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DATE: |
November 4, 2025 |
16 |
SUBJECT
Title
NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING:
COMMUNITY INPUT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 ANNUAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS, AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
As a recipient of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement program funding, the County of San Diego (County) develops a five-year Consolidated Plan to guide long-term planning and investment of housing and community development activities that serve residents across the region. On March 11, 2025 (8), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the 2025-29 Consolidated Plan, which covers the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. The Consolidated Plan establishes goals for four federal programs, locally administered by the County Health and Human Services Agency, Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS). These programs include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).
Each year of the five-year Consolidated Plan cycle includes an annual planning process consisting of three key documents: the Annual Plan Strategy, the Annual Plan, and the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. At this stage of the cycle, HCDS has developed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy, through extensive community engagement, which sets forth the priorities for activities that will be funded in the upcoming year’s Annual Plan. HCDS has conducted robust community engagement to obtain valuable feedback to inform the development of the Annual Plan Strategy. These efforts helped prioritize investments aligned with the goals of the 2025-29 Consolidated Plan, and the subsequent development of the Annual Plan.
Today’s action requests the Board to hold this public hearing to receive public input on housing and community development needs and to approve the FY 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy. Following today’s hearing, HCDS will develop the FY 2026-27 Annual Plan based on all community input received. A second public comment period and hearing will also occur in Spring 2026 to gather input on specific funding recommendations to be included in the draft FY 2026-27 Annual Plan.
This item advances the County vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all residents, with a particular focus on communities that have been historically underrepresented. This item also aligns with the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities by ensuring low-income residents have access to suitable living environments and by enhancing quality of life through decent and affordable housing. Additionally, this action supports the County Housing for All vision, the Framework for Ending Homelessness, and the Housing Blueprint by ensuring funding supports programs across the homeless-to-housed continuum for San Diego’s most vulnerable residents.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Hold this public hearing to receive public input on housing and community development needs and approve the 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs were designed to address the housing, community development, and public service needs of the county’s most vulnerable residents. These programs specifically serve low-and-moderate-income households and allow the County of San Diego (County) to invest in tailored interventions, such as services for individuals with special needs, nutritional meal delivery services, short-term, emergency, and permanent housing solutions, and essential home repairs that improve health and safety.
Recognizing the historical barriers that have limited some communities’ ability to fully participate in civic processes, including language access, physical accessibility, and lack of representation, the County Health and Human Services Agency, Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS) developed a deliberate and inclusive strategy to reduce barriers and improve engagement. In June 2025, HCDS implemented strategies to broaden participation and enhance the accessibility of information by facilitating community input sessions at locations across the county to ensure accessibility through geographic reach for hard-to-reach populations. Public notices and community input surveys were translated into the County’s threshold languages to serve non-English-speaking residents. To make public engagement more interactive and relevant, HCDS leveraged the County’s social media platforms and website to reach a broader and more diverse audience. This approach reflects the County’s commitment to advancing equity, fostering authentic community participation, and prioritizing investments that improve the quality of life for historically underserved communities.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s action advances the County of San Diego Sustainability Goals. Goal #1 to engage the community in meaningful ways will be achieved through diverse engagement opportunities that will subsequently inform the development of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Plan and set clear priorities through annual community input. This planning process emphasizes accessible and equitable participation to ensure all voices are heard. Additionally, Goal #2 to provide just and equitable access to County services is achieved by prioritizing programs that expand access to affordable housing, public recreation, shelter, and supportive services for San Diego County’s most vulnerable residents. Lastly, Goal #4 to protect the health and wellbeing of everyone in the region will be achieved through community engagement and the implementation of thoughtful practices that foster trust and inclusion.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with today’s action. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
As a recipient of United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement program funding, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS) develops a five-year Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan serves as the County’s strategic and guiding document for prioritizing activities funded through its four federal entitlement programs:
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Supports housing, public services, and community development activities benefiting low- and moderate-income residents.
• HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME): Supports local strategies to expand affordable housing through development, acquisition and/or rehabilitation of affordable housing, first-time homebuyer activities, and rental assistance.
• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG): Funds the initial steps in a continuum of care to prevent and address homelessness through street outreach, emergency shelter, homeless prevention, and rapid rehousing.
• Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA): Provides housing and services for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
The 2025-29 Consolidated Plan includes a demographic profile, an assessment of housing and community development needs, and a strategy to address those needs through these four programs. On March 11, 2025 (8), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the current 2025-29 Consolidated Plan, The 2025-29 Consolidated Plan goals are to: 1) Expand affordable housing options by increasing the supply and improving the affordability of existing housing; 2) Promote housing stability for the region’s most vulnerable populations through programs that span the homeless-to-housed continuum; and 3) Enhance quality of life for all San Diego County residents by improving access to vital services, community infrastructure, and economic opportunities.
