The LACDA awards funds to various service providers throughout the County for a wide
variety of programs, services and facilities improvements. This means funding
for a broad array of community needs, including, but not limited
to:
- Clearing trash and cleaning up
property sites;
- Graffiti removal;
- Street and sewer
improvements;
- Major and minor home
repairs;
- Homeless, drug intervention and
domestic violence programs;
- Business loans;
- Community and senior
services;
- Basic health services;
- Youth programs; and
- Parenting programs and child
care.
Through annual
public meetings, the CDBG staff helps communities prioritize their needs. The LACDA then provides input to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for funding consideration. Participating cities involve their own citizens in determining
community development needs and funding priorities each year.
Federal laws that
provide CDBG funding to the County also regulate how the money is spent. These
laws only allow the CDC to spend 15% of CDBG funding on community services, such
as senior meal programs, family violence intervention services or youth
recreation programs. This leaves most of the funding for activities that
support the creation and maintenance of affordable housing and public facility
and infrastructure improvements. For example, CDBG funds are used for
constructing community centers, modifying public spaces to make them accessible
to the handicapped, street improvements, or rehabilitation of existing park
facilities.