City hosting informational meetings about CDBG funds

The city of Santa Clarita is hosting a series of meetings later this month to provide information to organizations interested in applying for Community Development Block Grant dollars for the next funding cycle.

Each year the city receives an allocation from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which was used in 2022-23 to improve, maintain and expand affordable housing, provide supportive human services and provide timely assistance to those impacted by COVID-19.

“The city of Santa Clarita receives Community Development Block Grant funding from the federal government each year, and these funds are awarded to nonprofit organizations that operate in the city of Santa Clarita and their programs directly benefit the residents of Santa Clarita,” said Kevin Strauss, a communications specialist with the city of Santa Clarita. “Now, they’re generally reserved for residents that are low- to moderate-income. But some of the programs that have been funded through this program in recent years include the inclusive play area at West Park, which will open in January, as well as the handy worker program that’s offered by the SCV Senior Center, which grants up to $5,000 per home for eligible repairs.”

Strauss noted the city did not have an exact figure for what the federal allotment for the next fiscal year would be; however, he said officials were expecting the amount to be similar to its previous year’s allocation, which was just shy of $1.5 million.

The money is earmarked for nonprofit organizations, he added, noting for-profit businesses and individuals are not eligible to apply.

Three informational Zoom meetings have been scheduled to give interested organizations information on the process for applying for and receiving

CDBG funding. Meetings will be held on the following times and dates: from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 13; from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 15; and from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 19. A representative from an organization must attend one of the meetings in order to apply, according to a city news release.

A report issued in September on the previous year’s (202122) allocation noted the city was able to use CBDG funds to support: 76 families experiencing homelessness; 12 special needs children who were provided equestrian therapy; 26 foster or former foster youth children who were provided with case management; 165 older adults who were given housing assistance and other referrals; 72 single-mother families who were provided mental health services; and eight young adults with severe special needs who were provided job-readiness skills.

The nonprofit agencies that applied for funding through CBDG funds ranged in purpose from Fostering Youth Independence to Bridge to Home, the agency that runs the local homeless shelter, to the SCV Senior Center.

For more information about the meetings, including the Zoom link and passcode, visit the city’s Housing website at santa-clarita.com/housing.