Every year the city of Goleta assists community members via the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. This past year, more than 2,000 people were helped with CDBG funding.

The city is required to submit a year-end report on its accomplishments called the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER provides an assessment of the city’s performance in meeting housing and community development goals in the adopted 2021-22 CDBG Action Plan.

The draft CAPER can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/yc82d828. For more on Goleta’s grant programs, visit https://www.cityofgoleta.org/i-want-to/apply-for/grants.

Comments on the draft CAPER are being accepted during a 15-day public review period, Sept 5-19. Comments should be mailed to: City of Goleta, Neighborhood Services Department, Attn: Shanna Dawson, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta, CA 93117 or emailed to sdawson@cityofgoleta.org.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on these matters at its regular meeting, 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20. An agenda will be available ahead of time at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings.

The city receives funding annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the CDBG program, which is intended to be used to assist low-income citizens, people experiencing homelessness, and youth and seniors with essential services such as medical and dental care, food security, counseling, homelessness prevention, and case management.

The city also uses the majority of its CDBG allocation on capital projects that will benefit low-to-moderate-income people and the disabled. Projects have included renovating city facilities and parks to meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access standards, installing sidewalks in areas where they are lacking, and adding crosswalks.