One of the City Council's top goals is to prevent and reduce homelessness and its effects on our community. On Tuesday, the Carlsbad City Council approved $545,490 in federal grants for local organizations with programs that prevent and reduce homelessness, preserve affordable housing and provide fair housing services in Carlsbad.
Federal grants
The City Council awarded the following grants to three organizations for the upcoming year:
- Interfaith Community Services: $58,823 to prevent and reduce homelessness by providing rental and utility assistance
- Community Resource Center: $23,000 to prevent and reduce homelessness by providing rental and utility assistance
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego: $23,000 to provide fair housing services
In addition to the three organizations, the City Council awarded $354,569 to the Carlsbad Affordable Housing Fund, which was established by the city to develop affordable housing for lower income households and/or purchase affordable housing units for lower income families.
The federal block grant program, called Community Development Block Grant, is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program distributes money to eligible cities and counties so they can improve life for lower income families. HUD regulates how funds are awarded and grant amounts are determined by a formula.
The City of Carlsbad applies the grants to projects and services that directly benefit lower income residents. Social service organizations apply for the grants, and a seven-member citizens advisory committee recommends the preferred candidates. Staff then recommends a list of recipients to the City Council, which makes a final decision.
Reducing city funding
City staff also presented a proposed plan to change how the city’s Homelessness Action Plan is funded in the next city budget. The team has secured new federal and state grant funding that can cover nearly $400,000 in costs previously funded by the city. This plan will be included with the rest of next fiscal year’s draft budget when it is presented to the City Council May 23.
More information
May 9 City Council staff report
Community Development Block Grants
Homelessness Action Plan
Reducing homelessness in Carlsbad
