March 8, 2011 > CDBG funding recommendations CDBG funding recommendations By Abraham Cruz The City of Milpitas' Community Advisory Commission (CAC) held a public hearing as part of its annual review of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding applications for Fiscal Year 2011-12. The anticipated CDBG budget for FY 2011-12 is $638,938. According to Federal Regulations, 20 percent ($127,787) of the total grant will be used to fund General Program Administration; 15 percent ($95,840) is available to for Public Services and 65 percent ($415,311) is available for Non-Public Services. Milpitas City Council reaffirmed CDBG established policies - 25 percent ($23,960) of all Public Service funds must be spent on City of Milpitas programs; a minimum funding level of $5,000 is to be allocated for approved Public and Non-Public Services. The City received 21 applications totaling $745,946 - 17 for public services and four for non-public services. Eligible applicants spoke in support of their respective programs at the March 2, 2011, public hearing. One applicant, Donate for Children, withdrew its application for undisclosed reasons. On November 16, 2010, Council adopted two-year funding priorities (2011-13) to assist CAC in evaluating grant applications. To qualify under the Public Service category, a list of priorities was established, in order of preference - Senior Services, Youth/Teen Services, Homeless Sheltering/Services, Child Care and Battered Women Sheltering/Services. Applicants for Public Service funds offer services that fall directly under the established criteria set by Council. The Catholic Charities Long Term Ombudsman Program, Health Trust, Live Oak Adult Day Services and Senior Adults Legal Assistance are all dedicated to assisting with food, social visits and services, housing, legal services and improved quality of life for senior citizens. California Alliance of African American Educators, Filipino Youth Coalition and the Milpitas Unified School District Literacy Program are committed to furthering educational services for children and their families and providing intervention services for at-risk teenagers. The Catholic Charities Shared Housing, Milpitas Food Pantry, Emergency Housing Consortium and Project Sentinel offer housing services to homeless individuals, single-parent families and fight housing discrimination, while the City of Milpitas Recreation Services and the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation assist families with childcare services and comprehensive healthcare. Finally, the Alum Rock Counseling Center, Next Door Solutions, Emergency Housing Consortium and the YWCA Support Network for Battered Women offer shelter, counseling and other services to victims of domestic violence. For Non-Public Services, the priorities are Home Repair/Rehabilitation, Affordable Housing and Rental Apartment Rehabilitation. Milpitas Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program (housing rehabilitation assistance for low/very low income homeowners); Rebuilding Together (safety and accessibility for low-income homeowners); San Jose Conservation Corps (apartment rental rehabilitation); and Terrace Gardens Senior Housing, Inc. (kitchen replacement for senior citizens) applied for Non-Public Service funding. CDBG Public Service funds are to be distributed to average at least $5,000 for those programs receiving assistance. CAC commissioners' discussion revolved around which programs would be most beneficial to Milpitas residents and which would have the greatest impact for program recipients. The CAC recommended Council approve all the Non-Public Services applications and all Public Services applicants except three (California Alliance of African American Educators, Project Sentinel and YWCA Support Network for Battered Women). Brief descriptions of applicants' programs can be found at www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov