Mountain View’s main safety net agency is walking away from a familiar pot of federal cash rather than sign onto new rules its leaders say clash with the group’s core values.
The Community Services Agency of Mountain View has chosen not to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money this cycle, a break from past practice that stems from federal conditions its leaders say would force the nonprofit to check clients’ immigration status and limit some referrals and programming. The agency’s board voted unanimously in December, and Executive Director Tom Myers told local supporters the group will continue to serve anybody who comes to us without tracking immigration information. The choice leaves programs that rely on federal dollars - especially senior meals and other services for older residents - facing an uncertain funding picture as leaders begin to seek alternatives.
According to the Mountain View Voice, the decision followed federal guidance attached to HUD-administered CPD grants that would require recipients to use SAVE (or an approved equivalent) to verify immigration status and prohibit grantees from using funds to promote ‘gender ideology’ or to provide referrals to organizations that offer abortion services. Myers told the outlet during a Feb. 5 call with supporters that those directives were “egregious,” and that CSA would not track clients’ status or refuse service as a condition of taking the money.
Local safety net
Community Services Agency is the primary safety-net nonprofit serving Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, offering emergency rent and utility assistance, a food and nutrition center, homeless support and senior case management, according to the nonprofit’s website. The organization says it serves thousands of neighbors each year and relies on a mix of private donations, volunteers, and government contracts to keep its daily programs running. Leaders emphasize that the agency’s mission is to preserve access and dignity for people in need, regardless of background.
Funding pinch and shortfalls
The Mountain View Voice reported that roughly 12% of CSA’s roughly $6 million budget for the current year comes from federal sources supporting three programs: senior nutrition, senior case management and homeless prevention, and that senior lunches are the program most dependent on that money. At the same time, public nonprofit filings show CSA reported about $10.2 million in total revenue for its fiscal year ending June 2025, underscoring how one-time grants and accounting timing can change year-to-year finances. The nonprofit told the Voice it plans outreach to foundations, corporations and private donors and will press local partners to help offset gaps if the federal conditions remain in place. The Voice noted those shortfall risks, while tax filings are available via public records. ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer shows the agency’s most recent federal filings.
Why the rules are contested
The federal conditions attached to CPD grants are not unique to Mountain View and have already become the subject of litigation by several counties and cities that argue HUD exceeded its statutory authority by imposing ideological and immigration-related conditions on formula grants. Court documents laying out those disputes describe contested terms, including limits on DEI, a prohibition on promoting gender ideology, restrictions on elective abortion referrals and mandates to use SAVE for verification, and those legal battles will shape whether the conditions survive. Justia details the scope of the challenge and the arguments from the plaintiffs.
What comes next
CSA leaders say the nonprofit will accelerate fundraising and seek local contract support while monitoring the national litigation, a strategy reflected in the agency’s public materials, which emphasize private giving and community partnerships. The City of Mountain View’s federal grants page explains the local CDBG process and annual action plan that govern how the city allocates federal community development dollars, a mechanism that could factor into short-term negotiations with nonprofit providers. Mountain View’s federal grants information and CSA’s own site show the channels both the city and nonprofits use to manage and replace funding.
For now, CSA’s move highlights a difficult choice for local social-service providers: accept federal funds tied to new political and administrative conditions, or forgo that revenue to preserve universal access and client trust. Agency officials say they will prioritize keeping doors open to anyone in need while racing to line up replacements for money that may no longer be available under current guidance.
