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Alameda County outlines 2025'29 unincorporated neighborhood plan; CDBG allocation cited at about $700,000
Summary
Housing and community development staff presented the unincorporated 2025'29 Neighborhood Plan and Community Development Block Grant priorities, noting a 2024 CDBG allocation of $480,000 plus program income (about $700,000) and proposing funding priorities including homelessness reduction, housing preservation, public facilities and food security.
Housing and community development officials presented the unincorporated county's proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) neighborhood plan for fiscal years 2025'1 through 2028'29 and reviewed eligible activities, priorities and next steps.
Kelly Thiemann, HCD manager who administers the CDBG program, said, "For 2024, the CDBG allocation was 480,000 plus program income," adding that program income from prior housing-rehab loans typically means the county has additional funds available and that total 2024 resources were about $700,000. Thiemann said the county's portion for 2024 is listed as $600,000 in slide materials.
Trina Walker, community development specialist, described the neighborhood plan as a five-year strategic document to guide the use of CDBG funds and support low- and moderate-income residents. The draft priorities adopted by the Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee include reducing homelessness and increasing affordable housing, preserving and rehabilitating assisted rental housing, upgrading public facilities and childcare centers, improving food security and actively seeking new funding sources.
Key program details: staff reviewed HUD's national objectives and eligible activities (acquisition, rehabilitation, ADA compliance, planning, public facilities and certain economic development activities). Public service funding is capped at 15% of the overall urban-county allocation; staff noted restrictions on specific purchases under federal rules and that COVID-era funds had previously allowed some categories (for example, diaper distribution) to be funded outside regular CDBG rules.
Timing and next steps: staff released an RFP in December 2024, received applications on Jan. 16, and are rating and ranking proposals. If the Board adopts the neighborhood plan and approves awards, contracts are expected to begin July 1, 2025 and run through June 30, 2026. Staff noted some elements have already been advanced to meet HUD deadlines for the consolidated submission due May 15.
Supervisors raised two recurring themes: (1) whether CDBG priorities should be adjusted to avoid duplication with newly available Measure C funds for childcare and other local needs; and (2) how to make the most of limited CDBG resources for underresourced neighborhoods such as Ashland and Cherryland. Staff offered options to revise RFP priorities or to include adjusted priorities in the next-year RFP if the Board requests changes.
Public comment: neighborhood residents raised questions about how HUD-defined census tracts determine eligibility for area benefits (a staff member said funding eligibility follows HUD determinations) and highlighted local service needs such as bulky-waste pickup and streetlighting in Hayward Acres. Staff requested follow-up contact details so Public Works and HCD can coordinate.
What happens next: staff will present recommended awards and the final neighborhood plan to the Board; contracts are projected to start July 1, 2025 if the Board approves funding allocations.
