HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.13 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Status ReportSTAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
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Agenda Item 4.13
DATE:May 18, 2021
TO:Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:Linda Smith, City Manager
SUBJECT:Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Status Report
Prepared by: Jim Bergdoll, Senior Planner
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will receive a report on the City of Dublin’s participation in the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
DESCRIPTION:
Background
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides annual grants to states,
cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a
suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and
moderate-income persons. The program is authorized under Title 1 of the Housing and
Community Development Act of 1974 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). CDBG funds are allocated to local jurisdictions by HUD using a
calculation based on relative levels of pre-1940 housing, poverty, overcrowding, population, and
regional growth lag.
The City receives CDBG funds through the Urban County program administered by the Alameda
County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Urban County program
is a way for cities with a population of less than 50,000 to receive CDBG funds. Cities over 50,000
may also choose to receive their CDBG allocation through the Urban County program. Dublin
participates in the Urban County program through a Cooperative Agreement with the
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unincorporated Alameda County and the cities of Newark, Emeryville, Albany, and Piedmont
(currently executed for Fiscal Years 2021-22 through 2024-25).
On April 21, 2020, the City Council considered the option of becoming an Entitlement City and
receive funding directly from HUD starting in 2021. At that meeting, the City Council elected to
remain in the Urban County program and directed Staff to provide an update on the City’s
participation in the Urban County program this spring.
Dublin receives CDBG and related funding primarily in three ways: a) through an annual
jurisdictional allocation to fund programs in Dublin; b) Capital Grants that are available for Urban
County projects on a competitive basis to fund capital improvements; and c) funds that are
awarded from related countywide sources to programs or projects that benefit Dublin residents.
The following provides an overview of CDBG and related funding over the past year.
Annual CDBG Jurisdictional Grant
In Fiscal Year 2020-21, the City received an allocation of $106,310 (including $6,600 for
administrative costs) for grants as one of the jurisdictions in the Urban County. Table 1 provides a
summary of how the City used these funds for Human Services Grants.
Table 1. FY 2020-21 Human Services Grants
Organization Amount
Tri-Valley Haven Homeless Shelter and Services $8,078
Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL)$11,931
Axis Dental Clinic and Triage Nurse Services $14,550
CALICO Child Abuse Prevention Services $11,806
Legal Assistance for Seniors – Various services $6,268
Spectrum – Meals on Wheels $12,140
Open Heart Kitchen – Meal Program $21,211
Axis Clinic – Loan Payment (Capital Grant) for Facility
Improvements
$13,726
Capital Grant
Dublin secured a $330,000 Capital Grant for Open Heart Kitchen to help fund a new kitchen facility
as part of a larger 24-unit supportive housing development known as Vineyard 2.0 located in
Livermore and providing services to Tri-Valley residents.
Countywide Sources
Emergency Solutions Grant
HUD allocates funds for Emergency Solutions Grants annually for homeless services. The County
then solicits proposals and awards funds on a competitive basis. City and County staff coordinated
a one-time $157,151 Emergency Solutions Grant to Tri-Valley Haven for emergency shelter, rapid
re-housing, and homelessness prevention.
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CARES Act CDBG Funding
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional funding was provided to the City through the
CDBG program as part of the CARES Act. Table 2 provides a summary of how this funding was
allocated.
Table 2. CDBG CARES Act Funding
Organization Amount
Spectrum - Meals on Wheels; Tri-Valley Haven Food
Pantry; Open Heart Kitchen meal distribution
$96,607
County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (2020) –
Assisted six Dublin households
$13,755
City of Dublin Rent Assistance Program (2021) –
Assisted 40 Dublin households
$176,761 plus $13,200 for
administration
CDBG Minor Home Repair
The Urban County allocates annual funding for a minor home repair program which is
administered by Alameda County Healthy Homes. So far, this fiscal year, Healthy Homes has
received four minor home repair applications for Dublin, which are currently in process for
$19,650 in funding.
Emergency Rent Assistance Program
The Alameda County Housing Secure Emergency Rental Assistance Program helps income-eligible
households pay rent and utilities, both for past-due and future payments. The federal Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2021 provides funding for this program. The program was launched in
March 2021 and Staff have been referring Dublin residents to this resource.
The total combined funding that has been allocated to Dublin from all these sources over the past
year equals $913,434. This funding is in addition to the staffing and overhead expense incurred by
the County to manage and administer the CDBG Urban County program. Staff will continue to look
for opportunities to utilize CDBG and other funds to benefit Dublin residents in the coming year.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
None.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City Council Agenda was posted.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
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