City of Alameda California
Community Development Department
950 West Mall Square, Suite 205
Alameda, CA 94501-4477
January 4, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Sarah Lewis, President
Social Service Human Relations Board
Subject: Social Service Human Relations Board
FY 2022-2023 CDBG Public Services Needs Statement
As an advisor to the City Council, the Social Service Human Rel ations Board (SSHRB) assesses the community’s social and human service needs and est ablishes strategies to address those needs. In 1997, the City Council tasked SSHRB wi th participating in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) process by reviewing a nd commenting on residents’ public service needs and forwarding recommendations to Council on the CDBG Non- Housing Public Services funding. This letter represents SSHRB’s recommendations for priority needs for social and community service support in the city of Alameda.
At the SSHRB meeting on December 9, 2021, staff presented the priorities that were identified in the CDBG Five-Year Strategic Plan, including: affordable housing, fair housing, food security, homelessness services, mental health support, safety and anti-c rime programs, tenant rights and housing support, and transportation and pedestrian safety. At the meeting, service providers and members of the public were given the opportunity to reflect on the community’s current needs, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers commented that the pandemic has magnified the issues of domestic violence, gender and racial inequities, and the need for affordable housing. SSHRB members, after consideratio n of input from service providers, recommend the following priority areas:
Housing and homeless services, including:
o Providing emergency services such as shelters, showers, storage, day center, restrooms, mental health, and housing navigation services o Developing housing options that include rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, independent housing, and more
o Increasing the supply of affordable housing
o Promoting fair housing
Domestic violence, including:
o Addressing economic insecurity, which often leads to increased risk for homelessness and legal problems
o Providing shelter and prevent homelessness for individuals fleeing sexual violence Information and referral services
Legal information services
Mental health and crisis intervention
Disaster related cash grants
Food pantries and food security
COVID-19 diagnostic tests
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The impacts of COVID-19, rising rents, and the high cost of liv ing continue to challenge many of our residents in Alameda. The needs of our citizens are outpacing the resources available to meet the basic necessities of Bay Area living. The CDBG Non-Housing Public Services funding provides an important safety net that supports Alameda’s most v ulnerable populations, but it is modest. Prioritizing the needs identified by Alameda stakeholders is therefore an imperative, and leveraging other sources must be explored.
Alameda’s compassionate, strong, and resilient community is what makes our island city unique.
SSRHB recommends that the City Council make policy and funding decisions that prioritize the needs of the people that have been identified in this needs sta tement letter. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Sarah Lewis, President
Social Services Human Relations Board
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