Human Planning Commission recommends funding priorities for CDBG, ESG and HOME grants

Valerie Toney, chairperson of the Human Planning Commission, told the Saginaw City Council that commissioners reviewed applications and prioritized housing rehabilitation, neighborhood infrastructure and services for youth and people experiencing homelessness as they prepared funding recommendations for the 2025–2026 CDBG, ESG and HOME cycle.

"Established local resources can assist organizations in delivering quality services in our city through new and existing programs," Toney said while summarizing the commission's review process and recommendations. She told council the commission entertained presentations from applicants, questioned presenters and then prepared recommendations the city manager would forward to council for consideration.

The commission reported an estimated CDBG entitlement of $2,273,537 for 2025–2026 and said applicants requested roughly $3,000,694 (figures stated by the commission during the hearing). Commissioners listed housing and rehabilitation as a top category and recommended funds for a mix of ongoing and new activities, including an allocation for a local housing rehabilitation project proposed by Building PODET/Building Power.

The Human Planning Commission recommended specific allocations across categories that commissioners said reflected priorities to support safe neighborhoods and leverage other funding. Recommendations mentioned in the hearing include (as stated by the commission):

- Housing/rehabilitation: a series of allocations including a Saginaw County Community Action Committee minor home repairs program at $60,000 and a proposed new housing rehabilitation project through Building PODET/Building Power at $120,000. Exact line-item totals and full funding chart were provided to councilors as part of the commission's packet.

- Public facilities and streets: engineering division street resurfacing recommended at $350,000 and $80,000 for ADA ramp construction; a total funded public facilities amount of $440,000 was listed by the commission.

- Economic development: demolition of dangerous buildings recommended at $150,000; Saginaw Economic Development Corporation programs and loan funds referenced with recommended allocations and program income retention.

- Public services: an estimated cap of $307,365 (15% of the expected CDBG entitlement) was cited. The commission recommended funding for youth services, senior programs, community policing/crime prevention ($90,177 recommended, unchanged from the prior year), and grants to local nonprofits such as Gideon Boxing Gym ($40,000) and Habitat for Humanity (housing counseling $14,080; home maintenance $14,000), among others.

Patricia Baird, program manager at Legal Services of Eastern Michigan and representative of the Fair Housing Center, described proposed program deliverables if funded: screening and intake of potential fair-housing clients, community outreach and paired testing to identify discrimination. "What we enforce is to make sure that people are being treated equal in housing," Baird said, and outlined planned testing, training and complaint-resolution work if the program receives funds.

Abby Stempel, interim director of Saginaw Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity, thanked the city and the Human Planning Commission for recommended HOME funding and described housing counseling and rehabilitation services funded by HOME that the organization provides. "The funding recommended for Saginaw Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity is more than just a financial contribution. It's an investment in families and neighborhoods," Stempel said.

Other presenters representing nonprofits and community partners — including Fred Lewis of Compassionate Care Network, Hurley Coleman of Saginaw County Community Action, Julius Tate of Building PODET/Building Power and neighborhood association leaders — described their programs and urged council to approve allocations that support repairs, new construction, workforce training and youth services.

Nut graf: The recommendations outline the Human Planning Commission's priorities for the city’s federal entitlements and related program dollars—housing repair and rehabilitation, street and ADA improvements, economic development loans and targeted public services—while commissioners said they tried to follow HUD rules and maximize leverage of local matching funds.

Council and staff questions during and after the hearing touched on program details, eligibility and next steps. The city manager noted the commission's report was before the council and indicated staff would bring formal resolutions for council action; council later postponed consideration of detailed funding resolutions to allow members more time to review the report and accompanying charts.

Ending: The commission's recommendations will advance to the city manager and then return to council for final action on a future docket; at the hearing presenters urged the council to approve funding that supports housing stability, neighborhood infrastructure and services for vulnerable residents.