Public Works Director Ben Moody breaks down the Community Development Block Grant Action Plan that assists low-to-moderate-income households.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) provides decent housing and a suitable living environment, expanding opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

However, as Public Works director Ben Moody noted at the Yuba City City Council June 18 meeting, it also does much more. The grant provides recreational equipment, offers more pathways for disabled individuals and replaces necessary vehicles.

Moody explained that the city's entitlement jurisdiction receives annual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funds.

Yuba City officials are providing all that and more with the 2024 Community Development Block Grant Action Plan, according to Moody, who said the city coordinates with HUD on household threshold applications. This year, inflation figured significantly into the numbers, according to Moody.

"It changed quite a bit this year, which was interesting," Moody said. "It went from almost $50 thousand to $87 thousand, which is a big deal."

According to HUD's definitions, Moody said a household making less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) is considered low-income.

"The Area Media Income this year was updated for a family of four to almost $88 thousand dollars, and moderate-income is less than 80% of that," Moody said. "So qualifying individuals are in that range of a family having less than $44 thousand and the moderate $70 thousand."

This year, Yuba City received $567,725 in Community Development Block Grant funding.

"It's been trending down a little bit," Moody said of the funding in recent years. "With that funding, there are some stipulations."

A maximum of $113,158, 20%, of funds must be allocated to program administration, according to Moody, who said that is "entirely normal." Another $85,158, 15%, must be allocated to homeless-related services.

"That is an area we receive a lot of applications," Moody said. "So it's always kind of a pinch point as far as how much funding is available for those types of services."

The annual process began in February of this year with a notice of funding available made public through media, the city's website, and local agencies. In March, public workshops were held, and in May, the public notice for comment on the Community Development Block Grant Action Plan went out. It ended with Moody's presentation that night.

"We worked with the mayor and vice-mayor to review the applicants," Moody said, adding there is always more need than available money. "We received 1.8 million in applications."

Moody detailed specific proposed funding projects, including replacing Patriot Park Playground equipment at $160K and providing ADA-accessible sidewalk and curb improvements citywide at $186,000.

The local food bank's costs total around $54,000, including the repair of a delivery vehicle, which cost $28,000. Yuba-Sutter Food Bank Director Maria Ball and Board Chair Jackie Sillman were present and grateful for the funding.

"We are looking up at the slide up there about inflation and all the different costs, and the food bank is really feeling it," Ball said, noting since 2023, the number of people the food bank feeds has doubled. "We feed about 25,000 people each month, and we really appreciate your consideration."

After Mayor Shon Harris thanked Ball for her work at the food bank, the council officially adopted the proposed funding for HUD processing.