Goleta council approves CDBG grants for supportive housing and youth family resource center

The Goleta City Council held a public hearing on April 1 to collect input on needs, goals and priorities for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) consolidated plan and then voted to approve recommended funding for two subrecipients and related allocations.

Cassie Laaire, the city’s senior management analyst (with consultant David Muñoz on the panel), said the consolidated plan and annual action plan will guide investment of anticipated HUD CDBG funds over a five‑year period. Staff used last year’s allocation as a baseline because this year’s federal allocation had not been released; staff estimated roughly $1.4 million in CDBG resources across five years, with approximately $951,000 proposed for capital projects, about $219,000 for public services and about $292,000 for administration.

Council approved two separate motions that staff recommended after the public‑input phase. The first motion approved funding for People Self Help Housing Corporation’s supportive‑services proposal, the staff report showed the award is intended to provide clinical case management and housing‑stability services to about 253 households across five affordable rental properties in Goleta. The council approved that allocation by roll call vote (all members present voted aye).

The second motion approved a $26,968.50 award for Isla Vista Youth Projects’ Family Resource Center. Council member Kiriakou earlier said he would abstain from votes affecting an organization where his spouse serves on the board; the record shows Kiriakou abstained on the Isla Vista Youth Projects vote and the remaining council members voted to approve the award.

Staff also recommended that the city’s capital allocation for the one‑year action plan be applied to Matilda Park improvements, with contingency language that unused funds would be reallocated to the Goleta Community Center ADA improvements. Staff said the administration portion of the one‑year allocation would be approximately $53,000.

On federal funding uncertainty, Laaire said the city had not received formal notice of changes to the CDBG allocation and thus was proceeding on a “presumed status quo” basis while meeting HUD timelines.

The council’s actions finalize the city’s proposed consolidated and annual action plans for submission to HUD and set the subrecipient awards and capital priorities staff will include in the plan documents.