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C I TY O F SAN L U I S O B I S P O
FROM: John Mandeville, Community Development Direc r
Prepared By: Peter Brown, Housing Programs Manager��
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATION COMMISSION'S
RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR THE 2008 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) AND GRANTS-IN-AID (GIA)
PROGRAMS.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
As recommended by the Human Relations Commission, establish the CDBG and GIA funding
priorities for 2008.
DISCUSSION
Background
In 2001, Council revised the City's annual CDBG review process. The purposes of the changes
were to allow Council input earlier in the grant award process, to assist Council in prioritizing
community needs, and to maintain an open, inclusive and fair grant application process. The
Human Relations Commission (HRC) was also asked to be the advisor to the Council on
community needs and funding recommendations for both the CDBG and GIA programs.
This year the schedule was adjusted in order to finalize funding priorities prior to the CDBG
application deadline of October 5th. The four main steps in the CDBG and GIA review process
are as follows:
1. HRC hosts a "Needs Workshop": The HRC hosts a public hearing to inform the public
about upcoming funding amounts and how to apply for grants, to hear community views on
grant funding needs, and to recommend funding priorities for CDBG and GIA (held on
August 29, 2007).
2. Council priority-setting hearing: Council holds a public hearing to review and approve the
HRC's recommendations regarding the CDBG and GIA funding priorities (October 2,2007).
3. CDBG applications hearing: HRC holds a public hearing to review CDBG funding
requests and to make a recommendation on project funding amounts (scheduled for
November 7, 2007) for inclusion in the County's Draft Action Plan that is released in January
2008.
4. CDBG Program hearing: The City Council holds a public hearing (scheduled for January
22, 2008) on the Draft One-Year Action Plan, approves the City's CDBG Program, and
J
Consideration of the NRC's Recommended Funding Priorities for 2008 Page 2
forwards it to the County for inclusion in the County's Final Year Action Plan for subsequent
submittal to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD).
Recommended CDBG Funding Priorities for 2008
On August 29`h, the HRC completed Step 1 by holding its combined CDBG and GIA Community
Needs hearing. An audience of about 20 persons attended the hearing and speakers addressed a
wide variety of community needs (minutes attached). Community needs identified included
continued support for homeless services, affordable housing, senior services, and social services.
After hearing testimony, commissioners reviewed last year's funding priorities set by Council.
The HRC unanimously decided to re-affirm the same four CDBG funding priorities with a
modification to re-order the top two priorities from 2007:
1. Enhance and develop housing affordable to low and very-low income persons (formerly
#2).
2. Emergency shelter, homelessness prevention and services (formerly#1).
3. Education concerning and/or removal of architectural barriers for the disabled and
elderly.
4. Economic development (to include seismic retrofit, economic stability, low and moderate
income jobs).
In considering the order of the priorities, the HRC reasoned that some citizens living in marginal
circumstances might be prevented from lapsing into homelessness if they had access to
affordable housing. The HRC expressed that homelessness services should remain a significant
City priority, but indicated that homelessness prevention could be addressed in part by
development of more affordable housing units at the very low and low income levels (not
including moderate).
The priorities adopted by Council set the framework by which the HRC reviews grant
applications and recommends funding choices to the Council. Generally, most applications for
CDBG funds fit intuitively within one of the listed categories. It should be noted that under these
priority criteria, the Council has approved funding in the past for adobe restoration and other
historic preservation efforts since "blight removal" (which can encompass many historic
preservation efforts) is an allowed.HUD activity under the definition of economic development.
In the past, Council has approved CDBG funding for the adobes and the freight warehouse under
the category of spot blight.
Recommended GIA Funding Priorities for 2008
The HRC also reviewed the 2007 non-ranked GIA funding priorities and decided to re-affirm
the priorities with modifications shown in bold and with strikeouts.
• Homeless prevention (including mental health,.substance abuse, financial stability,
job training) and supportive services
• .Job training
• Supportive health services (including mental health services)
Consideration of the HRC's Recommended Funding Priorities for 2008 PaEe 3
■ Services for seniors and/or people with disabilities
■ Supportive services for€amities-andFer youth; especially targeted to youth at risk
The HRC decided to leave the GIA funding priorities unranked to allow maximum flexibility
when making funding recommendations dependent upon the applications received. The majority
of speakers at the August 29, 2007 HRC meeting addressed the need to prevent homelessness,
enhance homeless services, senior services, and increase services for at-risk youth. The HRC
were supportive of focusing on the priority of homeless prevention and addressing root causes.
