The purpose of the Listos California Statewide Grant (LS) Program is to support organizations throughout California that serve multiple counties and/or larger populations with key social vulnerability factors located in areas at moderate to high risk from natural hazard. Community-based organizations throughout the state, referred to as CBOs, can work independently or subgrant with local CBOs to provide disaster training and resources to vulnerable and diverse populations. This work is intended to increase their communities' disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation capabilities.
Social vulnerability refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health. Such stresses include natural or human-caused disasters, or disease outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss.
Socially vulnerable populations include those who have special needs, such as, but not limited to, immigrants and refugees, farmworkers, people with disabilities, seniors/older adults, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, areas with geographically isolated individuals or families with low broadband subscriptions, and households with limited English proficiency.
$8 million in funding was available in FY24.
The Listos California Program is comprised of multiple entities, the LS Program being a critical one. The other entities will all compete for other grant funding.