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Berkeley council approves reallocation of CDBG funds to shelter and youth housing projects
Summary
The council unanimously approved amendments to program-year CDBG allocations to fund the Dwight Way women's shelter and a transitional-age-youth shelter at 3404 King Street, shifting money from an underused senior disabled home-rehab loan program while preserving funds and CalHome support for that program.
The Berkeley City Council on July 23 approved substantial amendments to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program-year funds for 2018–2021 to reallocate money toward public facility improvements, including funding for the Dwight Way women’s shelter and a transitional-age-youth housing and shelter project at 3404 King Street.
Mayor read a staff email into the record explaining that the Senior Disabled Home Rehab Loan Program had received an annual allocation of $150,000 but became underused during the pandemic and has encountered contractor-bid bottlenecks. Staff said the program accumulated a large fund balance and risks missing CDBG timely-expenditure requirements if funds are not used.
According to the staff update read at the meeting, the program would still have $400,000 in CDBG funds after the proposed reallocation and would receive an additional $100,000 per year for the next four years; staff also noted there is over $1,000,000 in CalHome funding available to support the program. The reallocations would allow money to be spent on pressing shelter and youth housing needs while preserving funding for home-repair programs.
Public commenters and several commissioners urged more transparency and commission input on reallocations; commissioners reported being asked to review materials late or without full staff reports. Councilmembers asked staff to provide follow-up information and updates to relevant commissions.
Councilmember Trego moved the item; the mayor seconded and the motion passed as staff recommended with no objection recorded.
The approved reallocation directs funds to immediate public-facility improvements and directs staff to coordinate with commissions and community stakeholders to ensure transparency and timely implementation.
