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Lancaster reallocates $130,259 in CDBG funds to paid-employment program for foster youth
Summary
City council approved a substantial amendment to reprogram $130,259 in CDBG funds from the first-time homebuyer program to a new Antelope Valley Foster Friends employment and skills program centered on a gaming center. Staff said the change uses previously awarded HUD funds and does not affect the general fund.
The Lancaster City Council approved a substantial amendment to the annual action plan to reallocate $130,259 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the city's first-time homebuyer program to a new paid-employment and workforce-development initiative for foster youth, called Antelope Valley Foster Friends.
Cindy Valdivia, the city's CDBG and Lancaster Energy analyst, described the proposal as a reprogramming of previously awarded HUD funds with no impact on the city general fund. She said the Antelope Valley Foster Friends program will provide paid employment in a new gaming center and training in retail, marketing, customer service and IT, along with workshops on financial literacy and career development.
During public comment, Cesar (no last name provided) praised the emphasis on workforce development for foster youth and urged the city to collect program metrics that could measure community impacts beyond immediate employment outcomes, such as changes in neighborhood calls for service and youth engagement. Cesar advocated for designing the program to include safe community space and data collection to evaluate downstream effects.
Staff said the reallocation is a substantial amendment under HUD rules because it changes project activity; the funds remain federal CDBG dollars and will be reported in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The council voted to approve the amendment on a 3-0 vote.
Ending: Staff said the reprogrammed funds will be routed to the Antelope Valley Foster Friends program and that staff will report program details and performance metrics in subsequent CAPER reporting to HUD.