Commissioners agreed by consensus to: 1) revise the GIA priorities by further defining homeless
prevention; 2) to retain the same GIA priorities for job training, supportive health services, senior
services; and 3)to refine the GIA funding priority addressing services for youth.
Next Steps
The next step in the CDBG program cycle is for the Council to consider the HRC's
recommendations and to affirm or revise the City's CDBG and GIA funding priorities. This step
is important because these priorities will guide the HRC's actions when it reviews grant
applications at its October 3151 workshop and its November 7`s public hearing. These priorities
also will guide Council's final funding decisions when it considers the HRC's funding
recommendations on January 22, 2008.
FISCAL IMPACTS
Decisions made regarding priorities will affect how CDBG and GIA applications are evaluated
and chosen for support. The City of San Luis Obispo receives CDBG funds through the County
allotment and, while this does not directly impact the general fund, projects funded through
CDBG are not otherwise requesting general funds. The City does designate a portion of general
fund monies ($126,600 budgeted in 2008-09) for the GIA program and the priorities expressed
by the Council will influence how those grants are awarded.
ALTERNATIVES
By motion, the Council may choose to add or modify the HRC's recommended priorities, or to
affirm the existing priorities without changes.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Human Relations Commission draft minutes, August 29th, 2007 meeting.
2. Urban County Notice of Public Workshop
GACD-PLAN\PBrown\CDBG\CC reports\CDBGCCfundingpriorities08..DOC
/-3
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION (HRC)
DRAFT MINUTES Attachment 1
August 29, 2007
5:00 P.M.
City Hall
Council Chamber
990 Palm Street
CALL TO ORDER:
PRESENT: Chairperson Stephan Lamb, Vice Chairperson Janna Nichols,
Commissioners: Trey Duffy, Dan Pronsolino, Charlene Rosales,
and Tom Sant
ABSENT: Commissioner Bryan Gingg
STAFF
PRESENT: Monica Irons, Director of Human Resources; Peter Brown, Housing
Programs Manager; and Mary Kopecky, Human Resources Executive
Assistant
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
ACTION: Moved by Pronsolino/Rosales to approve the minutes of August 1,
2007 as submitted; motion carried 6:0 Gingg absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no comments for items not on the agenda.
BUSINESS ITEMS
Item 1. OVERVIEW OF THE 2007-2008 GRANTS IN AID (GIA) AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT(CDBG) PROCESS.
(IRONS/BROWN)
Director of Human Resources Irons gave an overview of the workshop's purpose, the
role of the Human Relations Commission, the GIA program purpose, the non ranked GIA
funding priorities, the GIA program requirements, and reviewed this year's timeline.
�-y
Human Relations Comm issioi,_.nutes
August 2s, 2007 Attachment 1
Page 2
Housing Programs Manager Brown gave an overview of the CDBG program, the
objectives, eligible activities, HOME and ESG Federally funded nation wide program. He
expressed optimism the CDBG funding levels had finally stabilized. He also reviewed
the schedule and invited interested parties to attend the County of San Luis Obispo's
Community Needs Workshop scheduled for September 11, 2007. He explained the
federal government assigned caps to the CDBG awards with 15% allowed for public
services, 65% allowed for public facilities, and 20% allowed for program administration.
Chairperson Lamb advised the audience in other jurisdictions the 15% public services
award often goes to a diverse portfolio, but in San Luis Obispo the City Council has
traditionally earmarked all those funds for the homeless shelter services.
PUBLIC HEARING
Item 2. TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICE NEEDS.FOR.RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO.
Chairperson Lamb opened the public comment period. He asked participants to speak
to the broader community needs rather than to advocate for a specific agency.
Lorelei Monet, representing the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, addressed the need for
programs to support gay teens because they are especially at risk.
Naoma Wright, representing the National Alliance on Mental Illness San Luis Obispo
County (NAMISLOCO), reported the organization teaches parents and teachers how to
recognize the signs of mental illness to allow for early intervention.
Vice Chairperson Nichols inquired if the NAMISLOCO was working with the Community
Counseling Center(CCC).
Naoma Wright wasn't certain if they were or not.
Vice Chairperson Nichols suggested CCC would be a good partnership for
NAMISLOCO because it would help to further their cause.
Mal Towerv, representing the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), underscored the needs of
seniors in San Luis Obispo County. He noted the percentage of seniors is rapidly
increasing while the federal budget for seniors is shrinking. He noted AAA partners with
many local agencies, securing grants, finding vendors, bringing home delivered meals to
seniors, providing adult day care, conducting suicide prevention workshops, etc.
