The City Council on July 21, 2026, approved its spending plan for roughly $3 million in federal housing and community development dollars, funding a slate of nonprofit programs, senior services and youth after-school care — and touting a 23 percent drop in the city’s homeless population over the past year.

The Fiscal Year 2026/27 Annual Action Plan directs how Fullerton will spend its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Staff estimated about $1.4 million in CDBG funds and roughly $1.485 million for the HOME program, including carryover dollars.

The Council adopted the plan along with two friendly amendments, one of them suggested from the dais by staff. Councilmember Dr. Shana Charles recused herself from a single line item — a grant to Cal State Fullerton Auxiliary Services — because of a possible connection to her employer.

A drop in homelessness

Housing Division Manager Daniel Valdez told the Council the city’s point-in-time homeless count had fallen 23 percent, crediting a network of partners including the Fullerton Homeless Liaison officers, the Hope Center and the Illumination Foundation.

“I like to think of it as the dedicated work that all those partners have done,” Valdez said, describing the city’s approach as a “continuum of care.” He said the Housing Division now meets monthly with the Illumination Foundation to review operations, emergency plans and case management — an idea he attributed to Council Member Dr. Ahmad Zahra.

Mayor Fred Jung praised the results and Valdez’s work directly. “This city benefits from your willingness to go beyond just about job title and really care about the community,” Jung said, later asking whether Fullerton was the only city to see its count decline. Valdez said it was.

Of 18 applications received this year, staff recommended ten programs for funding — five involving homeless and at-risk services, including senior meals, and three involving youth after-school programs. The plan also devotes CDBG money to fair housing education, code enforcement, public works street improvements and Parks and Recreation.

A recusal and two amendments

The vote grew complicated when Charles realized a Cal State Fullerton program in the plan referenced an organization created through the College of Health and Human Development — her employer. After checking with the City Attorney, she recused herself from that item, and the Council agreed to break it out as a separate line.

“I served on this committee before I was on Council and was chair of it for two years,” Charles said, praising the citizens committee that reviews the lengthy applications. “I very much appreciate all the good work that you do.”

Councilmember Jamie Valencia sought a friendly amendment to fully fund the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fullerton’s request, about $10,000 more than recommended. But Valdez explained the public-service allocation is capped, meaning the money would have to come from another nonprofit, and Valencia withdrew the request.

A second amendment did stick: at Valdez’s suggestion, the Council agreed to fill a $25,000 gap in senior mobility service by drawing from home-improvement funds, which staff said would not affect other allocated projects. The plan passed with that change, with Charles’s recusal noted on the Cal State Fullerton line.

Nonprofits and residents make their case

Shirley Ramirez, chief operating officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fullerton, told the Council the organization serves about 2,000 youth annually but struggles to compete for grants because it serves only Fullerton.

“When we compete against other nonprofit organizations applying for grants that serve multiple cities, they get the funding,” Ramirez said. “We don’t, because we’re solely here.” She said economic development in the city would ultimately help local nonprofits by drawing in companies that could fund them, and noted the club’s Christmas toy drive serves 800 children for free each year.

Community activist Curtis Gamble urged the city to expand shelter options, calling for a safe parking program and tiny homes and asking that the Fullerton Navigation Center operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

“How can we not have a safe parking program in any city?” Gamble said. “We have homeless people out here living in their cars. These people need a place.”

The plan now heads to HUD, with staff authorized to submit the documents and execute agreements with the funded nonprofit organizations.