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Community services office outlines local disaster response, LIHEAP/CSBG funding and federal risks
Summary
The Department of Community Services and Development described how local grantees used LIHEAP and CSBG funds during the Los Angeles fires, reported FY2025 federal funding amounts and warned of possible federal budget threats; CDSS said it needs more time and staff to report separately on CFAP participation.
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 2 on Human Services heard how community‑based organizations that receive state and federal grants responded to the Los Angeles fires and how federal funding changes could affect LIHEAP and CSBG programs that assist low‑income Californians.
A representative of the Department of Community Services and Development described local nonprofit responses during the fires, including short‑term assistance such as food, temporary housing vouchers (including pet‑friendly hotel placements), transportation and help documenting losses. The department said local LIHEAP providers used limited federal funds to secure hotel rooms and cover emergency fees for displaced low‑income households.
CSD staff emphasized the limits of these federal grants: they are not entitlement programs and statewide funding is small relative to need. The department said California received approximately $215,700,000 in federal LIHEAP funds and about $33,800,000 for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) in federal fiscal year 2025. CSD also noted that last year California received roughly $247,000,000 in LIHEAP funding; CSD said it was notified that the balance of LIHEAP funds would be released to states the day after the hearing.
On staffing and operations, CSD acknowledged recent layoffs in the LIHEAP office that raised concerns about timeliness for approvals and questions, but the department said benefits delivery was not immediately affected and that its priority remains uninterrupted access to services.
Federal budget risk: CSD said it is monitoring federal budget developments and that press reports suggest the federal administration may consider defunding programs in future budget proposals, but CSD added it had not seen an official 2026 proposal at the time of the hearing.
CalFresh/CFAP reporting: Separately, CDSS told the committee it could not produce a unique participation rate for the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) using current data structures and asked to move a requested legislative report deadline from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027 to complete the research. CDSS also estimated it would need state operations funding to hire two research data specialists to implement a new methodology and maintain reporting on an ongoing basis.
Ending: Committee members asked agencies to keep the Legislature informed about federal funding and implementation issues. Agencies agreed to provide follow‑up fiscal details and to continue coordinating with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and local partners on wildfire recovery efforts.
