportation needs,
rental assistance, documents, clothing, etc.
$20,000 $15,000
Restorative Partners is
recommended for its work
supporting individuals re-entering
the community after incarceration.
The organization provides essential
resources such as food, clothing,
and hygiene supplies, helping to
reduce barriers and support
successful reintegration. These
services have a high impact on
long-term stability and community
connection.
Shower the
People
Shower the
People
This program provides mobile shower
services that also include supplies and
clothing for people experiencing
homelessness and operates in SLO 4 days
a week for 3 to 4 hours a day, serving on
average 20-35 guests per day on site.
Funds would support all aspects of the
program including clothing, gas, supplies,
etc.
$15,000 $15,000
Shower the People offers a unique,
mobile service that provides hygiene
support to individuals experiencing
homelessness. Shower the People
offers a low-barrier approach to
services and connects individuals to
additional community resources and
support systems.
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Human Relations Subcommittee
Human Services Grant 26-27 Funding Recommendations
SLO Noor
Foundation
Homelessness
Prevention – City
of San Luis
Obispo Project
This program provides the City of SLO and
its low-income and otherwise underserved
residents with free medical, dental, vision,
and mental health care services. This will
occur at the SLO Noor Free Health Clinics,
which incorporate both brick-and-mortar
clinics, as well as telehealth appointments.
Funds would support personnel and direct
operating costs.
$20,000 $15,000
SLO Noor Foundation is
recommended for its role in
providing accessible healthcare
services to uninsured and unhoused
community members. Through both
clinic-based and mobile services,
the organization delivers critical
medical care to those who might
otherwise go without, addressing a
significant gap in service.
Womenade
SLO, Inc.
Womenade SLO
Housing Support
Fund
This program would support residents of
the City of SLO who have urgent housing
assistance needs, including requests for
partial rent or hotel stays for individuals or
families who are facing imminent eviction,
are experiencing homelessness, or were
unhoused and are working on getting their
housing established. Funds would go to
direct aid.
$6,000 $6,000
Womenade SLO, Inc., is recognized
for its strong community
connections and its ability to provide
direct, flexible support for individuals
experiencing housing instability. The
organization’s low-barrier approach
and responsiveness to urgent needs
provides meaningful and immediate
impact in the community.
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Item 4a
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 4/1/2026
Item Number: 4a
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, DEI Administrative Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: REVIEW OF THE 2026-27 HUMAN SERVICES GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL
RECOMMENDATION
Review the preliminary recommendations from the Human Services Grant Review
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 change in 2022 to better reflect the objectives of the grant program. The HSG
program provides financial support to non-profit organizations that promote the economic
and social well-being of the community members of San Luis Obispo. 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 disability.
The for the 2026-27 grant year, City Council directed that the main funding priority for the
HSG be preventing and addressing homelessness. More specifically, the City will
prioritize funding services that do the following (not listed in order of importance):
Provide permanent housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve
those experiencing homelessness
Provide homelessness prevention activities that can prevent homelessness or
serve those experiencing homelessness
Provide interim housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve those
experiencing homelessness
Provide non-housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve those
experiencing homelessness
There are also secondary funding priorities listed which may only receive funding if
available. These secondary funding priorities are not listed in order of importance and
include 1) hunger and malnutrition prevention, 2) supportive physical and mental health
services for those in need, 3) services for seniors, veterans, and/or people with disabilities
in need, 4) supportive, developmental, and care services for children and youth in need,
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Item 4a
and 5) services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in marginalized communities,
including access to language services. The Human Relations Commission (HRC) 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.
The 2026-27 HSG application cycle opened on January 20, 2026, and closed on February
24, 2026; a total of 25 applications were received for $150,000 of available funding, with
23 applications being moved on for consideration to the HRC Grant Review
Subcommittee. The two applications that were removed from consideration were done so
due to missing documents and ineligibility of the program requested for funding. The HRC
Grant Review Subcommittee consisted of three Commissioners from the HRC who met
on March 18, 2026, and March 19, 2026, to review and provide initial funding
recommendations which will be considered by the entire HRC at this April 1, 2026, public
hearing. At this meeting, HRC will decide on a set of applications recommended for
funding to send to the City Council for their consideration at an upcoming meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
A - 2026-27 Human Services Grant Review Subcommittee Funding Recommendations
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# Organization Project/Program
Name Description of Project/Program Requested
Amount
Recommended
Amount
1 Access Central
Coast
Community Based
Living for Older Adults
and People with
Disabilities
This project will provide comprehensive community living
support services to individuals with disabilities and older
adults residing in SLO County. The program will help
participants in permanent housing maintain stability, will
deliver prevention and diversion assistance for
households at or below 30% AMI, and provide outreach
and engagement services to individuals at risk of or
recently experiencing homelessness. Funds will support
rent and utilities for their SLO City office.
