Background
The Community Services Block Grant is funding administered by the federal government that is dedicated to assisting local communities combat poverty. Yolo County receives approximately $300,000 in Community Services Block Grant funding each calendar year. In order to receive the funds, a key stipulation is that local service areas must conduct a bi-annual needs assessment and develop an accompanying action plan for how the community will use the funds to better serve low-income individuals and families.
The Yolo County Board of Supervisors is the Governing Board for local Community Services Block Grant funding. However, as required by federal statutes, the Board of Supervisors has appointed a 15-member advisory body called the Yolo County Community Services Action Board to assist with administering these funds. The Community Services Action Board works with staff in the Health and Human Services Agency to oversee the bi-annual needs assessment and develop a recommended Community Action Plan, which comes to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
The following sections explain how the Yolo County Community Services Action Board conducted its needs assessment and developed its Community Action Plan for calendar years 2020 and 2020.
Needs Assessment and Public Input Process
The Community Services Action Board used a two-pronged methodology consisting of public forums and surveys to collect both qualitative and quantitative data.
Staff convened six public forums in Davis, Esparto, Knights Landing, Winters, Woodland, and West Sacramento. At the public forums, attendees were invited to provide testimony regarding the needs of low-income residents on several critical service topics, including education, elderly services, emergency assistance, employment, housing and homelessness, income and youth services.
Staff also administered a survey, available in paper and online, to collect further testimony as to the needs of low-income residents. The public was notified of the forums and survey via press release and social media. Additionally, the information was advertised with stakeholder groups, community partners and providers, and customers accessing services in the Health and Human Services Agency Service Centers were provided with the information.
Staff shared the data and information that was collected during the public input process with the Community Services Action Board at their April meeting. After reviewing the information, the Community Services Action Board provided recommendations on what low-income service delivery options to prioritize in upcoming Community Services Block Grant funding rounds in calendar years 2020 and 2021. Staff prepared a draft Community Action Plan based on this information, which was made publicly available in early May. The Community Services Action Board hosted a Public Hearing at their May meeting to receive public comments on the draft Community Action Plan. Based on the Public Hearing, the Community Services Action Board recommended several edits to the draft Community Action Plan, and voted to approve the version of the Plan that is attached to this report (Attachment A).
2020-21 Community Action Plan
Consistent with past findings, the recent assessment indicated an overwhelming need for housing and homeless services, followed by income and employment assistance, emergency assistance, and disability related or elderly services. One question asked survey respondents to indicate the most pressing need for low-income individuals and families in Yolo County. Of the 625 responses to this question, 48.3% (302) indicated that housing and homeless services were the most pressing need, while 21.6% (135) selected income or employment services, 9.4% (59) selected emergency assistance and 7.0% (44) selected disability related or elderly services. Based on these results, Yolo County’s Community Action Plan for calendar years 2020 and 2021 proposes to prioritize using Community Services Block Grant funding for the following services:
- Housing and Homeless Services— finding and keeping safe, decent and affordable housing. According to the results of the needs assessment, priorities within the housing and homeless services category include housing navigation assistance, eviction prevention assistance such as help paying rent and/or utilities, supportive services to assist persons maintain their permanent housing, and transitional/bridge housing.
- Income and Employment Assistance— securing stable income and making better use of income; finding and keeping meaningful employment. Since income and employment assistance are so closely related, CSAB chose to combine them. Priorities within this category include helping persons find and secure permanent employment, providing job skills training, and assistance enrolling in public benefit programs such as CalWORKs, CalFresh and General Assistance.
- Emergency Assistance—meeting the immediate needs of food, shelter, clothing and protection from violence. Priorities within this category include emergency shelter beds for persons and families experiencing homelessness, meals for food insecure persons and families, as well as safety from crime and domestic violence.
- Disability Related or Elderly Services – addressing the needs of disabled individuals or the elderly. Priorities within this category include providing assistance to obtain disability benefits and assistance with in-home support services and care. CSAB recognized that the elderly and disabled are disproportionately represented in the local homeless population and chose to include this as a fourth category of priority need.
Next Steps
Staff, in partnership with the Community Services Action Board, is recommending that the Board of Supervisors take several actions related to the 2020-21 Community Action Plan, including:
- Approve the Yolo County Community Services Block Grant Community Action Plan for calendar years 2020 and 2021;
- Authorize the Chair to sign the 2020-21 Community Action Plan; and
- Authorize the Director of the Health and Human Services Agency to sign all related forms and amendments to the Plan.
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