CSA is the recipient of a $200,000 grant from Google to help vulnerable community members impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, these funds will be used to help with rent, utilities and food expenses to accommodate the surge in the number of current and new clients seeking help during this crisis.

Pre-COVID, CSA was averaging about 20 applications per month for rental and/or utility assistance. With so many people – especially those in the service sector –  out of work due to furloughs, layoffs and/or forced resignations to care for their children when the schools closed, we are seeing an unprecedented number of requests for help.

“Two weeks ago, we had over 1,200 applications for rental and utilities assistance,” says Tom Myers, CSA Executive Director. “Now that number has soared to over 1,450, and we’re expecting even more as we get closer to May and the likely extension of the shelter-in-place order.

Google’s generous grant award will help many Mountain View households pay for rent and/or utilities, and help us refresh our pantry with protein-rich foods to accommodate the many new people we are seeing at each grocery distribution event.

“There are no words to describe our ongoing appreciation to Google for taking the lead in helping our Mountain View community during these difficult times,” says Myers. “Thank you for making this significant investment in helping our community get back on its feet, albeit six feet apart.”

“We’re proud to continue our support of Community Services Agency of Mountain View’s vital work and hopeful that these funds will help our neighbors stay safe and healthy during this difficult time,” said Javier González, Google’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager.