REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Brendan Rafferty, Assistant Administrative Services Director Date:December 9, 2025
Subject:Community Development Block Grant (C.D.B.G.) Program for Fiscal Year 2026 - 2027 and Community Support Allocation for Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026
Recommendation
Adopt the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for Fiscal Year 2026-2027; approve the submittal of the City’s program to the County of Riverside and the allocation of Community Support Funds (CSF).
Background
Each year, the City of Lake Elsinore receives an allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. These allocations are based on population and are designed for assistance to low- and moderate-income residents and areas.
On July 11, 2023, the City Council renewed its Joint-Recipient Cooperation Agreement (Metropolitan Cities Agreement) with the County of Riverside. Participation in the Joint-Recipient Cooperation Agreement allows the City of Lake Elsinore to receive its portion of funds allocated by HUD, minus a thirteen percent (13%) administration fee by the County of Riverside.
To qualify for funding, eligible projects must largely benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevent or eliminate slums and blight, or meet a need having a particular urgency. The County of Riverside Housing, Homelessness Prevention, and Workforce Solutions (HHPWS) has stated that “In order to ensure the effective, efficient, and appropriate allocation and use of the County’s CDBG funding, the County may reject any proposed cooperating city CDBG activity in an amount less than $10,000.” The only exceptions to this policy include traditionally county-wide activities (City/County, multiple cities, etc.) or a project or activity serving a very remote location.
CDBG Allocation FY 2026-27 and CSF FY 2025-26
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On October 2, 2025, a Notice of Funding Availability was published and emailed to previously funded organizations and other interested organizations. Additionally, this notice was published on the City’s website along with the information regarding the City’s Community Support Funding (CSF) Program. The organizations were instructed to submit their applications for Community Support Funds along with their CDBG applications.
On November 14, 2025, the City received five (5) applications for CDBG Funds and seven (7) applications for Community Support Funds (CSF). A list of current and past CDBG and Community Support Funding allocations is attached.
Discussion
For the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 funding program, the City hopes to receive approximately $587,000. It should be noted that this amount is an estimate, and the actual amount of CDBG funds received by the City could fluctuate depending on how the United States Congress approves the national budget.
Based on an allocation of $587,000 and CDBG requirements, thirteen percent (13%) or $76,310 would be required by the County of Riverside for administrative costs. Additionally, the City can earmark a maximum of seven (7%) or $41,090 towards CDBG program administration costs and fifteen 15% or approximately $88,050 towards public service programs.
However, in order to maximize the amount of CDBG funds available for the City projects, Staff is proposing to use none of the CDBG funds for the City’s administrative costs. This will allow a balance of $422,640 for the following City project:
1. Spring Street Sidewalk Project ($422,640). The proposed project involves the use of CDBG funds to make much-needed improvements to the sidewalks on West Limited Avenue.
As of the filing deadline of November 14, 2025, the City received five (5) outside public service agency applications for a total requested allotment of $151,000.
The agencies requesting funds are as follows:
1. Thrifting 4 Gifting (previously Assistance League of Temecula Valley) ($50,000). The agency is located in Temecula, and the organization’s School Zone Program provides clothing and shoes to disadvantaged children in the Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, and Temecula School Districts. The requested CDBG funds would be used to serve children in Lake Elsinore.
2. Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Riverside County ($20,000). Located in Lake Elsinore, the organization is requesting funds for Boys and Girls Club Program Scholarships for before and after school programming and transportation to serve underserved youth in the City of Lake Elsinore. The activities are provided at the Boys and Girls Club’s Clubhouse located at 16275 Grand Avenue in the City of Lake Elsinore.
3. Helping Our People in Elsinore, Inc. (H.O.P.E.) ($50,000). Located in Lake Elsinore, the organization is requesting funds for its Pantry Program that distributes a balanced menu CDBG Allocation FY 2026-27 and CSF FY 2025-26
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of groceries to low-income families, seniors, and individuals in Lake Elsinore and the surrounding communities.
4. Vista Community Clinic ($21,000). This organization’s request for CDBG funds to meet the costs of a Certified Enrollment Counselor who links uninsured low-income residents of Lake Elsinore to health insurance and medical/dental home, thereby providing access to comprehensive healthcare services. Services would be provided at Vista Community Clinic’s health center at 30195 Fraser Drive.
5. Voices for Children ($10,000). Riverside County Court Appointed Special Advocate to transform the lives of abused, abandoned, or neglected children by providing them with trained volunteers.