Human Relations Comm issior,_.,nutes
August 29, 2007 Attachment 3
Page 3
Jody Smith, representing the Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter, felt homelessness was
the number one community need. She stated because there is not adequate low-rent
housing in San Luis Obispo County more and more people are becoming homeless and
it is taking longer to re-house the homeless. She said all people need a safe place to go.
She urged the HRC to continue funding the day center and shelter to allow them to be
ready to help clients achieve self sufficiency. She believed with the help of partner
organizations within the community the tide of homeless can be turned.
Gayne Crossland, a disabled widowed senior on social security, reported when her car
broke down she could no longer go to her job and required assistance to pay rent. She
thanked the HRC for giving money to the Economic Opportunity Commission (EOC)
because they really helped her out.
Kayla Wilburn, representing EOC health services, works with clients who are low
income, single parents, seniors, or substance abusers who are on the cusp of becoming
homeless. She hears the needs of the community from those served by EOC. She
reported the basic community needs are housing, shelter, food, and health care.
Chuck Crotser, Friends of Prado Day Center board member, reported their primary
interest is homeless services. They appreciate the HRC's support. He stated the local
shelter and day center have a great staff working on a shoe-string budget. He stressed
they need base funding from the City and County.
Edie Kahn, representing AIDS Support Network and SLO Hep C, reported she works
with people who are homeless, have mental health challenges and drug issues.
Recently she noted their organization was seeing more and more patients with
Methamphetamine issues. She identified homeless issues, connecting clients to
services, drug issues, preventative health care, and at risk youth as the greatest
community needs.
Daniel Bresette, homeless shelter client, recently found himself in a predicament and
became homeless. He reported with the help of the Prado Day Center and Homeless
Shelter he is getting back on his feet.
Dave Smiley, Friends of Prado Day Center President, noted the homeless population is
continuing to increase in this county while federal government funds were decreasing.
He expressed hope the City would continue to support homeless services. The Friends
of Prado Day Center want to see a one-stop campus for the City's homeless. The
current situation doesn't foster the best possible solution for the homeless since the
shelter and day center are physically so far apart.
William Wilson, shelter client, asked the HRC to please continue to provide the
homeless services.
Human Relations Commissioi. .mutes
August 29,2007 ,attachment 1
Page 4
Sean.lson, representing the Homeless Shelter, sees homelessness as the number one
need in the community.
Dee Torres, representing Prado Day Center, reported she works with the homeless.
She also felt homelessness was the number one community need in San Luis Obispo.
She explained Prado Day Center is a mini campus on its own that provides core services
to people. They also provide showers and meals, have a medical van on site, and have
outreach workers on site. Transitions Mental Health has an office at the Prado Day
Center as well. The Day Center's goal is to help clients become self sufficient. She has
noticed a real need to assist children of transients. These children are falling through the
cracks because there are not many services for them. She noted the Day Center also
needed storage space or locker space to allow clients to have a place to put their
possessions while they look for work.
Peggy Fowler, representing EOC Homeless Services, also felt homelessness was the
number one need in the community. She urged HRC to please prioritize homelessness
as the number one priority.
Pamela Hughes, representing EOC Homeless Services, reported she works at the
shelter in case management. Everyday she meets clients face to face and often runs
into them on the streets as well. She explained many homeless people aren't aware of
available services. She explains to clients how they can access care. When a client is
well enough, staff advocates they continue their education and encourages them to go
back to school. She thanked HRC for their support.
Commissioner Duffy asked the audience if clients who had pending legal problems
were reluctant to seek homeless services.
Edie Kahn responded some clients with outstanding warrants are denied services such
as the Section Eight Housing Program. They usually move from state to state to avoid
arrest.
Pam Hughes responded the shelter staff let clients know staff will not turn clients in to
the police. If needed, staff also goes to court with homeless clients and generally legal
issues can be remedied and have positive outcomes. One of the biggest challenges she
has encountered is homeless clients with drug issues are denied access to food stamps
or housing assistance.
Peggy Fowler noted when a person has no income it is very difficult to pay outstanding
warrants. The best a person can do is to perform community work to pay off the debt.
Commissioner-Dasked what percentage of homeless clients had pending legal
issues.
Human Relations Commissioi. \,nutes
August 29, 2007 x
Pages Attachment 1
Peggy Fowler responded about 25% of clients have problems and gave the example of
a client who was no longer able to afford a car. The client may have left the car parked
and received numerous parking tickets that he or she would not be able to pay.