$20,000 $0
2
Assistance
League of SLO
County
Operation School Bell
This program will provide clothing and school supplies to
kindergarten to 12th grade students in need, living and
attending school in SLO County. Clothing sessions are
held 2-3 times a week between 8/2026 and 5/2027.
Funding will support 50 students in receiving clothing, a
book, and supplies.
$20,000 $0
3
Community Action
Partnership of
SLO County
(CAPSLO)
Homeless
Prevention/Stable
Housing Program
This program will provide emergency financial assistance
to City of SLO households that are at risk of being
evicted and need assistance with a rental payment, or
who need financial assistance to secure housing. The
program will also provide case management for 6
months. Funds will be used for financial assistance
payments, case manager salary, and some indirect
expenses.
$20,000 $10,000
4 CASA of SLO
County
Preventing
Homelessness for
Vulnerable Foster
Youth
This project will support partial rent for CASA’s office, a
hub for homelessness prevention services. CASA
volunteers rely on secure internet access, private office
space, and on-site technology to attend court hearings
alongside their youth at the CASA office. The office also
serves as the primary location for volunteer trainings,
youth meetings, and coordination with housing providers,
mental health services, and community resources. Funds
will go to rent for their office in SLO City.
$20,000 $10,000
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5 Corazón Latino Mental Health Support
Groups in City of SLO
The project will be a new Mental Health Support Group
in the City of SLO, reaching an estimated 6-10
participants per session (mix of returning/new
participants). The groups are designed to remove
barriers and improve access to mental health care by
offering them in Spanish, during evening hours, at
accessible community locations, with childcare and
meals provided at no-cost. Funds will support personnel
and operating expenses, like food/beverage and
materials.
$20,000 $0
6 Family Care
Network, Inc. Pathways to Stability
This program will provide eviction prevention and shelter
diversion services for transitional age youth who are at
imminent risk of homelessness and ineligible for existing
housing services. The program will include short-term,
financial support for eviction prevention, landlord
mediation, and intensive housing stabilization services.
Funds would support direct costs for the participants,
such as rent and utility assistance and security deposits.
$20,000 $14,000
7
Food Bank
Coalition of SLO
County
No-Cook Bags for
Residents
Experiencing
Homelessness
This program provides bags of portable foods designed
for homeless residents who do not have access to a
kitchen and so cannot benefit from typical Food Bank
distribution items. No-Cook Bags are distributed by
community partners who work directly with people
experiencing homelessness, including nonprofits, faith-
based organizations, law enforcement agencies, and
social service providers. Funds would support the
purchase of food for 30,000 bags.
$15,000 $15,000
8
Gala Pride &
Diversity Center /
Diversity Coalition
of SLO County
Safe to Stay: A
Collaborative Housing
Justice Project
This program will provide short-term rental subsidies,
security deposits, and move-in expenses to stabilize
households at imminent risk of homelessness;
emergency hotel vouchers for individuals and families
experiencing acute housing crises; and culturally
competent navigation services. Coordinated housing
navigation will also be provided and enhanced by a
Community Forum on Housing. Funds will support direct
costs, staff time, and organization of the Forum.
$40,000 $0
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9 Housing Authority
of SLO (HASLO)
Housing Stability with
Supportive Services
This program prevents homelessness and strengthens
tenancy outcomes for residents in HASLO housing, with
emphasis on people exiting homelessness, medically
vulnerable residents, seniors, families, and people with
disabilities. Grant funds will provide targeted, flexible,
assistance, including rental and utility gap support,
move‑in essentials, transportation, and short‑term food
support.
$20,000 $15,000
10 Jewish Family
Services of SLO
SLO City Emergency
Homelessness
Prevention & Support
Program
This program will provide financial assistance to
individuals experiencing homelessness or at imminent
risk within the City of SLO. Through referrals from
established City-serving agencies JFS distributes
targeted micro-grants (up to $200) to remove immediate
barriers to housing stability. Funds would support
services like deposit support, rent gap funding, gas for
Safe Parking participants, vehicle repairs needed for
employment, storage fees, and others.
$10,000 $10,000
11
Long Term Care
Ombudsman
Services of SLO
County
Ombudsman Services
This program includes resident centered advocacy,
resident empowerment, information and
assistance/referrals, systemic advocacy, complaint
investigations and resolutions, facility monitoring visits,
eviction prevention, community education, facility staff
trainings, and witnessing advanced health care directives
for residents in skilled nursing facilities. Funds would
support staff salaries.
