Sunnyvale commission approves 2024–25 CAPER; members flag TBRA shortfall and Downtown Streets closure

The Sunnyvale Housing and Human Services Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 24 to approve the city’s draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, or CAPER, for the program year covering July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

The CAPER documents how Sunnyvale used two HUD grants—the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HOME Investments Partnerships Program (HOME)—to fund housing rehabilitation, tenant-based rental assistance and other services for low-income residents. Commission members pressed staff on program outcomes for tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA), inspections and the potential impacts after the announced closure of the Downtown Streets Team, a community partner on workforce and homelessness services.

City staff presented the CAPER and described it as the annual report HUD requires to show compliance with the five‑year consolidated plan and the city’s most recent annual action plan. “The CAPER is an annual performance report that describes the housing and community development efforts funded by two federal grants the city receives annually, which are the Community Development Block Grant or CDBG and the HOME Investments Partnership grant, known just as HOME,” said Matthew Hazel, the city’s housing programs analyst.

The staff presentation and the CAPER text note key program details and limits: CDBG funds may be used for housing rehabilitation, human services and public facilities, and CDBG administrative costs are capped at 20% of entitlement and program income; HOME administrative costs are capped at 10%. The CAPER reports the city largely complied with those administrative caps for the 2024–25 program year.

Commission questions focused on TBRA, a program that provides up to two years of rental assistance combined with case management. The CAPER reports the TBRA goal for the year was 40 households and notes the program began the year with 41 tenants housed. Commissioners were told the program ended the fiscal year with 19 households enrolled, while the CAPER’s unduplicated‑clients figure for the year remains 40. “It began the year with 40. So that’s how you report—unduplicated clients for the year,” Hazel said in response to Commissioner Duncan’s question.

Staff said the midyear decline in active enrollments stemmed from a combination of factors including cash‑flow and reimbursement timing, turnover in the department, and implementation changes after a spring program monitoring visit (including adding utility allowances and adjusting the application process). Staff also said federal funding was secured for another year, which has helped stabilize the program.

Commissioners asked for follow‑up on the program’s operations and on alternatives after a partner’s announced closure. Commissioner Stewart asked about Downtown Streets Team’s status and possible impacts: staff said the city was informed of the organization’s planned cessation of operations and is “working closely with Sunnyvale Community Services,” the WorkFirst program lead, to identify options. Staff said significant decisions about reallocating funds or changing service delivery would be brought back to the commission for consideration.

The CAPER highlights other program activity in 2024–25. Staff described the Carroll Street Inn rehabilitation project, funded in part with CDBG dollars, which included an HVAC upgrade and served the property’s low‑income residents; staff said the project’s total cost exceeded $2,000,000 and CDBG was one of the major funding sources. The report also notes increased demand and spending in the city’s home improvement program, and that most public‑service agencies funded through CDBG met or exceeded their stated goals.

Commissioners asked technical questions that staff answered in line with HUD reporting practices: how programs count jobs created or retained (placements in the WorkFirst downtown streets team measured after three months on the job), inspection sampling rates for larger properties (staff said HUD guidance yields roughly a 10–20% inspection sample for larger properties) and how income categories are defined (extremely low income as 0–30% of area median income, low income 30–50%, moderate 50–80% and above-moderate above 80%).

After public comment was closed with no speakers, Commissioner Stewart moved to approve the draft CAPER as presented; Commissioner Duncan seconded. A roll call vote recorded yes votes from Commissioners Shen, Stewart, Duncan, Vice Chair Rivera and Chair Friedlander; Commissioner Weiss was absent. The motion passed 5–0.

Votes at a glance: the commission also approved the consent calendar (minutes) by roll call earlier in the meeting; that motion carried 5–0 with Commissioner Weiss absent.

The commission received two scheduling updates before adjournment: the next regular Housing and Human Services Commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2025, and a special meeting is planned for Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. Staff also noted recent federal changes to Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit allocations—an increase to the 9% program and lowered eligibility for the 4% program—that staff said are expected to affect projects in Sunnyvale that rely on tax credits.

The meeting adjourned at about 7:35 p.m.