Subject:
Title
Funding recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2027 Human Services Social Action Grant Program.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of funding recommendations by the Social Action Funding Advisory Board (SAFAB) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Social Action Grant Funding Agreements with 17 community agencies, and delegation of authority to the County Administrator to sign all associated agreements and documentation.
• Seventeen community agencies are recommended by the SAFAB for Social Action Grant Funding with programming in the priority area of food/nutritional services; homeless and housing services; healthcare for disadvantaged residents; human services for disadvantaged residents, and supportive services for an aging population. A breakdown of recommended awards is attached. The grant award will be for one-year project period.
• Pinellas County Human Services administered a competitive, online grant application which opened March 2, 2026. Fifty-nine applications were received totaling $5,298,664 in requested funding.
• On May 6, 2026, following review and ranking of the applications, the SAFAB voted to recommend awards to 17 projects. Awards range from $12,324.00 to $150,000.00.
• Funding for this agreement is included in the FY27 Adopted Budget for Human Services within the General Fund which will be adopted in whole or in-part by the Board of County Commissioners in September 2026. Funding for this and future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
• The total allocation is $1,705,610.00.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.1 Increase the availability of attainable housing.
3.3 Increase workforce opportunities.
3.4 Enhance educational and cultural opportunities.
Summary:
Summary
Seventeen (17) community agencies are recommended by the SAFAB for Social Action Grant Funding with programming in the priority area of food/nutritional services; homeless and housing services; healthcare for disadvantaged residents; human services for disadvantaged residents, and supportive services for an aging population. A breakdown of recommended awards is attached. The grant award will be for one-year (1) project period.
Body
Background Information:
Social Action Grants are available to qualified non-profit social service organizations desiring to provide services to homeless and low-income residents of Pinellas County to address their health, economic and social well-being. Pinellas County Human Services administered a competitive, online application process for Social Action Funding through Neighborly Software. The grant solicitation was posted on March 2, 2026, and a standard application form was used to promote effective review and scoring. Agreements will be for one year and will include a fiscal non-funding clause.
The SAFAB was established in 2023 to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners and one of its primary duties is to review applications and recommend projects to be funded by social service funds. The SAFAB consists of members from Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, Florida Department of Health- Pinellas County Health Department, the City of St. Petersburg, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, Pinellas Community Foundation, the Juvenile Welfare Board, Pinellas County School Board, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Public Defender, and the State Attorney. Pinellas County Human Services will work with the agencies to collect performance outcomes and reporting guidelines.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for this agreement is included in the FY27 Adopted Budget for Human Services within the General Fund. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
The individual funding amounts in alphabetical order are as follows:
Abilities of Florida $99,000.00
Area Agency on Aging of Pasco - Pinellas, Inc. $99,887.00
Boley Centers Inc. $77,115.00
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay $127,000.00
Evara Health Institute, Inc. $150,000.00
Family Resources, Inc. $99,000.00
Florida Dream Center, Inc. $99,000.00
Girl Scouts of West Central Florida* $12,324.00
Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, Inc. $149,997.00
Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas, Inc. $95,305.00
Metropolitan Ministries, Inc. $148,560.00
Preserve Vision Florida, Inc. $99,500.00
Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc. $99,999.00
Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation, Inc. $93,789.00
St. Petersburg Free Clinic $99,000.00
St. Vincent de Paul CARES Inc. $134,134.00
Willa Carson Health and Wellness Center $22,000.00
*Indicates an adjusted award amount from the submitted application.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Abilities Inc. of Florida
Area Agency on Aging of Pasco - Pinellas, Inc.
Boley Centers Inc.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay
Evara Health Institute, Inc.
Family Resources, Inc.
Florida Dream Center, Inc.
Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, Inc.
Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas, Inc.
Metropolitan Ministries, Inc.
Preserve Vision Florida, Inc.
Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc.
Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation, Inc.
St. Petersburg Free Clinic
St. Vincent de Paul CARES Inc.
Willa Carson Health and Wellness Center
Attachments:
SAF Recommendation List
SAF Summary Chart
SAF Scoring
Applications Recommended for Funding
Applications Reviewed not Recommended