LA County documentation requirements push San Gabriel to pause CDBG for youth programs; city to use general fund for near-term continuity

City staff told the Community Services Commission that Los Angeles County has added two documentation requirements for agencies using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that affect local youth programming.

Staff said the county now requires proof of income (with a grace period for activities beginning before Oct. 2025) and a citizenship or eligible-immigration-status declaration that was applied retroactively to July 1, 2025. Staff described operational burdens: collecting supporting documents (W-2s, Social Security statements or other receipts) and the need to follow up with families who do not submit paperwork. The county-provided citizenship declaration form was attached to the agenda packet, staff said.

Because the new requirements complicate reimbursement and participation data collection, staff told commissioners the city would not continue to use CDBG for youth programs going forward. For the remainder of the current school year the city will continue to offer the programs free of charge using general-fund dollars while staff explore sustainable funding models, potential grants and options for user fees. Staff said some remaining CDBG allocations will be redirected to other city CDBG-eligible projects (for example graffiti abatement) or returned to the county for redistribution.

Commissioners and parents at the meeting expressed concern about privacy and the political sensitivity of citizenship questions for a city with a large immigrant population; staff said they have been working with families and acknowledged varied responses, and noted that council had been updated on the city’s decision to stop using these CDBG funds for youth programs.