$700K in Federal Funds Went Into Simi Valley Neighborhoods. Here’s Your Chance to Weigh In
Sylvie Belmond 
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Patricia Street, Patricia Avenue, Williams Street, and Donville Avenue all saw upgrades this past year. More than 2,700 residents benefited, nearly 2,000 of them from low- to moderate-income households. The work was paid for with federal dollars that also supported local nonprofits serving seniors and unhoused residents.
Starting August 29, the City of Simi Valley will release a report showing how it spent more than $700,000 in federal funds over the past year. The report is not just paperwork. It’s a chance for residents to say whether these investments match the city’s needs — and to help guide where federal funding goes next.
In addition to street repairs, the money helped The Samaritan Center provide services to 126 people experiencing homelessness. It also supported Conejo Valley Senior Concerns and the Housing Rights Center, which delivered services to 186 residents with low or moderate incomes.
Simi Valley had a population of 126,356 in the 2020 Census. The city’s median household income was about $99,000 at that time, but not every household shares equally in that prosperity. Federal funds are designed to help low- and moderate-income families who might otherwise be left out when it comes to housing support, street improvements, and community services.
The public will be able to review the report at the City Clerk’s Office, the Simi Valley Library, and online at simivalley.org. Comments can be emailed to [email protected] through September 15. Residents can also speak at the City Council meeting that same evening at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
For a city of more than 126,000 residents, these federal funds are limited but important. They decide which neighborhoods get improvements and which services reach residents who need support.
The city will soon show where the money went. Then it will be up to residents to say if those choices reflect the community’s priorities.
