City highlights $20.8 million in CDBG-DR funds and housing programs during National Community Development Week

City officials used the National Community Development Week proclamation to outline ongoing housing and neighborhood programs and to spotlight $20.8 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds that the city must deploy.

"Our staff works tirelessly hard. We did not receive any additional staff, but two staff members to work to do the CDBG-DR program. That's $20.8 million we have to get out the door," a speaker identified in the record as Tracey Shine, Community Development Manager, told the board.

City staff described recent accomplishments and program activity: a down payment assistance program providing up to $10,000 so residents can buy homes with no money down; eviction and homelessness prevention assistance reaching more than 100 individuals and families; partnerships with nonprofit and faith-based providers to deliver health services and Meals on Wheels; and generating over $1 million in program income from affordable housing development supported by HOME Investment Partnership Program funds.

Officials encouraged residents to attend public meetings on the city’s five-year consolidated plan and noted that staff have been allocating federal CDBG and HOME funds for housing, infrastructure, and public services. The proclamation and the staff summary were accepted with applause; the board also thanked the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs for its work.