County Supports West Valley Services

SAN JOSE – On a motion from County Supervisor Joe Simitian, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan this week to continue support for projects serving adults, older adults, and families who have lower incomes in the West Valley.

“When wisely deployed, federal grant funding has tangible benefits right here in our West Valley communities,” said Simitian. “Older adults and families of modest means will be able to continue to access local programs that affect their daily lives, including housing opportunities and choices and supportive services.”

Programs and projects receiving support include:

• Adult Day Care programs in Los Gatos and Saratoga through Live Oak Adult Day Services and the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council (SASCC);
• Legal assistance for older adults in Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Campbell through Senior Adults Legal Assistance (SALA);
• Case management and assistance connecting families and individuals who are low income to needed resources through West Valley Community Services’ Community Access to Resources and Education program; and,
• Capital upgrades to the Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center.

Funds will also be used to support the Opportunity Services Center in Palo Alto, which provides housing counseling and services for households at risk of eviction and/or homelessness.

Funding for these services was approved as part of the County’s Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan for use of federal funds from the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Act programs. The County anticipates receiving an estimated $4.2 million from these programs, which will be distributed to fund 16 public service projects (including those described above), two capital improvement projects, fair housing services, minor home repairs for homeowners who are low income, and the development of affordable housing projects.   

“This funding gives local communities the ability to decide how to best support the needs of their residents,” said Simitian. “It really does give local folks the ability to make local choices about local needs.”

The Action Plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for final approval and allocation of funds. More information can be found online.