Council opens public hearing on CAPER for CDBG and HOME programs; city highlights last year’s activities

Charlottesville staff opened a public hearing on Aug. 26 on the city’s Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the 2024–25 program year under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships programs.

Housing and community development staff summarized accomplishments from the program year: use of CDBG funds to replace three roofs at Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority properties (helping 11 households), adult literacy and workforce services for more than 20 city residents, housing stability assistance for 13 households, entrepreneurship training and small startup grants for local entrepreneurs, and financial‑capability services for public housing residents and new arrivals to the U.S. The city also used prior‑year funds for park trail connections and youth counseling space improvements.

Staff noted that subrecipients’ reporting sometimes aggregates broader program activity and that the city is refining data collection to better attribute direct CDBG beneficiaries. The draft CAPER was made available for public review and comment through Sept. 1; staff said comments can be submitted to planning staff and that the CAPER will return at a later date for council action (this is the first of two public hearings).

No members of the public spoke at the hearing. Staff recommended placing the CAPER on the consent agenda for the second reading and directed members of the public to the TAPDC online posting for the full draft report.