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Council holds public hearing on CAPER for CDBG and HOME programs; one objection recorded
Summary
City staff presented the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025 program year; staff reported near-full expenditure of CDBG funds and overexpending of HOME funds using prior-year dollars. A resident objected to distribution of funds during public comment.
Cedar Rapids city staff held a public hearing Sept. 23 on the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds for the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Laura Shaw, Community Development, described the CAPER as “the annual year end report that's due to HUD every year” and said the CDBG program expended just under $1.1 million (about 95% of the award) and the HOME program expended just under $367,000 (about 106% of the award, including prior-year funds). Shaw said the city partners with 13 agencies to deliver housing and services and listed accomplishments including more than 4,200 people served with free health services, 2,100 people helped with shelter and case management, and 22 homes rehabilitated or constructed through nonprofit partners and the city’s owner-occupied rehab program.
During the public hearing Dorothy DeSouza Guedes, a resident and past committee member, said she objected to the CAPER process and raised concerns that funding has repeatedly gone to the same organizations, naming Hope Community Development Association and Matthew 25 as examples. Guedes said that pattern “leaves a lot of the city out of the money” and urged the city to consider spreading funds to other neighborhoods and clarifying which programs are eligible so new applicants are not discouraged. The record shows one objection entered during the hearing.
City staff noted the CAPER public comment period began Sept. 13 and runs through Sept. 29, and that the CAPER must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by Sept. 30.
This hearing produced no council action or vote; the record reflects a public hearing held and one objection recorded for the CAPER.
