BACKGROUND
Using certain federal, state, and local redevelopment funds, the City can support certain projects and programs to achieve the following objectives:
- Increase the supply of housing that is affordable to its low and moderate income citizens;
- Reduce and eliminate conditions that contribute to blight in the community;
- Help meet the needs of its low-income citizens for certain public services and facilities.
Examples of such projects and programs include:
- Financial support (grants and loans) to developers of housing for low income persons;
- Economic development projects such as rehabilitation of downtown commercial buildings;
- Construction of public facilities such as the Skate Park (which was largely funded with federal CDBG funds);
- Rehabilitating public facilities such as the Municipal Pool Changing Room and Paso Robles Children’s Museum (formerly Fire Station #1);
- Construction of street improvements such in-roadway signalized crosswalks, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, and paving alleys;
- Financial support for public services such as the Literacy Council’s Literacy Program, Economic Opportunity Commission’s Senior Health Screening Program, and Transitional Food and Shelter’s Motel Voucher Program.
The source of the City’s funding for these projects and programs includes federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) grants, and local Redevelopment Low and Moderate Income Housing (LMIH) funds.
The City receives CDBG and LMIH funds annually. The County of San Luis Obispo receives HOME funds, and the City may apply for them on an annual basis.
By federal and state law, recipients of housing assistance from CDBG, HOME, and CalHome funds must be “low income.” State law allows the City’s Redevelopment Agency to use LMIH funds for “moderate income” persons. These income groups are defined in more detail on the income levels page.
CDBG funds may be used to provide public services and facilities for which the majority of clients are “low income” persons.