FY 2026 – 2027 CDBG Program Year – Proposed Allocation
2026-2027 2025-2026
Agency
2026-2027
Requested
Amount
Proposed
Allocation Allocation
PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS
Thrifting 4 Gifting $50,000 $27,000 $27,000
Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County $20,000 $8,000 $8,000 Helping Our People in Elsinore, Inc. (H.O.P.E.) $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 Vista Community Clinic $21,000 $21,000 $21,000
Voices for Children $10,000 $7,050 $7,050
Subtotal $151,000 $88,050 $88,050
PUBLIC FACILITY PROJECT
Public Facility Improvements $422,640 $422,640 $422,640 Subtotal $422,640 $422,640 $422,640
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
Riverside County EDA $76,310 $76,310 $77,383
Subtotal $76,310 $76,310 $77,383
GRAND TOTAL $649,950 $587,000 $587,000
As of the filing deadline, November 14, 2025, the City received seven (7) Community Support Funding (CSF) applications for the total requested allotment of $40,000.
The agencies requesting funds are as follows:
1. Trauma Intervention Program ($10,000). Located in Murrieta, this agency provides emotional first aid to survivors of the tragedy to ease their immediate suffering and facilitate their healing and long-term recovery.
2. Helping our People in Elsinore, Inc. ($5,000). Located in Lake Elsinore, the Pantry Program distributes a balanced menu of groceries to low-income families, seniors, and individuals in Lake Elsinore and the surrounding communities.
3. Dream Center Raising Highly Capable Kids ($5,000). Connecting isolated people or families and assessing their needs. Navigate shelter options, poverty relief, and addiction services, health and wellness services, and partner with them to build family relationships.
CDBG Allocation FY 2026-27 and CSF FY 2025-26
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4. Boys and Girls Club of Southwest County ($5,000). Located in Murrieta, the Ultimate STEM/Computer Science program provides technology and access to computers for youth. Through various activities, youth participate in web exploration, media production, robotics, coding, and more.
5. Thrifting 4 Gifting (previously Assistance League of Temecula Valley) ($5,000). The agency is located in Temecula, and the organization's Operation School Bell provides clothing and shoes to disadvantaged children in the Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, and Temecula School Districts. The requested CDBG funds would be used to serve children in Lake Elsinore.
6. Honore’s Home Care ($5,000). Farm to Fork model. Members of the MA's community prepare the land, plant the seeds, and share/donate the harvested produce.
A breakdown of Community Support Funding (CSF) requests and proposed allocations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is reflected in the following table:
Agency
2025-2026
Requested
Amount
2025-2026
Proposed
Allocation
2024-2025
Allocation
Trauma Intervention Program $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
Salvation Army $0 $0 $5,000
Thrifting 4 Gifting (previously Assistance League of
Temecula) $5,000 $5,000 $5,000
Michelle’s Place $5,000 $5,000 n/a
Helping Out People in Elsinore, Inc. $5,000 $2,500 $5,000 Raising Highly Capable Kids Dream Center $5,000 $2,500 n/a Boys and Girls Club $5,000 $5,000 $5,000
Honore’s Home Care $5,000 $0 n/a
GRAND TOTAL $40,000 $30,000 $30,000
Fiscal Impact
As indicated above, the City of Lake Elsinore’s CDBG allocation is anticipated to be $587,000 for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year. These funds will be available on or about July 1, 2026. There is $30,000 available in the General Fund for Community Support Funding (CSF) in the Community Support Budget.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Summary Matrix of Public Service Requests with Past Awards (CDBG) Attachment 2 - Summary Matrix of Community Support Funding Request with Past Awards Attachment 3 - FY 2026-2027 CDBG Funding Application Thrifting 4 Gifting CDBG Allocation FY 2026-27 and CSF FY 2025-26
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Attachment 4 - FY 2026-2027 CDBG Funding Application Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County
Attachment 5 - FY 2026-2027 CDBG Funding Application Helping Our People in Elsinore, Inc. (H.O.P.E)
Attachment 6 - FY 2026-2027 CDBG Funding Application Vista Community Clinic Attachment 7 - FY 2026-2027 CDBG Funding Application Voices for Children Attachment 8 - FY 2025-2026 CSF Application Trauma Intervention Program Attachment 9 - FY 2025-2026 CSF Application Thrifting 4 Gifting Attachment 10 - FY 2025-2026 CSF Application Michelle’s Place Attachment 11 - FY 2025-2026 CSF Application Helping Our People in Elsinore, Inc. (H.O.P.E) Attachment 12 - FY 2025-2026 CSF Application Raising Highly Capable Kids, Dream Center Attachment 13 - FY 2025-2026 CSF Application Boys & Girls Club of Southwest County Attachment 14 - FY 2025-2026 CSF Application Honore’s Home Care Administrative Services