City of Santa Barbara - Government - Boards & Commissions: A - C - Community Development and Human Services Committee - Community Development and Human Services Committee

The Community Development and Human Services Committee (CDHSC) was established in 1994 by Resolution No. 94-120 and is a combination of the Citizens Task Force on Community Development and the Human Services Committee. The City annually receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Federal government to be used for activities that eliminate slums and blight. Activities may include housing, public/human services, capital projects and other eligible activities. Since 1975, citizen participation in allocating these funds has been provided.

Each year funds are also allocated from the City's General Fund for the Human Services Program which provides services to youth, seniors and the disabled as well as some health services, with a primary focus on emergency services such as shelter, food and safety. Evaluation of proposals from agencies which provide such services, and fostering integration and cooperation between these agencies, is a function of the Community Development and Human Services Committee.

General Functions

Advise City Council on how CDBG and Human Service funds should be allocated. The CDHSC reviews all eligible funding proposals submitted, reviews priorities and forwards comprehensive funding recommendations to the City Council.
Assist staff in performance monitoring to ensure quality of service and contract compliance.
Provide input to City Council and staff on the assessment of community needs, priorities and goals. From time to time, the CDHSC may review projects and participate in projects and review reports of relevance to the City and CDBG/HS activities.
Foster, when possible, integration, coordination and cooperation of human service providers in the City of Santa Barbara in order to better serve human needs.

Membership

13 Members. One from each of the following categories:

African-American Community
Latino Community
Business Community/Economic Development
Human Services Agencies (Active board member, volunteer or staff at a social service agency and a good knowledge of the community's social service network.)
Youth-Oriented Services
Senior Community
Housing Interests
Disabled Community (as the term "disabled" is defined by State laws)
Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (appointed by the Housing Authority Commission and ratified by the City Council)
Low income neighborhoods (one each): Eastside (Census Tracts 8.01 and 8.02), Westside (Census Tracts 10 and 11.02), Downtown (Census Tract 9), and Lower Westside (Census Tract 12.04).

Qualifications
Must be residents or employees of the designated organizations, but need not be qualified electors of the City, and must represent one of the specified categories or organizations.

Members should have familiarity with the history and geography of the City, and an understanding of community development, human services or housing needs.
In accordance with Federal regulations, the CDHSC is required to seek participation from a broad range of citizen interests with substantial representation by low and moderate income persons, minorities and residents of target neighborhoods. Applications from qualified low and moderate income and minority persons are therefore encouraged.

Length of Term
Four years and until successors are appointed. Staggered terms expire on December 31 of the appropriate year.

Meeting Schedule
The Committee meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the David Gebhard Public Meeting Room, 630 Garden Street, and also meets twice a week during the month of February.

Time Involved
Meetings average 2 - 3 hours per month, except during budget/proposal review sessions (January through March) which requires a greater time commitment (as much as 40+ hours in February).

Financial Disclosure Requirement
Members must file a Statement of Economic Interests upon appointment, annually and when leaving the advisory group.

Compensation
None.

Staff
Housing and Redevelopment Division, Community Development Department, (805) 564-5461.

Reference
Resolution Nos. 07-081, 06-085, 05-031, 02-126, 96-026, 94-120,92-170, and 90-039.