County approves Action Plan, HUD-funded projects

By Michael Chaldu · Tue Apr 21 2026

Adult Day Center in Paso Robles, Atascadero youth scholarship, and homeless services among the recommended recipients

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — In its Tuesday, April 7, regular meeting, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors moved forward staff recommendations to the 2026 Action Plan and federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded projects.

Among those receiving funds in the latest plans include the county's Adult Day Center in Paso Robles, Atascadero youth scholarships, and other countywide services for the homeless.

The Action Plan describes the specific activities planned for the upcoming program year funded by HUD grant funds provided to the Urban County of San Luis Obispo to achieve goals outlined in the Consolidated Plan, which contains the San Luis Obispo Countywide Plan to Address Homelessness 2022-2027.

The Urban County refers to six cities (Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo) and the County of San Luis Obispo partnering to meet population thresholds to ensure annual entitlement funds from HUD are available to serve the community. The City of Grover Beach is not part of the Urban County and competes separately for HUD funding at the State level, and HUD allocations are omitted for the City of Atascadero, which has requested specific project-level adjustments.

County Social Services Program Manager Marge Castle presented the item to the board and identified the allocations to county organizations and services aimed at assisting the homeless or housing-challenged, funded by Community Development Block Grants (CDBG; $1,365,067 available after administration costs), the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG; $135,681) and HOME Investments Partnership Program (HOME; $869,961).

Among the North County recipients were the CAPSLO Adult Day Center in Paso Robles ($19,483), Atascadero and Paso Robles shelter services through the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO; $64,284), Atascadero youth scholarships ($15,000), and additional funds for ECHO facilities in Atascadero and Paso Robles totaling $155,858.

The funds for the Adult Day Center in Paso Robles, which provides adult day care for seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and respite for their family caregivers, were specifically endorsed by a speaker and Board Chairperson Jimmy Paulding.

"Don't tell anybody, but the Adult Day Center is my favorite part of this," said Loren Ramos of CAPSLO. "If you ever have a chance to go up there and see the services they provide, do so."

Paulding agreed with that sentiment, saying, "I echo Mr. Ramos' thoughts on the Adult Day Center; I have people in my district [South County] drive all the way up there and they say great things about it. Hopefully we can get one like that down in my area."

Going back to council, Supervisor Bruce Gibson generally praised the funding recommendations, but questioned the allocations for ADA sidewalk repairs, saying more of the money should be going to the homeless.

"Nothing wrong with ADA sidewalk work, but focus should be homeless," he said. "It benefits community more widely."

Castle answered by saying that the projects funded are dependant on what the jurisdictions (meaning cities or municipalities) request. "It is their decisions," she said. "It is encouraging that some jurisdictions have put money in home repair so people don't become homeless."

Supervisor Heather Moreno, the former mayor of Atascadero, agreed with Castle's reasoning.

"Jurisdictions determination on their community," she said. "I speak from experience; we did not receive applications for the capital improvement. The only ADA fixes we had were from the city serving public transit. It depends on what applications come in."

Paulding agreed with Moreno, saying that it was important that it "it’s all working toward same goal, and headed in right direction."

Ultimately, the motion was made to approve the recommendations, and the item passes by a 5-0 vote.

The Board of Supervisors will meet next on Tuesday, April 21, at 9 a.m.