Dee Torres reported she has been studying homeless courts for some time and liked the
idea of bringing courts to the clients. Prado Day Center staff conducted an informal
client poll and found about 20% of the clientele reported they had outstanding warrants.
Chairperson Lamb stated Commissioner Duffy, Police Chief Linden, City Attorney
Jonathan Lowell and Assistant District Attorney recently visited the Homeless Court in
San Diego to see if such a model could be considered for San Luis Obispo.
Commissioner Rosales asked for comments on what the specific needs of aging
populations were.
Mal Towrev replied the main focus is trying to keep seniors in their homes. Seniors are
hidden because they are inside their residences. Some seniors are literally trapped in
their residences. In the event of a disaster there are hundreds of people in our
community who could not get out. There is a huge population of seniors who are just
hanging on because many seniors don't have retirement.
Commissioner.Rosales acknowledged the HRC had received letters from Assistance
League and Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County/La Clinica.de Tolosa
regarding the community needs.
Chairperson Lamb closed the public comment period and asked commissioners to
consider the Grants In Aid priorities first.
Vice Chairperson Nichols stated the testimony was similar to what was heard in prior
years. She expressed concern regarding the increasing senior population. She
suggested eliminating the job training bullet because she did not hear job training
testimony requesting it. She also suggested refining the priority supporting youth
programs so that it emphasized at-risk youth programs.
Commissioner Pronsolino thought the drug and alcohol issues overlapped in several
areas. He was supportive of Vice Chairperson Nichol's suggestion to strike the job
training priority and suggested replacing it with a goal addressing drug and alcohol
issues.
Vice Chairperson Nichols replied adding a goal addressing drug and alcohol issues
would be a challenge because the City Council is hesitant to pursue health service
issues since they fall under the purview of the County of San Luis Obispo Health
Department. If the HRC wanted the City to fund drug or alcohol programs council would
certainly disagree.
Human Relations Commissiol:_ ,mutes �,ttc' chrnent
August 29, 2007
Page 6
Commissioner Rosales concurred with Vice Chairperson Nichols. She inquired why the
GIA priorities were not ranked.
Director of Human Resources Irons commented not ranking the priorities has allowed
the commissioners maximum flexibility when making funding recommendations.
Chairperson Lamb remarked the HRC had enjoyed having the priorities unranked but
was open to change if new commissioners wanted go in a different direction.
Commissioner Pronsolino liked the freedom of keeping the priorities unranked and
would be supportive of keeping them unranked.
Commissioner Sant argued against deleting the job training priority and felt it was still a
viable area for GIA funding.
Commissioner Duffi►felt strongly the HRC should focus on homeless prevention.
Commissioner Sant expressed concern about Pam Hughes' testimony about the
County of San Luis Obispo refusing services to recovered drug and alcohol abusers.
Chairperson Lamb suggested inviting a County representative to an upcoming HRC
meeting to learn whether or not the accusation was accurate. He liked focusing on the
priority of homeless prevention and getting at its root causes. He reported he recently
visited Carol Hatley, Acting Executive Director of the Housing Authority, and toured their
properties. He noted the waiting list for Section 8 Housing was the longest for seniors.
He would like to tie the needs of seniors with the housing problem.
Vice Chairperson Nichols expressed concern the City's current efforts for seniors did
not reflect the HRC's concerns. She reminded the HRC of the discussion Director of
Parks and Recreation Kiser had with the HRC at the June 6, 2007 meeting regarding the
Senior Center Facilities Major City Goal Work Program. She felt the senior population
discussed during tonight's testimony were not using the Senior Center. She believed the
City should be more broad minded and focus on the needs of the at-risk seniors
discussed tonight rather than a new parking lot at the senior center. She was also
apprehensive about how to adequately evaluate applications for senior services because
those applications were typically not well written.
Chairperson Lamb suggested revising the scoring rubric and conducting a technical
assistance work shop for those service providers.
Vice Chairperson Nichols expressed doubt the providers would attend a work shop and
believed they would simply change the numbers as they had done in previous years.
Commissioner Duffy asked when considering housing verses services in the GIA
funding priorities what is the magnitude of impact for housing. It seemed to him making
housing available was a large capital issue much too great for GIA funding.
Human Relations Commission nutes -- -----
August 29, 2007
Pagel Attachment 1
' D
Chairperson Lamb concurred it was too great for GIA funding but it did make a
difference for CDBG funding because other funds could be leveraged.