$5,000 $5,000
12 Lumina Alliance
Emergency Shelter
Program for Sexual
Assault and Intimate
Partner Violence
This program would support the operating costs of
Lumina’s emergency shelter program in Atascadero and
San Luis Obispo with a total of 26 beds and 4 cribs for
survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence
and their children. Funds would cover a portion of the
costs of repair and maintenance, supplies, food, and
staff time.
$20,000 $15,000
13 Meals that
Connect
Preventing Hunger
and Homelessness
Through Nutritious
Meals
This program provides congregate dining and home-
delivered meal programs for seniors who are the most
vulnerable to malnutrition, declining health, and loss of
independence. Funds would support food costs, labor,
supplies, transportation, and rent.
$15,000 $0
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14 Middle House Community Service for
Housing Grant
This project would allow Middle House residents to
volunteer at non-profit organizations in exchange for
housing – one hour of volunteering would covers one
days rent (i.e. thirty hours of volunteering covers thirty
days rent). The facility includes: furnished living areas,
unlimited food, hot daily meals, structured drug free
environment, donated clothing, laundry facilities, internet
access, cable TV and group activities. Funds would
support 800 days of rent at $25 per hour.
$20,000 $10,000
15 Mujeres de Acción Rent Stabilization in
SLO City Program
This program will provide $1,000 in direct rental
assistance to 18 families in the City of SLO at imminent
risk of eviction. Mujeres will partner with local agencies,
nonprofits, churches, and schools to identify vulnerable
households. Volunteers will personally deliver checks,
complete a simple bilingual intake, and connect families
to additional services. Funds will support direct aid and
some admin.
$19,875 $0
16 People's Self-Help
Housing (PSHH)
Supportive Housing
Program for At-Risk
Households
This program will provide clinical case management and
behavioral health services to 204 residents of our 141
affordable housing units within the City of SLO. Staff
provide short-term therapeutic intervention while
connecting clients to longer-term community therapists,
alongside individualized service planning, resource
navigation, and crisis intervention. Funds would support
salaries, consulting, expenses, supplies, etc.
$20,000 $0
17 Recovery Housing
Alliance
Transitional Recovery
Housing Placement
This program will provide short-term financial assistance
to subsidize rent and associated fees at qualified
recovery residences for individuals recovering from
substance use disorder who are experiencing, or are at
imminent risk of, homelessness. In addition to housing
placement, Recovery Housing Alliance will provide case
coordination, housing advocacy, and ongoing support.
Funds will support rental subsidies, intake and
coordination, supplies, and reporting.
$20,000 $0
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18 Restorative
Partners Opportunity to Fund
This program provides assistance to formerly
incarcerated participants facing significant barriers to
employment and housing, while advancing stability and
community reintegration. Eligible expenses include short-
term rental assistance, housing application fees, vital
identification documents, public transportation, basic
hygiene supplies, and professional attire for job
interviews and housing appointments. Funds would
support transportation needs, rental assistance,
documents, clothing, etc.
$20,000 $15,000
19 Shower the People Shower the People
This program provides mobile shower services that also
include supplies and clothing for people experiencing
homelessness and operates in SLO 4 days a week for 3
to 4 hours a day, serving on average 20-35 guests per
day on site. Funds would support all aspects of the
program including clothing, gas, supplies, etc.
$15,000 $15,000
20 SLO Grassroots Project Connect
This project will provide a Community Gathering Space,
where there will be connections to local resources,
including housing, employment, medical, and mental
health, as well as direct access to food, clothing, and
hygiene products for the unhoused population. Funds
would support rent (and maybe furniture, computers,
shelves, etc.)
$20,000 $0
21
SLO Legal
Assistance
Foundation
Senior Homeless
Prevention Program
This program will provide 200 hours of free legal
assistance for vulnerable SLO City seniors at risk of
homelessness due to eviction, unsafe housing, threats of
foreclosure, scams, unfair or predatory practices,
Medicare coverage denials (for nursing home residents)
or a lack of understanding of their rights. Funds would
support salaries, insurance, operating costs, etc.
$20,000 $0
22 SLO Noor
Foundation
Homelessness
Prevention – City of
San Luis Obispo
Project
This program provides the City of SLO and its low-
income and otherwise underserved residents with free
medical, dental, vision, and mental health care services.
This will occur at the SLO Noor Free Health Clinics,
which incorporate both brick-and-mortar clinics, as well
as telehealth appointments. Funds would support
personnel and direct operating costs.
$20,000 $10,000
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23 Womenade SLO,
Inc.
Womenade SLO
Housing Support Fund
This program would support residents of the City of SLO
who have urgent housing assistance needs, including
requests for partial rent or hotel stays for individuals or
families who are facing imminent eviction, are
experiencing homelessness, or were unhoused and are
working on getting their housing established. Funds
would go to direct aid.
$6,000 $6,000
TOTAL $425,875 $150,000
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