Unstable Assistance - California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Barrier 2: Unstable Assistance

Barrier Statement

Fluctuations in federal and state politics and budgets result in funding and technical assistance opportunities for local and place-based efforts that are often offered on a one-time basis and do not recur at predictable intervals, and are not reliably available.

Filterable Database

How communities are experiencing this barrier

View the details on what communities have shared with SLECC from across the state.

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles, San Diego

Federal funding is unstable and subject to freezes, clawbacks, and shifting political priorities—creating uncertainty and gaps during federal transitions. Some stakeholders described “total uncertainty and chaos,” noting that many state and local grants rely on federal dollars, and philanthropy cannot fully backfill these disruptions.

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Budget deficits at state and city levels (e.g., LA $1B shortfall) threaten continuity of projects.

Key challenge discussed in - San Diego

Philanthropic support is limited and rarely directed toward building local government or CBO capacity, creating additional dependency on unstable state and federal grants

Key challenge discussed in - San Diego

Staff hired with grant funds are often laid off when grants end, preventing local governments and nonprofits from maintaining the capacity needed to manage future programs

Key challenge discussed in - San Diego

Unstable funding structures: Local governments and CBOs often rely on one-off project grants without baseline operational funding, leaving them unable to maintain staff or build the systems needed to pursue larger clean energy or resilience funds. Quarterly reimbursement cycles further compound the challenge, forcing nonprofits with limited reserves to shoulder significant financial risk and jeopardizing their ability to sustain participation in long-term projects.

Local Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

Local Solution

Align and Leverage regional funding sources (utilities, philanthropy, county-level funds, public/private partnerships).

Existing Examples of Progress:

Habitat for Humanity LA: Supplemented TCC support for a veteran outside project boundaries by leveraging Habitat resources.

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

Local Solution

Explore innovative revenue sources: retail electricity tax, mileage-based road fees, resilience taxes.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

State Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

State Solution

Create supplemental funding pools at the state level to cover geographic/income gaps.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

State Solution

Ensure Prop 4 funds deliver direct community benefit, avoid duplication, and replace lost federal funding quickly.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Proposition 4 (Prop 4): Billions in new climate and resilience investments (housing, transportation, community resilience centers, transformative climate communities, extreme heat programs).

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

State Solution

Enable carbon credit monetization by certifying local projects for voluntary carbon markets.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

Solution Spotlight

Connecting Communities program provides technical assistance to help local orgs align state and federal funding.

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Additional Resources

Please share any additional resources you would like to include by emailing eecoordinator@civicwell.org.