Fairfield opens public hearing for CDBG Program Year 52; $441,600 entitlement noted

Fairfield opened the first public hearing to begin planning for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Year 52, with the meeting moderator saying the town939s HUD entitlement grant for the coming year is $441,600 and inviting nonprofit proposals by March 16.

The moderator explained that CDBG is a flexible federal program that must meet one of three national objectives and that the town typically programs the maximum allowable amounts for public services (up to 15 percent) and for planning and administration (up to 20 percent). He also reviewed procedural steps: a second public hearing is scheduled for May 4 and the town aims to send its annual action plan to HUD 45 days before the federal fiscal year ends Sept. 30.

Several local nonprofits described how they would use CDBG funds. Bernie, representing Mosaic Senior Life and the Fairfield Human Services Commission, said Mosaic operates a medically certified adult day program that provides caregiver respite and supports roughly 20 to 30 Fairfield residents each year. "It typically accommodates people with some form of either a cognitive or a physical disability," Bernie said, adding the program helps keep older residents at home.

Charlie, speaking for Building Neighborhoods Together (formerly Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust), outlined the group's HUD-certified housing-counseling work and a housing-stability loan fund. He said the counseling program helps about 150 clients a year and the loan fund provides below-market loans up to $10,000 with terms up to five years to prevent evictions and stabilize households.

Ed, from Wheel It Forward, described a lending-library model for durable medical equipment that operates a warehouse serving Bridgeport and Stratford. "We have 15,000 SKUs in our inventory," Ed said, and reported the nonprofit helped about 7,000 people last year and roughly 100 individuals in Fairfield, about 75 percent of them elderly. He said CDBG support would help expand local capacity and outreach.

Mary Ellen McGuire, executive director of Bridge House, said the Clubhouse International-accredited organization serves about 200 members with psychosocial supports, operates a food bank and a 13-person staff, and is renovating a historic building at 2103 Main Street in Stratford to expand services. "We have about 200 members," McGuire said.

Tia Reed, senior director for behavioral health at Lightbridge Community Services, said the agency depends heavily on Medicaid to cover services ("80 percent of our clients do depend on Medicaid," she said) and described partnerships that place clinicians in schools and medical offices to improve access.

Herb Leincooler, chair of the town939s Affordable Housing Committee, attended to observe and noted the committee939s work to match housing stock to resident needs.

The moderator closed the hearing after public remarks and reiterated submission deadlines and procedural next steps. He also described the town939s participation in the Neighborhood Assistance Act, a state tax-credit program administered by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services that allows businesses to receive tax credits for charitable contributions to approved local programs.

No formal votes or allocations were taken at the hearing; the town will review applications and advance an allocation plan through town boards and the representative town meeting as required before final submission to HUD.