HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5a. Human Services Grant Community Needs Grant Workshop Item 5a
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 9/2/2026
Item Number: 5a
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
Receive public feedback and vote on the funding priorities 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 most recently occurred in 2025 for
the 2026-27 Human Services Grant funding opportunity that closed a few months ago.
Although a review just happened last year and the update is on a two-year cycle, the HRC
is set to review the funding priorities again this year in advance of the upcoming 2027-28
grant cycle and those revisions will be effective through the 2027 -29 Financial Plan to
ensure consistency with Council goals. After this, the priorities will continue to be
approved in alignment with future financial plans.
This current item is the Community Needs Grant Workshop to allow the public to provide
comments on 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 2026-27, the Human Services Grant had $150,000 total to distribute to local
nonprofits and the main funding priority was 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
Page 11 of 116
Item 5a
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
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
Services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in marginalized
communities, including access to language services
Attachment A contains more information and examples about each funding priority.
Once the Human Services Grant priorities are finalized, they may go to City Council for
approval and adoption.
ATTACHMENTS
A - Human Services Grant (HSG) 2026-27 Approved Priorities
Page 12 of 116
2026-27 Human Services Grant (HSG) Program
Grant Information – Final Draft – Updated 9/3/25
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 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
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).
Page 13 of 116
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.
Page 14 of 116