Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee (HCCBG) Meeting - 5.27.26

The Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee convened on May 27, 2026, to close out the fiscal year for 2026 and address the reallocation of funds within existing programs. The meeting began with the approval of the agenda and the review of minutes from a previous session, which included a noted correction regarding a broken link to a video recording of past funding decisions. The primary focus of the session was determining how to best utilize remaining funds, particularly in cases where providers had overspent their initial allocations.

Key decisions made during the meeting included the approval of a motion allowing Mountain Aging Partners to reallocate funds within their own organization between different programs, a practice previously approved to provide flexibility. The committee also approved the reallocation of funds from the Supplemental Aging Fund, specifically directing $8,000 to Working Wheels and $7,828 to Evelyn Charity (formerly Better Together) after the latter determined they could not fully utilize their original allocation within the required timeframe. Additionally, $10,000 was noted as already utilized by Memory Care. All motions were approved unanimously, with no votes against any measures.

Significant discussion centered on prioritizing potential reallocated funding for Jewish Family Services and Meals on Wheels, with Jewish Family Services identified as the higher priority due to an earlier request. The committee praised Better Together’s innovative approach to transportation services and their community impact, discussing the possibility of inviting their representatives to a future meeting for more detailed dialogue. Members also debated streamlining the process for reallocating funds in future fiscal years, potentially formalizing it through written notifications to providers, and emphasized the importance of balancing flexibility with accountability in fund allocation.

There were no formal public comments or testimony recorded during this meeting. Instead, committee members shared anecdotal stories and observations regarding the impact of various programs, highlighting their value to the community. These discussions underscored the committee's appreciation for the work of staff and partner organizations, with members noting the value of hearing these stories to understand the real-world benefits of the funded initiatives.

Following the meeting, staff agreed to several action items, including investigating and correcting the broken link in the meeting minutes and sending out a notification to providers outlining the process for requesting funding reallocations. The committee will schedule a future meeting for June 24, potentially via Zoom, and will explore inviting Better Together representatives to present. Staff will also review the application timeline for FY28 applications to ensure adequate discussion time, and citizens are encouraged to register for the Age Friendly Summit by May 31.