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Federal funds in Escondido over the next five years will focus on helping vulnerable people, creating affordable housing and getting homeless people off the street under a priorities plan recently approved by the City Council. Housing and Neighborhood Services Manager Danielle Lopez said U.S.
Housing and Urban Development requires cities to present a consolidated plan about needs in their communities every five years. The previous five-year plan listed 13 priorities, but the new consolidated plan focuses on four through 2029. First is the development and preservation of affordable rental and home ownership units, followed by expanded access to supportive services to prevent and reduce homelessness, promote housing stability and foster long-term solutions.
Next was the promotion of safe and healthy communities by improving public facilities, upgrading infrastructure and supporting neighborhood revitalization. The final priority was to establish essential service to vulnerable populations, including families and seniors with low to moderate incomes and individuals with special needs. Dominique Clark of RSG Inc.
, the city’s hired consultant, explained that the HUD-required consolidated plan includes a needs assessment, an analysis of the local housing market, a strategic plan to benefit low- and moderate-income households and an action plan on how the funds will be used to meet the needs. Clark said the process began in November and December with community meetings to discuss priorities and a survey of 164 people. The survey asked people to list their top three priorities, and 54% of people said homeless services were in the top three, with 45% supporting development of affordable housing and 35% seeing economic development as a priority.
The survey also gathered more details on the top priorities. Under homeless services, respondents said the greatest need was for more help with substance abuse and mental and behavioral health. The second-highest need was for a navigation or resource center for homeless people and third was homelessness prevention.
The top prioritized need for housing was more affordable rentals followed by affordable for-sale housing and affordable rental housing for people with disabilities. The top need under community services was identified as child care centers followed by mental health services and transportation services. Survey participants identified job creation and retention as the top priority in economic development followed by business-building repairs and improvements.
The final priority was for grants and loans to small businesses. A 30-day public review and comment period on the plan opened April 17. The 171-page document is available at City Hall and online at escondido.
gov/220/CDBG-Program-Overview . A second public hearing on recommendations on how to spend HUD funding will be held June 11. HUD allocations for the next fiscal year will be announced in mid-May, and the consolidated plan will be submitted to HUD for approval 60 days after the announcement.
In fiscal year 2024-25, the city’s HUD allocation was $574,000 in HOME Investment Partnership funds to create affordable housing for low-income households and $1.378 million in Community Development Block Grant funding for housing and economic opportunities, primarily for low- and moderate-income people. Escondido typically spends 65% of its CDBG allocation on public facilities and neighborhood revitalization, housing and rehab, historic preservation and property purchases.
An additional 20% is for administration and 15% is for services such as food delivery, legal aid and mental health. Most HOME funds are used for organizations that work in rental housing development, rental assistance, homeowner rehabilitation and first-time buyer assistance. While Escondido hasn’t received Emergency Solutions Grant funds in several years because it did not meet an eligibility threshold, Lopez said the city could learn in May if it will have any this year, and the money could be used for shelters, street outreach and homelessness prevention.
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