The Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) will take over management and operations of the Paso Robles Senior Center later this summer after the Paso Robles City Council approved an agreement during its June 16 meeting.
“We’re super excited about this opportunity,” CAPSLO Community Services Program Director Lawren Ramos told New Times. “Our senior population is near 25 percent of our overall community. It’s probably the largest growing segment of our demographics in our community. So we’re very excited to be able to partner with the city of Paso Robles and maintain what has been there for many, many years.”
The agreement comes after the city temporarily resumed direct operations of the center in February when longtime operator Senior Volunteer Services (SVS) became unable to sustain services.
Located at 270 Scott St., the facility has served Paso Robles seniors since 2002. In March, the city issued a request seeking a qualified organization to manage the center. CAPSLO was the sole respondent, according to City Council documents.
CAPSLO demonstrated the organizational capacity and experience necessary to operate the center while connecting local seniors with a broader network of supportive services already offered throughout San Luis Obispo County, a June 16 staff report explained.
The transition will begin Aug. 1, with a two-week implementation period before CAPSLO assumes full operational responsibilities on Aug. 17.
“We’re going to basically just keep things going as they are now,” Ramos said. “There’s great stuff happening, so we don’t want to disrupt anything that’s happening.”
The center currently serves more than 36,000 people annually and hosts roughly 200 classes and activities each month. Programs include bingo, Rummikub, cribbage, painting, knitting, yoga, grief support groups, brain fitness classes, and other activities designed to support active aging and social connection.
According to recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, approximately 20.9 percent of Paso Robles residents are age 65 or older, representing roughly 6,600 individuals within the community.
“This proportion is notably higher than both the statewide and national averages, demonstrating the critical role the Senior Center plays in supporting the health, social engagement, recreation, nutrition, and overall well-being of older adults,” a staff report explained.
Ramos said CAPSLO plans to maintain existing programming while evaluating ways to expand services based on community needs.
“Part of our goal going in is to evaluate and really see what the community needs are and how do we evolve what’s happening there to better meet those needs,” Ramos said. “We really are excited about that opportunity.”
In addition to overseeing day-to-day operations, staffing, volunteer coordination, and facility rentals, CAPSLO intends to connect seniors with services the nonprofit already provides elsewhere in the county.
Those services include utility assistance, home repair and accessibility programs, volunteer opportunities, and referrals to health and social service resources.
CAPSLO also operates the county’s only adult day center for individuals living with dementia. Located in Paso Robles, the program provides daytime care and a respite for family caregivers.
“One of the challenges with dementia is a lot of people feel isolated in that situation,” Ramos said. “We’re hoping that we can maybe help families earlier identify signs of dementia through the Paso Robles Senior Center and get people connected with the adult day center as well.”
The city also plans to shift operational funding for the center to the general fund to improve long-term financial sustainability, according to a June 16 staff report.
Historically, operations have been partially supported by the Senior Endowment Fund, but city staff reported that the fund’s balance has declined from roughly $200,000 to less than $50,000 and could be depleted further if current spending patterns continue.
The CAPSLO contract carries a first-year cost of approximately $217,500, including startup expenses. The Senior Center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ∆
This article appears in Winning Images 2026.
