Community Development Block Grant
The City of Palo Alto receives funds annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, providing funding to organizations through a competitive application process to implement activities, projects, and programs benefiting low-and moderate-income persons and community development needs. Examples of activities funded through the CDBG program include case management services to secure affordable housing and employment, fair housing services, employment training, senior daycare, and housing rehabilitation.
Current CDBG Program Activities
The City undertakes CDBG program activities throughout the year. If you have comments or questions about the CDBG program, contact the City's CDBG program consultant, Austin Knudsen, via email at CDBG.Support@paloalto.gov. Comments or questions may also be mailed to the City at the following address: Planning and Development Services/CDBG, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
CDBG 2024-25 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) Preparation
The CAPER outlines the City’s CDBG program accomplishments from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, as well as the expenditures for the FY 2024-2025 CDBG funding cycle. The Draft FY 2024-2025 (Program Year 2024) report will be posted here ahead of a 15-day public review and comment period in September 2025. Plus, the Human Relations Commission (HRC) will hold a public hearing at their September meeting. After the public review and comment period and public hearing, the City will submit its Draft FY 2024-2025 CAPER to HUD by the required September 2025 deadline.
CDBG 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the City to prepare a five-year Consolidated Plan (ConPlan) to guide the use of CDBG funds in addressing housing and community development needs. In partnership with Santa Clara County and other participating jurisdictions, the City of Palo Alto developed its 2025-2030 ConPlan and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan (AAP). These plans are currently under review by HUD. The AAP identifies the specific projects, programs, and activities the City plans to fund each year using CDBG funds allocated by HUD, consistent with the goals and priorities outlined in the ConPlan. The final 2025-2030 Con Plan and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan will be posted to this CDBG Program webpage when it is approved by HUD in Fall 2025.
Recent CDBG Program Activities
CDBG 2025-30 Consolidated Plan and 2025-26 Annual Action Plan - Public Hearings and Public Review/Comment Period
An electronic copy of the Draft 2025-2030 ConPlan and 2025-2026 AAP was available for public review and comment from May 5, 2025 through June 4, 2025.
The City received formal notification of the City's Entitlement Grant funding allocation in May 2025. For Program Year 2025–2026, the City will receive a $516,233 CDBG entitlement grant and an estimated $100,000 in program income.
The City held two Public Hearings on the draft 2025-2030 ConPlan and 2025-2026 AAP.
- The Human Relations Commission (HRC) held a first Public Hearing on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. The staff report and meeting details are available on the HRC webpage.
- The City Council held a second Public Hearing on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. The staff report and meeting details are available on the City Council webpage.
CDBG Program Year 2025-2026 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
As a first step toward preparing the 2025-2030 ConPlan and 2025-2026 AAP, the City released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for its CDBG Program Year 2025-2026 anticipated funding allocation. The application period for Program Year 2025-2026 funding closed on January 10, 2024.
Organizations were invited to submit applications for funding in the following categories:
The City held a Pre-Proposal Conference on Wednesday, December 3, 2024. All proposers intending to submit an application were encouraged to attend the virtual Pre-Proposal Conference.
Notice of Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain for HomeKey Play Structure
On May 20, 2025, the City released a notice pursuant to 24 CFR Part 58 that the proposed Project is located within a 100-year floodplain. The full Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain for the LifeMoves Homekey Palo Alto Housing Play Structure can be viewed here: LifeMoves Playground Notice(PDF, 97KB)
Additional Information
Currently Funded CDBG Activities, Projects, and Services
The City of Palo Alto Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is funding the following projects, programs, and activities, as outlined in the City's FY 2024-25 CDBG Annual Action Plan (AAP).
| Agency/Program Name |
FY 2024-25 Funded Amount |
| CDBG Applicants |
|
| Alta Housing - SRO Resident Supportive Services |
$11,575 |
| Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County – Long Term Care Ombudsman Program |
$7,575 |
| LifeMoves – Case Management |
$28,247 |
| Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC)– Case Management |
$14,075 |
| Project Sentinel – Fair Housing Services |
$15,575 |
| Subtotal |
$77,047 |
| WeeCare/Upwards |
$120,000 |
| Subtotal |
$120,000 |
| Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP)– Safe at Home |
$73,585 |
| Community Work Group/Abode – Alma Garden |
$404,800 |
| Subtotal |
$478,385 |
| Fire Station – Sidewalk Improvement Project |
$62,645.61 |
| Homekey Palo Alto – Recreation Project |
$185,000 |
| Subtotal |
$247,645.61 |
| City of Palo Alto Administration |
$114,730 |
| Subtotal |
$114,730 |
| GRAND TOTAL for CDBG |
$1,037,807.61 |
| CDBG-CV Applicants |
|
| MOVE Mountain View - Safe Parking Program |
$110,000.00 |
| Planning and Administration – CV |
$9,478.74 |
| GRAND TOTAL for CDBG-CV |
$119,478.74 |
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
The City annually prepares a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER provides an overview of the major CDBG program initiatives undertaken and accomplished in the previous Program Year. After a public review and comment period on the draft CAPER and a public hearing before the Human Relations Commission, the City submits the final CAPER to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in September of each year.
2020-2021 CAPER(PDF, 628KB)
2021-2022 CAPER(PDF, 3MB)
2022-2023 CAPER(PDF, 704KB)
2023-2024 CAPER(PDF, 678KB)
Consolidated Plan 2020-2025
The City of Palo Alto is an entitlement City that receives CDBG funding from HUD. HUD requires the City to create a five-year Consolidated Plan to direct and allocate CDBG funds. The 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan (ConPlan) is built on a community-oriented participatory process and will function as an application for federal funds under HUD’s CDBG program. The ConPlan will also outline specific goals and priority needs where CDBG funds will be allocated during the five fiscal years of the plan.
2020-2025 Consolidated Plan and 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan(PDF, 9MB) - As Amended June 2023
Citizen Participation Plan (CPP)
The Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) outlines the public's participation in the City’s CDBG Program. This plan applies to citizens, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties.
Adopted Citizen Participation Plan 2022(PDF, 726KB)