Sacramento, CA… The Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) today announced $1.6 million in awards to support targeted initiatives and innovative projects that benefit low-income individuals, families and communities under the federally-funded Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).
“These grants provide communities around the state with opportunities to create and implement innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for low-income Californians targeting their local needs,” said CSD Acting Director Linné Stout. “As a result of these targeted initiatives and innovative projects, California’s low-income families and individuals living in these communities will be positively impacted by these new opportunities.”
CSBG eligible entities applied for awards in one of five categories identified through a survey to address specific areas that provide the most value and benefit to their communities: Employment; Homeless Services; Youth Services (including employment); Food and Nutrition; and Innovative Projects.
Following is the list of the awardees along with a short description of the targeted initiative or innovative project funded by the award. If you would like more information on these projects, please email Rachel Arrezola at Rachel.Arrezola@csd.ca.gov.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA:
Glenn County: Colusa-Glenn-Trinity Community Action Partnership was awarded $70,000 for the expansion of the Community Re-Entry Work Program (CREW), an employment services targeted initiative to help soon to be released incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society and become self-sufficient.
Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and Siskiyou Counties: Northern California Indian Development Council was awarded $100,000 for Bridging the Gaps to Success, a youth services targeted initiative to provide American Indian youth with employment skills, training and work experience.
Inyo, Mono and Alpine Counties: Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action was awarded $100,000 for the Eastern Sierra Homeless Prevention Program, a homeless services targeted initiative to assist at-risk residents and reduce homelessness.
Mendocino and Lake Counties: North Coast Opportunities was awarded $100,000 for Skills and Options Using Produce (SOUP) Project, an innovative project to provide transitional housing and homeless shelter residents with job training and experience, including cooking and gardening skills, nutrition education and business development training.
SACRAMENTO AREA:
Sacramento County: Sacramento Employment and Training Agency was awarded $100,000 for ArtBeast Rising Youth Employment Program, a youth services targeted initiative to provide case management, child care and subsidized work experience opportunities for pregnant and parenting youth that are currently or recently homeless.
BAY AREA:
Solano County: Community Action Partnership of Solano was awarded $100,000 for Solano Housing Project 2013, a homeless services targeted initiative to serve homeless clients through rental and utility assistance in the cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville and Vallejo.
Sonoma County: Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County was awarded $83,107 for the expansion of Youth Connections, a youth services targeted initiative to provide truancy and drop-out prevention services for Hispanic youth in Santa Rosa.
Santa Clara County: Center for Employment Training (CET) was awarded $100,000 for the Women’s Empowerment to Employment Project, an employment targeted initiative to provide low-income women in Gilroy and San Jose seeking employment with support services and skill training. CET is also providing services in San Diego County with this grant.*
San Mateo County: San Mateo County Human Services Agency was awarded $100,000 for the Rapid Re-Housing Project, a homeless services targeted initiative to provide rental assistance to homeless families and individuals who are ready to exit a shelter, but lack the savings to secure permanent housing.
CENTRAL COAST:
San Luis Obispo County: Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County was awarded $92,745 for the Paso Robles Teen Resource Center, a youth services targeted initiative to provide youth in Paso Robles with access to vital social, physical and mental health services, and job training and paid work experience.
Santa Barbara County: Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County was awarded $99,977 for Las Comadres, a youth services targeted initiative to provide young females in South Santa Barbara County with mentoring and education with the goal of guiding them away from gang involvement.
CENTRAL VALLEY:
Fresno County: Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission was awarded $100,000 for conTRACting and TRAINing for HSR, an innovative project to connect and provide training that will help low-income and disadvantaged groups participate in the economic benefits of the High Speed Rail.
Fresno, Kings, Kern and Tulare counties: Proteus was awarded $100,000 for the Youth Outreach and Civic Engagement Project, an innovative project to provide services to help migrant and seasonal farmworker youth navigate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) provisions, to assist them in continuing their stay in the U.S.
Kern County: Community Action Partnership of Kern was awarded $47,972 for Kern Nutrition on Wheels (KNOW) – Kid’s Farmers Market, a food and nutrition targeted initiative to establish a mobile children’s Farmers Market at three low-income elementary schools in Bakersfield, Lost Hills and Shafter.
San Joaquin County: San Joaquin County Department of Aging and Community Services was awarded $100,000 for Computer Builder and Life-Skill Development Program, a youth services targeted initiative to provide computer classes and employment training for economically disadvantaged youth.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
Los Angeles County: Long Beach Community Action Partnership was awarded $95,000 for Men Making a Change, a homeless services targeted initiative to support the at-risk population of homeless African American men in the City of Long Beach with transitional housing and a broad range of support services to live independently and gain employment.
San Diego County: Center for Employment Training (CET) was awarded $100,000 for the Women’s Empowerment to Employment Project, an employment targeted initiative to provide low-income women in San Diego seeking employment with support services and skill training. CET is also providing services in Santa Clara County with this grant.*
San Diego County: San Diego County Community Action Partnership was awarded $100,000 for the Resident Leadership Academy, an innovative project working to build grassroots leadership to drive community improvement projects in low-income neighborhoods.
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CSD is one of 13 departments and one board under the umbrella of the California Health and Human Services Agency. The Department partners with a network of private, non-profit and local government community service providers dedicated to helping low-income families achieve and maintain self-sufficiency, meet their home energy needs and reside in housing free from the dangers of lead hazards. CSD administers California’s federal funding share for the Community Services Block Grant, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Weatherization Assistance Program and the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program. For more information about CSD and these programs, please visit www.csd.ca.gov.