The County of San Mateo said it’s offering $2 million in grant funding to nonprofits and organizations that can bring forward innovative ideas that help serve unhoused individuals living in the county.
“We are looking for bold and collaborative efforts,” said Don Horsley, president of the Board of Supervisors. “We set a goal of ending homelessness and we encourage everyone to contribute to that effort.”
On Sept. 13, the Board of Supervisors approved a $2 million fund that will kick-start programs that are aimed at moving unsheltered residents into services that lead to permanent housing.
“This grant program is really intended to get people thinking and to get people involved in workable, doable solutions,” said Horsley.
On Feb. 24, 2022, the County conducted a one-day count of unsheltered residents and found 1,092 residents living unsheltered. This includes 352 people living on the streets or in encampments, 616 people living in cars, vans, or RVs and 102 people residing at safe parking sites (areas set aside for individuals to spend the night in vehicles).
The new Working Together to End Homelessness program will look to address this issue by offering nonprofit and faith-based organizations, cities, towns and affiliated agencies that serve homeless residents in San Mateo County the opportunity to apply for grant funding.
“We know many of the organizations that serve our unsheltered residents have great ideas but not necessarily the means to put those ideas into action,” said supervisor Warren Slocum. “Now, with this grant program, we are challenging those organizations to offer innovative and new approaches.”
Program applicants must develop a plan that addresses how to engage those currently living on the streets or develop innovative ways to assist the homeless and formerly homeless with job training, work experience and other steps toward financial self-sufficiency.
Project ideas can be brand new or just new to San Mateo County. Applicants can also pitch ideas that have worked on a small scale in the county with the goal of expanding countywide.
Grant application and evaluation
The grant application evaluation criteria will include but not be limited to the following:
- The extent of the need for the proposed project in the target service area
- The experience and skills of the applicants in providing services to unsheltered residents
- Whether the proposal tests an innovative and/or replicable approach to assisting unsheltered residents
- The extent that the proposed project promotes equity
- Whether the budget is sufficient and appropriate for the proposed work and includes a match that reflects the scale of the project
Detailed FAQs on the grant program can be found here. Grant amounts will vary, and eligible applicants must provide some type of match and meet certain requirements.
An informational session will be held on Sept. 22, 2022, via Zoom at 2 p.m. The Zoom link will be included in the program FAQs.
Grant applications will be accepted beginning this week until Oct. 7, 2022.
Grantees will be notified of awards during the last week of October and funds are expected to be distributed by mid-November.
The County will be concurrently hosting a series of workshops leading to the Working Together to End Homelessness Summit on Oct. 28, 2022, where participants will help the County develop a “2023 Homelessness Action Plan.”
For additional information, visit: 2022: Our Year of Working Together to End Homelessness
