Sonoma County housing staff are proposing to reallocate the remaining $113,295.85 in federal CARES Act Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG-CV) to Legal Aid of Sonoma County’s Housing Justice Program, which provides tenant-defense services in the Urban County. “Staff recommend awarding the full funding request of $113,295.85,” the memo says.
The staff report says the recommendation “supports effective service delivery and timely expenditure and minimizes the risk of forfeiting funds to HUD due to the short timeline for expenditure.” While the grant expires Sept. 4, 2026, subrecipients must spend the money and submit final reimbursement requests by June 30, 2026.
West County Community Services’ Navigation Center/Shelter request is not recommended. Staff cite performance concerns, writing that WCCS “has faced challenges in fully expending awarded funds over the past three consecutive fiscal years, resulting in unspent funds.”
The Community Development Committee is scheduled to hear the item Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at 141 Stony Circle, Suite 210, Santa Rosa, with a Zoom option. A special public hearing is planned for Oct. 22 following a 30-day comment period required for a Substantial Amendment to the 2020–21 Action Plan.
If funded, Legal Aid projects serving 50 households and 110 people during the six-month spend window.
