Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

The main funding source for Community Funding program is the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) . CDBG is a federal grant program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that is used to provide services and home repairs to the most vulnerable in our community, make capital improvements to lower-income neighborhoods, and assist the expansion and micro businesses. Organizations that address one of the following priority needs can be considered for CDBG funding: 

Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA)  

Since 2021, the City has also awarded grants through the Permanent Local Housing Allocation program of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. PLHA supports housing-related projects and programs that assist in addressing the unmet housing needs of their local communities. 

The full list of CDBG and PLHA grant recipients for 2024-2025, organized by category, is shown below.

Counseling Services 

Friends for Youth ($14,100) – Provides quality mentoring relationships and support services to underserved, vulnerable youth through community-based 1-to-1 mentoring, school-based group mentoring, and holistic services thorough the Whole Health for Youth coalition, which provides prevention and early intervention programs for the whole family.

Rape Trauma Services Sexual Abuse Services for Children and Youth ($14,100) – RTS is the only organization in San Mateo County providing comprehensive sexual assault services for survivors and their loved ones while working in the community to prevent sexual assault, end cycles of violence, and educate residents and providers about sexual violence and other kinds of abuse.

Economic Empowerment and Small Business Development

Upwards BOOST Program ($40,000) – Upwards (formerly WeeCare) is a technology-driven care solutions company with a mission to make care accessible to all families and empower the caregivers who provide it. The BOOST (Business Operation & Optimization Support Tools) program provides no-cost business and technical assistance to low-income owners of daycare facilities to improve operational efficiency, increase enrollment, create new childcare jobs, and enhance the quality of care for families.  

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Creating Economic Opportunity for Low-Income Women and Men Program ($40,000) – Renaissance provides customized small business training, one-on-one consulting, and access to capital, resources and networks to low-income business owners to assist them in starting and growing their own sustainable small businesses.  

Home Repair and Accessibility Modifications

Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CIID) Housing Accessibility Modification (HAM) Program (20,000) – CIID provides modifications to homes of persons with disabilities to improve accessibility and increase safety. Specifically, CID will install ramps, handrails, grab bars, vertical lifts, and other modifications to make homes accessible.

Rebuilding Together Peninsula  ($107,000) - RTP’s Safe at Home program provides critical home repair for low-income homeowners, including home safety modifications that allow low-income seniors to safely age in place by reducing the threat of injury or accident. Their National Rebuilding Day Home Rehabilitation program occurs twice per year, bringing together about 1,000 volunteers on behalf of low-income homeowners to complete critical health and safety repairs. 

Legal and Advocacy Services

Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) ($14,100) – CORA provides survivors of domestic violence and their children with a safety net of legal services including, but not limited to, full representation, filing restraining orders, court accompaniment, advocacy, and a legal hotline.

Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County HomeSavers Program ($14,100) – Legal Aid provides assistance to people threatened with losing their homes or living in substandard conditions with the goals of keeping people in their homes; preventing homelessness through the enforcement of legal rights, in and out of court; and remedying substandard living conditions through advocacy.

Ombudsman Services of San Mateo County ($14,100) – Ombudsman is the only program in San Mateo County wholly dedicated and legally mandated to advocate for the dignity and quality of life of people living in licensed long-term care facilities.

Project Sentinel, Inc. ($14,100) – Project Sentinel provides comprehensive fair housing services throughout San Mateo County via proactive community outreach and education to home seekers, in-place residents and housing providers, as well as reactive complaint investigations seeking remedies for victims of housing discrimination.

Social Services

CALL Primrose CALL Community Pantry ($14,100) – CALL Primrose operates a drop-in food pantry program, providing free grocery services to low-income individuals, families and seniors along the mid-peninsula cities of Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Foster City, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Belmont and San Carlos.  

LifeMoves ($14,100) – LifeMoves provides interim housing programs and comprehensive supportive services for homeless families and individuals across San Mateo County.  

PLHA-Funded Organizations for Program Year 2024-2025

Bridge Housing ($61,541) -- Bridge partners with Abode Services to provide case management, budgeting, advocacy with property management, key resource referrals, child-care services, rental assistance and more for the residents of 67 units of low-income and veteran housing at the Montara affordable housing development.  

HIP Housing Homesharing Program ($20,000) --HIP Housing’s Home Sharing program matches low-income residents with homeowners who have a room or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to rent.    

Samaritan House Safe Harbor Shelter ($15,000) – The Samaritan House Safe Harbor Shelter provides site-based emergency and transitional housing programs and comprehensive support services for homeless individuals.