Brief HRC discussion ensued. Commissioners agreed by consensus to leave the job
training bullet in the priorities, further define homeless prevention, and refine the bottom
bullet.
ACTION: Moved by Nichols/Pronsolino to adopt the following unranked Grants
In Aid priorities:
Homeless prevention (including mental health, substance abuse, financial stability,
job training) and supportive services
Job training
Supportive health services (including mental health)
Services for senior and/or people with disabilities
Supportive services for youth; especially targeted to youth at risk
The HRC moved on to discuss the CDBG Funding Priorities.
Vice Chairperson Nichols was supportive of making housing the number one priority.
She was also in favor of continuing the funding for the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter as
well as augmenting the CDBG funding with money from the City's General Fund.
Brief discussion ensued.
ACTION: Moved by Nichols/Sant to adopt the following CDBG funding priorities:
1. Enhance and develop housing affordable to low and very-low income persons.
2. Emergency shelter, homelessness prevention and services.
3. Education concerning and/or removal of architectural barriers for the disabled and
elderly.
4. Economic development (to include seismic retrofit, economic stability, low and
moderate income jobs).
AND
To continue to seek additional funds to augment the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter
and to continue to make progress toward a one-stop homeless campus; motion
carried 6:0, Gingg absent.
Human Relations Commissioi,__�)nutes --
August 29, 2007
Page 8 AftaChmerlt I
F
BUSINESS ITEMS CONTINUED
Item 3. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY
COUNCIL THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES (CONTINUED FROM 8/1/07). (LAMB/DUFFY)
Commissioner Duffy reported City Attorney Lowell informed him the City Council
generally did not become involved with issues outside their scope of authority but the
HRC could discuss the issue and if they chose to ask Council to support it they might first
do that via a memo to Council instead of putting a resolution on the Council agenda.
Since this is a global treaty it would be outside the Council's authority.
Brief HRC discussion ensued. Commissioners discussed previous issues outside
Council authority that had come before the HRC in the past. While Commissioners
agreed this was a noble cause, they agreed by consensus not to recommend taking this
item before the City Council at this time.
ACTION: Moved by Nichols/Pronsolino to direct Commissioner Duffy to
continue to monitor this issue and report back to HRC should changes occur;
motion carried 6:0, Gingg absent.
Item 4. ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE HRC WORKPLAN (CONTINUED FROM
8/1/07 . (LAMB)
Vice Chairperson Nichols felt the Workplan was too ambitious and would like to see it
substantially pared down.
Brief HRC discussion ensued with new commissioners agreeing they did not feel
comfortable to radically change the work plan because they had only been seated as
commissioners for a few months. They wanted to gain more perspective before making
extensive changes.
Chairperson Lamb suggested making a minimal change to drop item six and retain
items one through five.
Human Relations Commission, .,lutes
August 29, 2007 Attachment 1
Page 9
ACTION: Moved by Nichols/Pronsolino to approve the following work plan:
In addition to the ongoing review of issues concerning community tensions and acts of
discrimination, the HRC unanimously agreed on the following work plan:
1. Administer the annual disbursement of City support funding for non-profit human
services, Grants-In-Aid (GIA) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
funds. (Nichols)
2. Co-sponsor and/or endorse educational forums, partnering with appropriate
human service agencies in support of the mission of the HRC and its express
priorities of CDBG and GIA funding, as well as focusing on prejudice, intolerance
and homeless issues. (HRC)
3. Maintain regular informational presentations to gain better understanding of the
coordination of City services for the betterment of health and human services; to
include hate crime incidents as reported to the police; and homeless issues within
the City. (Wheeler)
4. Continue to oversee the operation of the EOC Homeless Shelter and address
the integration of homeless services. (Lamb/Wolff)
5. Communicate the HRC mission and activities and its efforts on behalf of the
community. This will include presentations to human service agencies and
community organizations regarding the functions of the HRC. (Sant)
motion carried 6:0, Gingg absent.
Commissioners agreed by consensus to make the work plan assignments at the October
3, 2007 HRC meeting.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Vice Chairperson Nichols asked Commissioner Duffy if he would contact the
Community Counseling Center regarding partnering with NAMISLOCO and report back.
She also asked staff if they would contact Principal Administrative Analyst Elke for an
update on the Major City Goal — Homeless Services. Additionally she confirmed the next
HRC meeting would be held on October 3, 2007 because tonight's meeting was in lieu of
the September 5, 2007 HRC meeting.
Human Relations Commission nutes
August 29, 2007 Attachment 1
Page 10
Chairperson Lamb encouraged the HRC to attend the September 20, 2007 Advisory
Body Training to be held at the City's Corporation Yard. He asked staff to invite Police
Chief Linden to present an update on the Homeless Court because she will be attending
the Homeless Services Coordinating Council in November. He expressed concern
regarding the allegation the County was denying services for former drug users.
Commissioner Pronsolino offered to investigate and report back at the October 3,
2007 meeting during the comment portion of the meeting.
There being no further business to come before the HRC, Chairperson Lamb adjourned
the HRC meeting at 7:40 p.m. to the next regular meeting of the HRC to be held on
Wednesday, October 3, at 5:OO p.m. in the Council Hearing Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Kopecky
Human Resources Executive Assistant
/-/3
/yam\
�ttchment 2
NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOPS
PUBLIC NEEDS WORKSHOPS FOR THE URBAN COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO-2008 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT(CDBG),HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS ACT(HOME),
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS(ESG)PROGRAMS,AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM(SHP)
The County Planning and Building Department and the cities of Arroyo Grande,Atascadero,Grover Beach,Paso
Robles and San Luis Obispo are inviting interested persons to attend public workshops for discussion of housing and
community development needs that could be addressed though CDBG,HOME,ESG,and SHP funding. The purpose
for the meetings is to provide the public with information about the programs and solicit information on the appropriate
use of the funds. This input will be compiled and presented to the Board of Supervisors on November 20,2007 at a
public hearing. An additional notice will be mailed advertising this hearing.
CDBG funds can be used for housing,economic development,public services and facilities that benefit low-income
families(and meet other requirements of the program). HOME funds are only for affordable housing for low-income
families. ESG funds are used for homeless shelters or domestic violence shelters. SHP funds are used for a variety of
homeless services for persons.
The five participating cities and the county have been designated by the federal Department of Housing and Urban
Development(HUD)as an "urban county" eligible to receive annual,formula-based grants of CDBG,HOME and ESG
funds directly from HUD. In the past,the county and its cities have applied for these funds through the state,competing
with many other cities and counties for grant awards.
HUD has not notified the Urban County of the funding levels for the 2008-funding year for the program year starting
July 1,2008. The Urban County will use the 2007 allocation funding amounts as an estimate for 2008. The 2007
funding amounts were as follow: $2,136,934 in CDBG funds;$1,341,662 in HOME funds,$92,487 in ESG funds,and
$848,222 in SHP funds. Accurate funding levels will be announced by HUD at a future date.
The public workshops will be held at the following dates,times and locations:
North County Workshop—7:00 P.M.Weds.,Aug.29,2007,Atascadero City Hall,6907 El Camino Real,Atascadero
South County Workshop—7:00 P.M.Thurs.,Sept.6,2007,Arroyo Grande City Hall,215 West Branch Street,Arroyo
Grande
San Luis Obispo Workshop- 7:00 P.M.,Tues., Sept. 11,2007,City/County Library,Library Conference,Room,995
Palm Street,San Luis Obispo
Any individual,group or organization wishing to apply for CDBG,HOME,SHP,or ESG funding must submit an
application to the county or applicable city,using the official application. Applications can be mailed to:Tony Navarro,
Planner III,Department of Planning and Building,976 Osos Street,Room 300,San Luis Obispo,CA.,93408 or hand
delivered to Tony Navarro at 1050 Monterey Street,Room 370,San Luis Obispo,CA.,faxed to(805)781-5624,or E-
mailed to tnavarro@co.slo.ca.us. Applications will be accepted until close of business October 5,2007. Hard
copies of the original application must be PHYSICALLY received by 5:00 P.M.on October 5,2007. Postmarks
are not acceptable. To obtain an application,go to the following website: www.slovlannine.org. Questions may
be directed to Tony Navarro,Planner III,(805)781-5787.
The tentative time frame for review of proposals;funding decisions and availability of funds is summarized below:
• Needs Workshops: August-September 2007
• Proposals due: October 5,2007
• Public hearing by county: November 2007
• City Council hearings on draft funding recommendations: November 2007
• Publish Urban County draft funding recommendations: November 2007
• Public workshops on draft funding recommendations: December 2007—January 2008
• City public hearings to approve funding recommendations: January-February 2008
• Public hearing by county to approve 2007 Action Plan: February 2008
• Edit Plan,transmit to HUD: March-April 2008
• Plan due date at HUD: May 15,2008