The 2025-29 Consolidated Plan was developed through a combination of community input and analysis of census, economic, and demographic data indicators. It describes community needs, existing services, goals for addressing unmet needs, and funding priorities to be implemented through annual plans. Its geographic focus are the San Diego County Consortium jurisdictions, which includes:
• Urban County: The unincorporated areas of San Diego County and the participating cities of Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Solana Beach;
• HOME Consortium: The Urban County plus the additional participating cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, La Mesa, San Marcos, Santee, and Vista; and
• Regional: Includes the entire region of San Diego County.
Annual Process
The five-year Consolidated Plan operates on an annual cycle, producing three key documents each year: the Annual Plan Strategy; the Annual Plan; and the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The first stage is the Annual Plan Strategy, which establishes funding priorities for the upcoming fiscal year and is informed by robust community input. The second stage is the Annual Plan, which proposes specific projects and activities for funding that align with the Annual Plan Strategy’s funding priorities and the Consolidated Plan’s goals. The last stage is the CAPER, which reports on the outcomes and accomplishments of the prior year’s Annual Plan activities.
Annual Plan Strategy Community Engagement Process
Community input is foundational to developing the Annual Plan Strategy, and subsequently, the Annual Plan. HCDS conducts community engagement in two key stages, each offering opportunities for public participation. The first stage involves broad community engagement to identify priorities and needs that will guide funding decisions for the coming year. In June 2025, HCDS conducted a comprehensive series of community engagement activities to support the development of the FY 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy. Engagement efforts included facilitating six in-person community input sessions across multiple locations and two virtual sessions to increase accessibility. HCDS provided translated public notices and online and paper community input surveys in the County’s threshold languages to reduce language barriers and improve accessibility. To ensure broad awareness and participation, HCDS sent targeted emails, leveraged the County’s social media platforms, collaborated with other County departments, and utilized the Engage San Diego County website to broadcast the online community input survey. HCDS also invited each County Supervisor to share district-specific priorities via the online community input survey.
Community Feedback Results
Through these efforts, HCDS reached over 14,000 residents and stakeholders via distribution lists, generated nearly 3,000 social media impressions, and received 169 survey responses. Respondents highlighted a range of priority needs across the region, including:
• More development, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing, especially for older adults, disabled adults, and other fixed income individuals;
• Increased access to emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing options to include rental assistance and homeless prevention services;
• Support for programs that promote housing and economic stability such as housing navigation, comprehensive case management, fair housing initiatives, tenant protections, childcare access, workforce development, and other services; and
• Support for community infrastructure improvements such as street enhancements and safe community spaces.
Additional details on community input are available in Attachment A.
Annual Plan Strategy Funding Priorities
Based on the key themes that emerged through community engagement and consistent with the 2025-29 Consolidated Plan, the FY 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy will prioritize funding activities that:
• Support the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing;
• Maintain emergency and long-term supportive housing assistance options;
• Promote housing and economic stability by investing in programs that help individuals maintain housing; and
• Improve neighborhoods and public facilities that foster safe, healthy, accessible, connected, and livable communities.
Public Comment Process
HCDS conducted a 30-day public comment period for the FY 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy, from October 3, 2025, through November 4, 2025. During this period, the FY 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy was made available online with public notices translated into each of the County’s 10 threshold languages. Printed copies were also available for public viewing at the HCDS office at 3989 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123. Public notices were published in local newspapers, including the San Diego Union-Tribune, Voice and Viewpoint, El Latino, Asian Journal, Beirut Times, Saigon Times, and Nguoi Viet, inviting residents to submit comments during the review period. Today’s hearing also provides an opportunity for the Board to receive public comments on the FY 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy.
Today’s action requests the Board to hold this public hearing to receive public input on housing and community development needs and to approve the FY 2026-27 Annual Plan Strategy. Following today’s hearing, HCDS will develop the draft FY 2026-27 Annual Plan based on all community input received. A second public comment period and hearing will also occur in Spring 2026 to gather input on specific funding recommendations to be included in the draft FY 2026-27 Annual Plan.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s action supports the County of San Diego 2025-30 Strategic Plan Initiatives of Sustainability (Economy and Resiliency), Equity (Housing and Economic Opportunity), and Community (Engagement, Quality of Life, and Partnership). Additionally, today’s action supports the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities by supporting community development and housing reflective of priorities identified by residents of the San Diego County as well as the Board, which was collected through various means of engagement. This item also aligns with the County Housing for All vision, along with the Framework for Ending Homelessness, and the County Housing Blueprint by ensuring that funding supports programs across the homeless-to-housed continuum and advances the County’s broader policy goals to address the root causes of the housing crisis.
Respectfully submitted,
ebony n. shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Annual Plan Strategy