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Independence Center praises Portsmouth CDBG support at public hearing
Summary
At a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan, the Independence Center highlighted services for people with disabilities supported by city CDBG funding and urged continued funding.
Portsmouth held a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan; testimony from the Independence Center described how CDBG funding helped residents with disabilities gain benefits counseling, home modifications and employment support.
Why it matters: The CDBG annual action plan sets local priorities for federally funded community development activities that can support housing, accessibility and supportive services for vulnerable residents.
Nicole Davis, executive director of the Independence Center, thanked the city for CDBG support and summarized outcomes the nonprofit reported from working with Portsmouth residents. “This past year we’ve worked with over 156 individuals,” Davis said, and she listed program results including 18 clients who received detailed benefits counseling, seven people who received home modifications that let them remain in their homes, and one person relocated from a nursing home back into the community. Over five years, Davis said the center helped 40 people reach self-sufficiency and noted outcomes in housing, employment promotions and access to transportation and assistive technology for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Davis asked the council to continue funding through the CDBG annual action plan so the Independence Center’s work could continue and grow. The council did not vote on the CDBG plan at the hearing; the item was a public hearing rather than an adoption vote.
Ending: The public hearing closed with no immediate council action; councilmembers and staff will consider public input as they finalize the city’s response to the CDBG annual action plan.
