Community Assistance Program

The Community Assistance Program (CAP) Grant offered by the City of Hesperia is a locally funded initiative designed to provide critical support to nonprofit organizations delivering essential public service programs. Managed by the Economic Development Division, this program is funded through the City's General Fund and is independent of federal oversight, specifically the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which governs the similar Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. CAP emphasizes community-centered services and is intended to maintain flexibility and responsiveness to local needs by operating under municipal guidelines. The primary goal of the CAP Grant is to support non-construction costs associated with service delivery in a variety of social support domains. These include food distribution, clothing provision, shelter services, medical needs, youth programming, services for differently abled individuals, senior and veteran support, housing, legal aid, education, and environmental programming. For the 2026–2027 program year, up to $75,000 is anticipated to be available, subject to City Council approval. Each applicant may receive a portion of this funding, with a historical cap of $50,000 per program year per recipient. The program does not require matching funds, making it accessible to smaller organizations that may lack robust fundraising capacity. Eligibility is extended to nonprofit public service agencies that operate within or serve the City of Hesperia. Interested organizations must complete and submit a Public Service Program/Project Application Form for each proposed project. Applications will be evaluated for eligibility and alignment with community needs as outlined in the CAP NOFA Guidelines. Data collected from funded programs will contribute to the City's reporting under its CDBG-related planning documents, specifically focusing on goals like fair housing, services for low-income families and seniors, and homelessness prevention. The submission process for the FY 2026–2027 grant cycle opened on January 30, 2026. All applications must be received by the Economic Development Department no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2026. Late submissions, faxes, or postmarked materials will not be accepted. Applications must be physically delivered to Hesperia City Hall in a sealed envelope. As part of the outreach and support efforts, the Economic Development team hosted three workshops on February 11, 2026—including two in-person sessions and one virtual session—to help potential applicants understand the program requirements and changes. Following the close of the application period, the City Council Advisory Committee (CCAC) will review all eligible applications and hold a public meeting in April to gather input and community testimony. The CCAC will then recommend ten projects to the City Council, which will make final funding decisions. Awards are typically announced in June. The City explicitly states that all funding decisions by the Council are final. The CAP Grant is an annually recurring opportunity, designed to be responsive to evolving community service needs. The program continues to support a wide array of services as evidenced by prior recipients like Genesis Re-Entry Services (domestic abuse support), No Drugs America (youth services), and Restore Unity Incorporated (homeless services). For more information, applicants can contact Connor Biggerstaff at (760) 947-1909 or via email at [email protected].