The following is a press release from the City of Santa Monica.
During its May 9 meeting, the Santa Monica City Council approved 18 recipients as part of the four-year fiscal year 2023-27 Human Services Grants Program (HSGP) funding cycle.
The Human Services Grants Program is designed to address critical community needs and gaps in existing service systems, while also offering funding stability to local social service agencies. With a total operating budget of approximately $10 million, the HSGP will fund 21 distinct programs run by 18 agencies, serving approximately 27,000 residents annually. The HSGP aims to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of the City’s youth and families, people with disabilities, seniors, low-income households, and people experiencing homelessness.
“The Council is proud to continue supporting funding for organizations that offer vital services that address the most critical needs of our community members, especially those who are the most marginalized and underserved,” said Mayor Gleam Davis.
The HSGP grantees applied for funding through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, which was developed for this cycle through a robust outreach campaign to engage the community and receive input and feedback.
Highlights of the RFP included:
- A framework centered around impact areas of lifelong learning, stability and health and wellness, providing uniformity across agencies and programs to clearly measure and report performance.
- The establishment of a review panel in partnership with the We Are Santa Monica Fund Advisory Board to recruit subject matter experts and those with lived experience to review proposals.
- Funding allocations that are considered holistically across applications to ensure the HSGP maintains a balanced portfolio that serves a range of vulnerable and underserved populations with services that include both prevention and direct client aid.
- Revised agency eligibility to allow for a broader pool of applicants while maintaining quality programs and fiscal best practices.
The final HSGP funding awards will be made as part of final biennial budget adoption in June 2023. The FY 2023-27 HSGP funding cycle will start July 1, 2023.
For more information, visit santamonica.gov/human-services-grants-program.
