[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6519187,"mediaKeyId","5360650-c06c11859d43d2b0c322c23a8a6f2fd1","parentId",5360650,"title","NeighborWorks CEO and board members urge council to reconsider CDBG decision that would cut Financial Wellness Center funding","audioSeconds",1152,"startMs",6433000,"endMs",7585000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360650-c06c11859d43d2b0c322c23a8a6f2fd1&start=6433&end=7585","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360650-c06c11859d43d2b0c322c23a8a6f2fd1/thumbnail_6433000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6519187/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/NeighborWorks-CEO-and-board-members-urge-council-to-reconsider-CDBG-decision-that-would-cut-Financial-Wellness-Center-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6519187-4aba7892277aae3161affaccceb336a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135006&Signature=kHJr1CI--bxHWV8RNcPazbwAZdxtFt-4ZhDWtI5TMCfi6UBZ1PuMkzZMfhpfVbU28ku~voLMowR5j~5QSAwfv3Vhxxala35cn2jZ0m4Bek8I06D6YsnC56odfmgoTPCYBE9IOYmEl6IDaCyp45ISRptZ1SpK6lGTla~ROoW9DKjE3sdSiAX8gpSat50HXoqfY9Aq3hxldg70RIMhPSgi3R2Zh6ZAC~LvRDkJ-Zu7IL8VcEFQS89QV2oMHi9AH4~Gp5fzAD1WZvipMEbp49MlDY9FxfoVs9NGS31dqHzZZgb-cQQzYP8g6iDR87XW0Mbp4k8BJJFg3oDG-TKKxBtWEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Toledo","date","2025-07-10T00:00:00Z","article","William Farnsell, CEO of NeighborWorks Toledo Region, told the Housing and Community Development Committee on July 10 that his organization — which operates a financial wellness center and other housing services — was recommended for zero CDBG public-service funding in the department’s draft allocations despite a decades-long local relationship.

\"We were informed ... that NeighborWorks ... that has been in business since 02/2017 ... was recommended for 0 funding this year,\" Farnsell said at the meeting. He told council that NeighborWorks has been a grantee since 1982 (through predecessor organizations), provides tax preparation, job-search help, credit counseling and homeowner education, and argued the city should find a way to fund the financial wellness center.

Department response and fiscal concerns

Director Rosalyn Clemens acknowledged the organization's long partnership but said the department assesses applicants on multiple criteria — including performance metrics, timely invoicing and whether organizations leave federal grant dollars unspent. Clemens told council that the department is tracking a trend of unspent funds and reported roughly $32,000 left on the table last year and an estimated $43,000 this year across third-party partners. \"We look at the performance metrics ... and who tends to leave the largest amount on the table,\" she said.

NeighborWorks representatives said invoicing timing and contract adjustments contributed to the shortfall. Farnsell said the organization had to lay off staff after funding changes and that invoicing for March–May remained unpaid, which complicated accounting and budget modifications.

Supporters urged partial funding

Tracy Britt, a NeighborWorks advisory-board member, asked council to consider a partial allocation rather than cutting the group entirely: \"Let's not go from x to 0. Let's go x to somewhere in the middle and let them stand in the proving ground and show you that your money is not wrongly placed.\" Council members said they would review financial reconciliations and data; Clemens said staff can provide reconciliation information to demonstrate which organizations left funds unspent and why.

Context and next steps

Clemens and staff said the citizen review committees, internal review and the department’s monitoring process are intended to ensure fiscal compliance; the department also offers technical assistance and the Capacity Building Institute to help organizations improve grant readiness. Staff told council they are open to working with members to reallocate funds if council seeks adjustments but emphasized HUD compliance and fiscal discipline.

Ending: Councilmembers asked staff for follow-up data on carryovers, invoicing status and the performance comparisons Clemens referenced; staff said they would provide the requested reconciliations and meet with council leadership to consider any reallocations before the HUD submission deadline.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Toledo - Housing & Community Development Committee on 2025-07-10 2:00 PM - Jul 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","NeighborWorks Toledo Region's CEO and supporters told the Housing and Community Development Committee that the agency was recommended for no CDBG public-service funding in the department’s draft allocations despite a long record of performance; department staff cited performance metrics and funds \"left on the table.\"","taxTitle","Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio","taxId",2665,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6519192,"Toledo committee previews 2025–29 consolidated plan, recommends CDBG allocations prioritizing housing and parks",7704,3521000,11225000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360650-c06c11859d43d2b0c322c23a8a6f2fd1&start=3521&end=11225","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360650-c06c11859d43d2b0c322c23a8a6f2fd1/thumbnail_3521000.jpg","/articles/6519192/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Toledo-committee-previews-202529-consolidated-plan-recommends-CDBG-allocations-prioritizing-housing-and-parks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6519192-ece0c408f2be619803c54921d432b329/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135006&Signature=kXmcEQDuVP2s~-CKD2t6mhehZg2Kg-0JtrFzDZI~pfiUz58fJ--9pCtGNgO9HO5w8YGcT~6lqvgjGy6HyMGjMDArWQ3rU6GWZ0PGJ0K8xzAad825TDr7CJ3rGR4tQJ7PyUmTssbt2isZkBGdQUkS4x2kDpw2tl6bqQQuegk2gmJBkDb9MvLQixSkqnaQGjcEqCxnl2sNbS7C4KyMfDs4TCGPr5zV2FvNLDR3wtTDll4ob8DpzF6mDzday94acVekAyFqhxCODylGlf2-yOwdKqW091Z9moEuYKVzUiBVC9xInu53lMiJlba-4Pfhv3Eef8Y-s3h0G2NWBL4dZIx7IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Toledo City Council Housing and Community Development Committee reviewed the city’s draft 2025–29 consolidated plan and the 2025–26 annual action plan on July 10, with department staff recommending a budget that directs new and carryover Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars primarily to affordable housing and neighborhood parks.

