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Longmont Council approves $1.6M in human services grants for 2026 after board's formulaic review
Summary
The Housing & Human Services Advisory Board recommended funding 62 programs across 55 agencies; council approved about $1.6 million in allocations that prioritize housing stability, food and nutrition, and health and well-being, after staff explained a formulaic scoring process and available funding constraints.
The Longmont City Council on Dec. 16 approved the Housing and Human Services Advisory Board's recommended 2026 funding allocations, directing roughly $1.6 million to 62 programs across 55 agencies after a formulaic scoring and deliberation process.
"We fund a whole range of safety nets, mental health services, food security services," Human Services Program Manager Eliberto Mendoza said as he presented the board's framework and recommended allocations. Mendoza described a process that included agency hearings and a scoring rubric using standard deviations and ranges to determine percentage funding awards.
Human Services Director Christina Pacheco said the city has a standing set-aside of 3% of budgeted tax revenue for human services and noted demand far exceeds available resources. Mendoza told council that agencies requested roughly $2.3 million this cycle and the board's recommended distribution was about $1.6 million; the board also used $34,000 of unspent funds to top-slice high scorers in priority categories.
Council members asked detailed questions about program eligibility, whether county or state entities that apply are funding Longmont-specific services, and how staff will coordinate these allocations with other code and funding efforts. Don Bradshaw and other staff answered technical questions about residency verification related to other agenda items.
A motion by Council Member Popkin to approve the 2026 human services allocations (with two exceptions noted for his personal conflicts of interest) passed; council voted to approve the slate with the stated exceptions and staff will notify funded agencies and proceed with grant agreements.
Council members and staff said they would continue to monitor community needs and the alignment of allocations with council priorities, and staff said it will present more information and implementation updates as programs get under way.
