Public Review Period is Open now through September 3
Every year the City of Goleta looks forward to helping those in our community in need using funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. This past year, the City received additional funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for our CDBG program to assist people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic (CDBG-CV funding). This past year, 3,678 people were assisted with CDBG and CDBG-CV funding. The City is required to submit a year-end report on its accomplishments called the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER provides an assessment of the City’s performance in meeting housing and community development goals in the adopted 2020-2021 CDBG Action Plan. The draft CAPER can be viewed here.
The City is also seeking public input on a substantial amendment to the 2019-2020 CDBG Action Plan that would reallocate $190,000 in CDBG-CV funds from an Emergency Rental Assistance Program to homelessness outreach and assistance. There are currently millions of dollars available at the State and County level for rental assistance, so the City proposes to use the funding to assist people living in encampments, the streets and RVs get needed services and housing. The City also proposes to reallocate $12,500 in CDBG-CV funding to a food program for low-income seniors.
Comments on the draft CAPER and proposed Action Plan Amendment are being accepted during a 15-day public review period ending September 3, 2021, at 12:00 pm. Comments should be submitted to: City of Goleta, Neighborhood Services Department, Attn: Claudia Dato, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta, CA 93117 or emailed to cdato@cityofgoleta.org.
The City Council will hold a public hearing on these matters on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at their regular Council meeting which begins at 5:30 p.m. An agenda will be available ahead of time at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings.
About the Community Development Block Grant
On an annual basis the City receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the CDBG program which is intended to be used to assist low-income citizens, people experiencing homelessness, youth and seniors with essential services such as medical and dental care, food security, counseling, homelessness prevention, case management and other needs.
The City also uses the majority of its CDBG allocation on capital projects that will benefit low- to moderate-income people and the disabled. Projects have included renovating City facilities and parks to meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access standards, install sidewalks in areas where they are lacking, and adding crosswalks.