Mark Van Kirkoff and Chris Dahl updated the committee on community development and housing activity, including the closeout of the county’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program 2 (ERA2) and administrative changes to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs.

Van Kirkoff said the county’s $50 million ERA2 grant — awarded in 2022 — reached the end of program activity on Sept. 30; staff are now in the grant liquidation and reporting period that runs to January. He said the county obligated funds for subrecipients and internal rental assistance, extended and increased funding for housing-stability counseling providers, processed over 200 new applications for the county’s internal rental assistance program, and moved funds to support five affordable rental capital projects, including a project in Aurora developed in partnership with the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

Chris Dahl said administration of the CDBG program is shifting back to the city of Elgin after a 90-day transition that began July 16; the 2025 funding agreement with HUD and the HOME program funding agreement have been signed by the chair and returned to HUD. Dahl also said the county had issued a request for proposals for a HOME program consultant and that more than 30 providers had downloaded the packet as of the latest update.

Committee members were not asked to take action; staff said they would return with resolutions and agreements tied to specific projects and program allocations as items become ready for committee consideration.