ESCONDIDO — The Escondido City Council recently approved more than $1.34 million in federal funding for local nonprofit organizations supporting seniors, unhoused residents, and human trafficking survivors, along with city projects, such as neighborhood cleanups, sidewalk infill and historic structure assessments.
The council voted unanimously on June 25 to allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2024-25.
The funding supports community development, housing, homeless services and economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income residents. This year, the city received about $201,000 in public service funding, $872,000 for capital projects and $268,000 for administrative expenses under the CDBG program. Escondido also received $590,369 in HOME Investment funds — a 2.78% increase from the previous year — while CDBG funding dipped by 2.5%.
“This funding fluctuates annually based on local population and poverty levels,” said Danielle Lopez, the city’s housing and neighborhood services director.
CDBG funding for public services will support the following organizations assisting Escondido residents:
- $10,000 to Mama’s Kitchen, an in-home delivery meal service that provides medically tailored meals to Escondido residents living with serious health conditions;
- $35,000 to Palomar Family Counseling Service, which provides evidence-based mental health interventions in early childhood education centers, enhancing social-emotional development and school readiness in children and providing training to parents and educators;
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$8,600 to the Escondido Mobile Recreation Program, a free, seven-week summer camp hosted at Grove Park.
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$19,500 to Senior Cares, a program at the Park Avenue Community Center that connects seniors to transportation, meal programs, social services and other sources promoting housing stability and overall wellbeing;
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$30,000 to Project Next at Escondido High School, supporting low-income students with financial counseling, skill-building and networking opportunities for college and career readiness;
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$35,000 to the Legal Aid Society of San Diego to enforce fair housing rights.
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$30,000 to Operation HOPE for trauma-informed support to families and single women experiencing homelessness.
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$33,000 to the Alabaster Jar Project, which offers shelter and therapeutic services for human trafficking survivors experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Capital improvement funds will support the following projects:
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$200,000 for a historic structure assessment and renovation planning at Grape Day Park.
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$204,000 for neighborhood cleanup efforts.
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$50,000 for sidewalk infill in Escondido neighborhoods.
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$104,000 to Urban Corps of San Diego County to expand restrooms and increase career readiness programs.
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$314,000 to Upwards, formerly WeeCare, to support in-home childcare provider expansion.
Several organizations applied but were not selected for funding, including Interfaith Community Services, Voices for Children, Center for Community Solutions, CSA San Diego County, and United Way of San Diego.
Lopez said the city prioritized new or expanded services over programs that have received frequent support in past funding cycles.
Rebecca Rader, chief philanthropy officer for Voices for Children, urged the City Council to reconsider its decision if any allocated CDBG funds become available.
“For those who applied and didn’t receive funds, it’s not that we don’t support you,” Councilmember Christian Garcia said.
The city will allocate HOME Investment funds as follows:
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$59,000 for administrative costs.
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$88,555 for community housing development organizations such as Habitat for Humanity or Community Housing Works.
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$442,777 for affordable housing development, rehabilitation, rental assistance and first-time homebuyer support.
Of that, approximately $72,000 will be allocated toward rent subsidies for up to 30 senior households currently on the Section 8 waitlist, providing a monthly stipend of $200. Nine spots are still open in the program.
Another $25,000 will support the city’s first-time homebuyer program, offering assistance with down payments or closing costs. One household recently received a loan, and another application is underway.
Staff noted a key challenge remains HUD’s $676,000 cap on eligible home prices — a limit that is often exceeded in the local real estate market, though home prices have recently begun to decline.
