San Rafael, CA – While Marin County has one of the highest median household incomes in California – $136,800 for a family of four – many residents struggle to meet basic needs with housing, basic health, and childcare. To encourage nonprofits to help solve the issue, federal funding is available through programs managed by the County of Marin.
Federal grant applications are assessed on how they affirmatively further fair housing and serve local members of protected classes.The application period is open through 5 p.m. February 6 for local nonprofits that offer community development activities such as housing and services for low- and moderate-income families and individuals. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are administered by the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA).
Application materials for CDA’s 2020-22 grant cycle are available at www.marincounty.org/federalgrants and in CDA’s Marin County Civic Center office at 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 308, San Rafael, CA 94903, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Applications are assessed on how they affirmatively further fair housing and serve local members of protected classes based on race, gender, disability, and other factors. Individuals may not apply for the grants. A recent example of an approved CDBG grant was funding for a program that provides home modifications to allow people with disabilities and mobility challenges to remain in their homes. Another recipient is using funding to support low-cost legal services for low-income renters facing evictions.
In previous years, funding cycles were completed on an annual basis. This year the federal grants program is transitioning to a two-year application cycle. Additional changes to the federal grants program include increasing the minimum grant size to $15,000 annually and identifying public service funding category priorities as: housing support services; basic health services; and children, youth, and parent support services.
All nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects are encouraged to participate in a bidder’s conference at the Civic Center’s Board of Supervisors chamber, Suite 330, on Wednesday, January 15, to learn more about the application process and types of eligible projects. The conference will be organized with two distinct presentations: public service projects (1-2 p.m.) and community infrastructure (capital) and housing projects (2:30-3:30 p.m.).
CDA staff members will be available throughout the application process to consult with organizations unable to attend the bidder’s conference.
For more details, email the Housing and Federal Grants Division.