Commission approves 2025–26 CDBG public-service awards; New Hope receives increase

The Deltona City Commission on Sept. 8 approved the list of Community Development Block Grant public-service awards for program year 2025–26 and amended the staff-recommended allocations to increase funding for New Hope Hands of Hope, a local provider of housing and emergency assistance.

Under the approved motion the commission increased the New Hope Hands of Hope housing-assistance award to $25,000. The commission directed staff to take the additional $5,000 total needed equally from the recommended awards to the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia and the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties, keeping the overall CDBG allocation consistent with the annual action plan submitted to HUD. Commissioner Maritza Avila Vasquez argued for increasing New Hope’s award because the organization provides emergency services directly to Deltona residents and had reported unmet demand.

Staff said the allocations are part of the annual action plan included with the city’s CDBG submission and clarified that the awards will be implemented through subrecipient agreements that become effective Oct. 1. The motion to approve the resolution with the allocation adjustment passed unanimously.

The agreements will specify eligible uses, reporting requirements and the effective date; staff said they will return signed agreements and monitor subrecipient performance during the program year. The awards fund a mix of housing assistance, public services and early-childhood support; the commission’s adjustment reflects a policy choice to prioritize a local emergency services provider cited by multiple commissioners.