Legislative oversight panel reviews Californias 2026-27 CSBG state plan as funding threats loom

SACRAMENTO

State and local officials and representatives of Californias community action agencies testified at a joint Senate and Assembly Human Services Committee oversight hearing on the 2026-27 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) state plan, emphasizing that CSBG funds support housing, food, employment and emergency services statewide while warning that federal budget proposals could sharply reduce or eliminate the grant.

The hearing opened with Jason Wimbley, director of the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), who described CSBG as a flexible federal anti-poverty funding stream administered by CSD and delivered through a network of 60 local agencies across 58 counties. "CSBG is unique in that it's not a typical program, narrowly focused on addressing a specific need," Wimbley said, adding that the program "is often leveraged to support and enhance other services and activities that target low income community members." He told the committee California received $68,400,000 in CSBG funds in federal fiscal year 2025 and that the states network reported serving about 1,500,000 low-income Californians in 2023.

Why it matters: Witnesses said CSBGs flexibility allows local agencies to tailor services — from homelessness prevention and permanent supportive housing conversions to workforce training and food distribution — and to blend CSBG with other resources. Several speakers warned that proposals in Washington, including the Trump administrations 2026 budget and other legislative changes, could cut or eliminate CSBG funding and increase pressure on already strained local safety-net providers.

Local examples and program mix

Multiple panelists gave concrete examples of how CSBG dollars are used locally. Wimbley highlighted Sunrise Apartments in Hanford, which was converted from a motel…