The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) and the SoMa Community Stabilization Fund (SoMa Fund) are pleased to announce the availability of up to $1,000,000 to invest in initiatives that engage and support low-income residents, nonprofits, and small businesses located in the in the SoMa Project area.
Donor Name: Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development
State: California
County: San Francisco
City: San Francisco
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/03/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $1,000,000
Grant Duration: 18 months
Details:
The SoMa project area is home to some of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods within San Francisco and is recognized as an important center for two communities: the Filipinos and the LGBTQ communities.
Housing affordability remains a primary concern for residents living within the SOMA project area, with the concern exacerbated by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. Low-wage earners have been hit the hardest, especially those who work in the retail and hospitality industries.
The mission of the SoMa Community Stabilization Fund Community Advisory Committee is to stabilize the community and promote equity through funding recommendations and priorities that mitigate the impact of development.
Its vision is that populations most vulnerable to displacement in SoMa (individuals, families, businesses that serve and employ them, nonprofit organizations, community arts, and educational institutions) are able to live, work and prosper in a neighborhood that is safe and culturally and economically diverse.
Per the Fund’s Strategic Plan, investments are directed toward the following four areas:
- Housing – Increase access to perpetually affordable housing opportunities for existing residents of SoMa.
- Resident engagement and leadership development
- Services to provide information and preparation to successfully compete for affordable units
- Invest in acquisition, rehabilitation and/or development of land and property
- Jobs and Income – Support economic and workforce development for low-income residents and community serving businesses.
- Employer cultivation
- Job preparation
- Income support through micro business
- Asset development
- Leadership development and financial literacy programs for youth and families
- Community Cohesion and Neighborhood Communication – Strengthen community networks and infrastructure to build neighborhood unity, self-determination; and equity in SoMa; Preserve the social heritage of the neighborhood.
- Local nonprofit community infrastructure development
- Neighborhood culture and arts that preserve existing neighborhood social heritage of the neighborhood
- Fostering resident connections across culture and income
- Physical Infrastructure – Improve the infrastructure and physical environment of the neighborhood.
- Rehabilitation, acquisition and/or development of community facilities
- Improve public spaces and outdoor facilities to promote cohesion among diverse groups in the neighborhood.
The Fund prioritizes investments in projects and programs that serve small community serving businesses, and low wage residents, particularly youth, families, seniors, and immigrants. While projects serving the entire SoMa area are eligible, the Fund prioritizes projects serving the overlapping impacted areas particularly populations served by the neighborhood’s Cultural Districts (SoMa Pilipinas, the Leather and LGBTQ District and Compton’s Transgender District) and the Children and Families Special Uses District (SUD).
Funding Priorities
Through this RFP process, MOHCD is seeking proposals for the following funding priority areas listed below. The final terms and conditions of each awarded grant are subject to negotiation.
- Housing
- Small Business Support
- Youth and Family Support
- Community Action Grants/SoMa Community Collaborative
Funding Information
Total Funding Available: $1,000,000
Grant Period
The grant term is one year, with an option to extend for an additional period up to 18 months based on funding availability, grantees’ success in achieving outcomes and deliverables, and demonstrated community needs.
Eligibility Criteria
All applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements to be considered for MOHCD funding.
- Applicants must be a community-based agency that is non-profit and tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or apply under a valid fiscal sponsor.
- No City agencies or departments may apply for funding under this RFP.
For more information, visit MOHCD.
