This is how Chula Vista plans to spend $3.4 million in federal grants

Chula Vista will use a $3.41 million in federal grants for rental assistance and to support multiple organizations providing public services for seniors and people with disabilities and who are homeless.

The city's allocation for 2023-24 includes $2.32 million in Community Development Block Grant funding, $894,917 in Home Investment Partnerships Act, or HOME, monies and $201,908 in Emergency Solutions Grant funds.

Chula Vista council members recently approved the spending plan, which is effective July 1.

"We want to make sure that we're helping as many folks as possible," said Mayor John McCann.

Funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and are meant to support cities in providing housing and expanding economic opportunities for low-and moderate-income residents. To receive the money, cities must create a five-year plan, plus yearly plans describing the use of their grant allocations.

Of its CDBG funding amount, Chula Vista will invest $348,184 to fund 14 of 15 programs from organizations that applied with the city. WeeCare Inc.'s application had requested $150,000 for a program that offers business and technical assistance to childcare providers, but the city rejected the application because it would have decreased funding for those offering essential services directly to low-income individuals.

The smallest award is $11,000 to the SBCS Corporation for its South Bay Food Program, which provides more than 10,000 pounds of food and household items to homeless and low-income families every month. McAlister Institute is receiving the most, $60,000, for Work for Hope, its rehabilitation program that provides homeless people with life skills and employment. Other recipients include $25,000 for the Chula Vista Elementary School District's family resource center, $12,100 for the city to offer motel vouchers to homeless individuals and $10,000 to Mama's Kitchen, which offers free home-delivered meals to families who are vulnerable to malnutrition due to illnesses.

"We serve as the bottom of the safety net for your community, caring for those who are physically unable to access their services," said Jenna Novotny with Mama's Kitchen. She said the organization expects to provide 60,000 meals to feed 217 critically ill residents in 2024 and CDBG funds would cover 23,890 of those meals.

Chula Vista also set aside $713,934 million in CDBG funds for sidewalk and street improvements along Third Avenue in its southwest region and on Alpine Avenue between Emerson Street and Naples Street. Additionally, it will use $669,800 to pay off a HUD loan and $125,000 in housing services and loans for mobile home and single-family homeowners to make repairs.

The remaining $464,245 in CDBG funds will go toward covering staff costs associated with the management of the CDBG program, including regulatory compliance and preparing the five-year and annual plans.

Chula Vista can use HOME funds to provide affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities through new construction, acquisition, rehabilitation or assistance programs, according to federal guidelines.

For 2023-24, the city plans to use $805,425 in rental assistance for local tenants and $89,492 in costs associated with administering the HOME program.

The city will use its ESG allocation to address homelessness. A total of $100,765 will go toward homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing services and $86,000 to emergency shelters run by San Diego-based Interfaith Shelter Network and SBCS. The remaining $15,143 will cover city planning in this category.

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.

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