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By Lookout
Staff
February 6 -- Capping months of outreach showing homelessness,
senior services and affordable housing remain top local priorities,
the City Council Tuesday is poised to take the first steps in
awarding tens of millions in local grant funding through 2010.
From homeless non-profits such as OPCC to affordable housing
development organizations like Community Corporation, the City
gives $6.7 million annually to 29 non-profits and funds $1.2 million
in projects through Community Development Grants.
Improving community awareness, coordinating services and using
"best practices" and measurable outcomes are among the
criteria City staff will be seeking when service providers submit
funding proposals in coming months.
A regional approach in their services, successful leveraging of
non-City funds and phasing in key study recommendations (such
as those outlined in Santa Monica's recent homeless report) will
also be used to determine which groups receive grants.
The basis for the grant funding criteria – in addition
to studies -- was an extensive community outreach aimed at determining
community and funding priorities for Santa Monicans from infants
to the elderly.
The result was “Community Voices 2006,” a report
based on surveys; focus groups; meetings of City commissions,
advisory boards and task forces, and a roundtable discussion of
agency leaders.
When survey or focus groups were asked how the City should "spend
limited public funds” in eight service areas, participants
ranked "programs for seniors" highest, although City
officials acknowledge the results may have been skewed by an over-sampling
of seniors.
The second funding priority was allocating money for programs
to help homelessness individuals, followed by funding "programs
for low-income households/families." Programs for families
with school-aged children ranked fourth.
Participants allocated greater amounts of money for programs
addressing the needs of "populations to have the greatest
need," according to a staff report.
The nearly 500 people who responded to a communitywide survey,
7,500 copies of which were printed in Spanish and English, assessed
the three most important needs for five "target populations."
Those populations included seniors, the poor, homeless, disabled
and youths, especially those who might be considered at risk of
joining gangs or getting in trouble with authorities.
Transportation, affordable housing, access to healthcare, recreational
opportunities and public safety were all themes shared by the
target populations, according to staff.
But there were also key differences. While seniors more transportation
services and independent living assistance, the homeless need
access to mental health and counseling and emergency shelter.
In addition to the surveys, there were 21 focus groups, eight
of which were City commissions and advisory boards, totaling 197
individuals who each received $10 dollars to participate.
Finally, a "roundtable" was held in September 2006
with executive directors and managers to get their take on what's
important in Santa Monica.
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