The plan, presented by Rosalyn Clemens, director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, Monica Brown, the department’s grants manager, and consultant Brian Hall, lays out how the city will allocate federal entitlement grants administered by HUD — CDBG, HOME and ESG — for housing and community development activities. \"The funding that we get from these three programs support about 97% of the work that this city does for housing and community development,\" Clemens said.

Clemens told the committee the city faces an $87,638 reduction from last year in its 2025 CDBG allocation. The department reported a 2025 CDBG annual allocation of $7,046,960 and $728,007.99 in carryover, for total resources of $7,775,007.59. The HOME allocation was listed as $1,965,007.24 with a large carryover of $3,787,820; the ESG allocation was reported at $627,043 (a $19,386 reduction).

Why it matters: HUD entitlement grants fund most of Toledo’s housing programs, and the department said proposed federal cuts at the national level could make future planning more difficult. Clemens noted that HUD caps CDBG spending on public services at 15% of the annual allocation, forcing the department to choose among many applicants for limited funds.

Key priorities and proposed allocations

- Affordable housing: The department recommended dedicating the full carryover plus part of the annual allocation to affordable housing preservation and production. Staff proposed $2,300,000 of carryover dedicated to affordable housing (about 40% of available resources including carryover), a $396,821 rooftop repair program allocation, and a $300,000 annual allocation to launch a flexible \"housing preservation fund\" (staff combined the $300,000 with $728,799 carryover to describe a flexible preservation pot of $1,028,799). Clemens highlighted a committed project, the Thurgood Marshall School adaptive-reuse project, for which the department said it committed about $3,000,000 in HOME funds to bring 52 senior units online.

- Neighborhood parks and community facilities: Staff proposed $1,750,000 (about 23% of resources) for parks and playground upgrades in low- and moderate-income areas and related facility improvements, and $200,000 programmed for Section 108 debt service tied to previously closed loans for center upgrades.

- Planning and administration: About $1,400,000 (roughly 18%) was proposed for planning, administration and staffing for the department, which the director said supports monitoring, HUD reporting and technical assistance.

- Public services: The plan lists $1,056,247 (about 15% of allocation including carryover) for public services. Clemens reiterated the HUD public-service cap, explaining that the department received roughly 35 applications this year requesting about $4.7 million from CDBG public-service lines.

Identified public-service award recommendations (excerpt from staff list): Arts Commission $20,000; Cherry Street Mission $50,000; Compassion Health of Toledo $120,000; Connecting Kids to Meals $250,000; Grace Community Center $52,000; Legal Aid of Western Ohio $125,000; Martin Luther King Kitchen for the Poor $75,000; Neighborhood Health Association $154,647; Sofia Contero $145,000; The Neighborhood Church $14,800; Toledo Grows $50,000 (total public-service line: $1,056,247). Clemens told the committee that those figures reflect allocations that fit under the 15% cap when calculated against the annual allocation.

HOME and ESG highlights

Clemens said HOME funds will continue to support rental housing development, down-payment and closing-cost assistance, CHDO set-asides and single-family rehab; the department reported a sizable HOME carryover tied to delayed large rental projects. The ESG allocation was proposed to fund emergency shelter and homelessness services, with $150,000 for Beach House and other allocations to local providers.

Process, engagement and next steps

Monica Brown described the department’s public process: mandatory applicant orientations, a 30-day public comment period (April 23–May 23), three public hearings and a citizen review process using two review committees (one for homeless service providers and one for non-homeless service providers). Brown said the department received 35 CDBG applications requesting roughly $4.7 million, one HOME application ($250,000 requested) and 10 ESG applications requesting about $1.1–$1.2 million.

Consultant Brian Hall summarized the needs assessment and community engagement used to build the consolidated plan: a literature review, nearly 50 consultations with agencies and community groups, public meetings and an online survey with 590 responses. Hall said recurring priorities across meetings and the survey were affordable housing, housing repair and preservation, youth programming, workforce development and infrastructure (streets, sidewalks and drainage).

Public comments and oversight

Committee members and staff said they will continue to refine recommendations. Clemens asked the committee to schedule any final changes quickly; the department must submit the consolidated plan to HUD online by Aug. 16 and sought an approved ordinance by Aug. 10 to meet that deadline.

Ending: Department staff said they will work with council on any post-hearing adjustments and provide data on program performance and carryovers requested by council members.","The Housing and Community Development Committee reviewed the draft 2025–29 consolidated plan and the 2025–26 action plan, proposing CDBG, HOME and ESG spending that emphasizes affordable housing, neighborhood parks and program administration amid federal funding uncertainty.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

NeighborWorks CEO and board members urge council to reconsider CDBG decision that would cut Financial Wellness Center funding

Toledo committee previews 2025–29 consolidated plan, recommends CDBG allocations prioritizing housing and parks