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Board earmarks transitional support for homeless services and creates nonprofit transition fund
Summary
The board directed staff to earmark up to $2.5M for homeless services contingent on city participation, and approved a $1.5M nonprofit transition designation (split proposed between contingencies and tax‑reduction reserves) to help community organizations adapt to reduced county funding.
After hearing testimony from homeless service providers and community advocates, the board approved a set of tentative actions aimed at preventing service disruptions as several funding streams change.
Board members debated staff's recommendation to earmark up to $2.5 million to Fund Center 290 (Homeless Services and Affordable Housing) contingent on city matches. Supervisor Paulding proposed altering the contingency language to require city participation rather than a strict funding match; the board supported that change.
In addition, supervisors moved to create a $1.5 million nonprofit transition designation (a compromise split suggested by board members was $1,000,000 from contingencies and $500,000 from the tax reduction reserve) to provide time‑limited, high‑threshold transitional grants to organizations serving vulnerable populations. The board directed staff to return with refined criteria and recommended an ad hoc supervisory role in the selection process (with Brown Act considerations) tied to an existing steering committee.
Ken Dale Labow of the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition and other public speakers urged the board not to make cuts that would reverse recent progress; staff noted that some state and federal grants have declined or will not be replaced. The board emphasized the need to protect recent investments in beds and infrastructure and to use transition funding strategically to preserve services while partners adapt.
