Fingers crossed.
But President Trump and his administration could disrupt a decades-long tradition in Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara City Council this week voted to fund 46 community organizations through its annual community development block grant process. The money helps fund human service programs, with a focus on food, shelter and medical care.
There’s worry, however, that these traditionally reliable funds that serve some of the most in need in the community might get extinguished.
“When you have a federal government that doesn’t really have a plan in how they are cutting services,” City Councilman Eric Friedman said. “I think it is short-sighted if the CDBG gets shut down by the administration.”
The city budgeted about $1.8 million for human services grants for 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. The money from the federal government to fund these programs, however, has not been allocated yet, so the city based its recommendations on last year’s numbers. If the federal government wipes out CDBG funding, amid a nationwide slashing of federal funding for services, the city has committed to awarding the money from its general fund for the one year only.
Friedman noted that the list of human services ranged from housing and sexual assault to senior services and child care. He said the nonprofit community provides these services much better than the government ever could.
“If that funding gets cut, it actually has an increased cost because those services are either going to be backfilled by the city, or they just are not going to get done, and there’s going to be costs on the other side of not providing all of those services,” Friedman said.
Friedman, serving as mayor for the day because Randy Rowse was in Sacramento for a Santa Barbara County Association of Governments meeting, thanked the community members for their work.
“This is one of the highlights of serving on the council is to be able to support all these organizations,” Friedman said.
Lyiam Gallo, a member of the Community Development and Human Services Committee, urged the city to stay strong.
“I need you to consider, not just sustaining the existing funding for this, your commitment through the general fund, but an expansion of it,” Gallo said. “It’s required.”
Gallo told the council “it is a critical moment” and “you can rise to it.”
New Beginnings Safe Parking Shelter and Rapid Rehousing Program, Transition House, Showers of Blessing, Salvation Army and Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics were among the organizations that received funding. The total requests for money were $2.9 million by 51 organizations. The Human Services Committee interviewed all the applicants over several days.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to apply for funding for our home repair program,” said Susan Reefer-Renehan, director of philanthropy and external affairs at Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County. The group is set to receive $75,000.
“This program provides critical health and safety repairs to low-income homeowners in Santa Barbara. It’s an ongoing need.”
The work, she said, prevents falls and keeps people in their homes, maintaining “the very limited stock of affordable housing in the community.”
She said there are 10 projects currently in the pipeline.
City Councilman Mike Jordan showed a diminished level of enthusiasm over the moment.
“We’re all still fresh in the wounds of every day, the hits just keep on coming,” Jordan said. “Like everyone else, I think I am just hyper-frustrated with the way the world has changed since January.”
