City presents CAPER showing HUD‑funded housing, park and demolition outcomes; public hearing opened and closed

Julie Johnston, the city’s compliance specialist, presented the 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reporting document for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program funds.

Johnston told commissioners the CAPER covers HUD’s program year (July 1–June 30). For program year 2024 the city reported supporting 458 households and expending COVID‑era CDBG‑CV funds in full; across the 2019–2024 consolidated plan the city’s HUD‑funded programs supported 753 housing units. She said 97% of the dollars in the core neighborhoods served low‑income households and the city met or exceeded the outcomes in the 2024 action plan.

Reported activities included down‑payment assistance, full home rehabilitation, public service grants (legal aid, youth programs), demolition of 30 dangerous or blighted buildings during the consolidated‑plan period, and park improvements (Southside Park and Upjohn Park) plus sidewalk work in Washington Square. HUD requires beneficiary reporting by race, household income bands and other HUD defined categories; Johnston explained that HOME‑ARP eligibility and some COVID grants used housing status as the eligibility basis, which explains some differences in totals.

The commission opened a public hearing on the CAPER and, with no public comment, closed it and will submit the final report to HUD after incorporating any comments. No commission action was required at the meeting.