In a few months, the Carlsbad City Council will decide how to distribute an estimated $518,215 in federal grants for community projects that help people with low incomes.
- The federal 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 people and areas with lower incomes.
- HUD regulates how funds are awarded and grant amounts are determined by a formula.
- In Carlsbad, social service organizations apply for the grants, and the Housing Commission will make recommendations to the Carlsbad City Council.
- Applications for the grants will be available on the city’s website starting Nov. 17 and are due by Jan. 12.
- The City Council will make its final decision on the grant awards at a public hearing scheduled for May 2024.
In previous years, the city formed a separate citizen advisory committee with the sole purpose of reviewing applications and making recommendations to the City Council.
On Tuesday, the City Council streamlined the process by transferring these responsibilities to the Housing Commission, which will make recommendations as part of its review of the overall annual funding plan for the Homelessness Action Plan.
In 2020, the City Council adopted a five-year plan with priorities for how to spend the money within the guidelines for the Community Development Block Grant program:
- Increase and preserve affordable housing opportunities for households with low and moderate incomes
- Prevent and reduce homelessness
- Strengthen support services for residents with special needs
- Improve and provide facilities to serve people with low incomes
- Provide fair housing services to residents
- Plan and administer the Community Development Block Grant program
Organizations that received grants through the program last year were:
- Catholic Charities (prevent and reduce homelessness): $274,687
- Casa de Amparo (improve facilities to serve people with low incomes): $190,000
- Interfaith Community Service (prevent and reduce homelessness): $52,563
- Community Resource Center (prevent and reduce homelessness): $47,563
- Legal Aid Society (fair housing services): $42,083
- Brother Benno (prevent and reduce homelessness): $10,073
- Women’s Resource Center (prevent and reduce homelessness): $10,000
Also last year, the City Council awarded $728,818 to the Carlsbad Affordable Housing Fund, which was established by the city to create affordable housing opportunities for households with lower incomes.
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