CC 2020-12-08 Items Recd at MtgFrom:Janna Nichols
To:public comment
Subject:Agenda Item 9A Consideration of CDBG Block Grant Recommendations
Date:Tuesday, December 08, 2020 5:52:22 PM
Honorable Mayor and Council Members,
I want to thank you for your consideration of our request as part of your CDBG
considerations, under item 9.A. I am unable to be with you this evening due to a prior
work commitment. As such, I would like to offer this written comment regarding our
request.
While 5CHC has strengthened its housing program to provide deposit and rental
assistance (with supportive services) countywide for those who are homeless and facing
homelessness, our core work remains in South County. Working with our community
partners, 5CHC receives referrals from throughout the county to assist those who are in
need of deposit assistance or are striving to prevent eviction and needing rental
support. Most of this financial assistance for deposit and rent is funded through
CDBG and Emergency Solutions Grants. This year, in addition to the CDBG funds we
normally receive from the County, and some Cities, we have decided to apply to each
jurisdiction that we serve, including the City of Arroyo Grande.
Our request before you this evening focuses on providing emergency subsistence
assistance (rent) for those who are at risk of losing their housing, and for deposit assistance
to help those who are homeless to obtain housing. We couple the direct financial
assistance with case planning, budget and financial coaching, and other supportive
services. Through 10 months of this year, we have helped 19 homeless households
from Arroyo Grande to move into housing, and 20 households with eviction
prevention assistance; spending a total of $44,582 in direct financial assistance
(apart from case management and other agency expenses). Most eviction prevention
assistance has been limited this year, due to the eviction moratorium; however, these
numbers are expected to grow in the coming months once the moratorium is lifted in
January. And while there will be some CARES act funding available, not all families will
qualify due to the COVID- related restrictions. The County's recommendation of our
request (from its pool of funds), which has already been considered, is approximately
$35,000 less than last year. This reduction will have a direct impact on the number of
households we are able to serve, and I urge you to reconsider the staff recommendation.
The City of San Luis Obispo, for example, has prioritized all of the CBDG Public Service
funds available for homeless services, taking the competition out of their discretionary
grant program.
We appreciate your staff's work in preparing this report, and thank you for your
consideration of our request. Should you have questions, or want to learn more of our
programs, please contact me.
Janna Nichols
Executive Director
5Cities Homeless Coalition
(805) 574-1638 Office
(805) 471-7404 Cell
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