ESCONDIDO — The city has selected programs aiding seniors, unhoused individuals, low-income households, and foster youth, as well as citywide projects, including neighborhood cleanup and new playground equipment, to receive federal funding over the next year.
The City Council unanimously approved allocating nearly $1.4 million to various organizations and city projects that applied and are eligible to receive both Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and $574,296 in HOME Investment Partnership Program funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Aug. 7.
The programs strive to serve low to moderate-income residents and areas with community development projects, homeless resources, economic opportunity and suitable housing.
Each year, the city receives HUD funding that they allocate to local organizations that apply. These organizations are selected for financing through a scoring process.
The following public service organizations received CDBG funding:
- $10,000 to Mama’s Kitchen, which provides nutritional support to residents at risk of malnutrition due to critical illness;
- $10,000 to Voices for Children, which provides services to foster youth;
- $19,400 to fund a staff member at the Park Avenue Community Center to offer referral services to seniors;
- $8,600 for the city’s Mobile Recreation Program, which provides a free summer camp at Grove Park;
- $30,000 to Project Next, which helps high school students prepare for the future;
- $35,000 to the Legal Aid Society of San Diego to help provide fair housing services for residents;
- $50,000 will provide Interfaith Community Services with funds to provide 15 seniors with financial assistance for rent, utilities, application fees, deposits, car repairs, prescription assistance, credit repair, and other needs to provide stabilized housing.
The following capital projects also received CDBG funding:
- $425,000 to replace wood fibers at playgrounds in Jesmond Dene, Washington and Westside Parks with pour-in-place playground surfacing,
- $45,000 for neighborhood cleanups,
- $50,000 for minor home repair services for income-eligible homeowners of single-family and mobile homes;
- $70,000 for Urban Corps of San Diego County for roof repair, job training support services and second chances to provide high school diplomas;
- And $314,404 to Upwards for its program that helps in-home childcare providers by training them to make their business operations more efficient.
The city will also use HOME investment funds, which are meant to provide affordable housing opportunities, to increase the city’s rental assistance program from its current $125 monthly maximum to $200 per month and will add at least 10 more households to the program. There are currently 19 households in the program right now.
Initially, staff proposed bumping the amount up to $150 per month for program participants while also adding 10 households. However, Councilmember Joe Garcia requested shifting some funds over to boost it further.
“This is a major prevention to help our seniors not fall into homelessness,” said Councilmember Joe Garcia about the rental assistance program.
Additionally, HOME funds will be used to fund a request for proposals to look for long-term affordable housing development and first-time home buyer opportunities within the city.
Mayor Dane White also asked staff to work with the Alabaster Jar Project, a local program that helps survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, to find some other additional funding to support the nonprofit as well.
According to the mayor, Alabaster Jar accidentally submitted their application for CDBG funding “through the wrong channels,” leaving them unable to receive HUD funding from the city. Alabaster Jar was previously a recipient of CDBG funding last year.
