Longview City Council approved a resolution on July 22 authorizing submission of the Longview–Kelso 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The motion to adopt Resolution 25-69 passed after a public hearing and brief council discussion.

The consolidated plan, prepared and presented at the hearing by Kenny Robinson, staff, is the five‑year guiding document the city files with HUD that frames local goals and the annual action plan for HUD formula programs. Robinson said the plan keeps the city’s stated goals — increase affordable housing supply, preserve and improve existing housing, provide services to improve housing and economic outcomes, and provide public facilities and improvements — unchanged to show continuity to HUD.

Robinson summarized local progress and projects already funded. He said the jurisdiction has supported development of 72 affordable housing units across Longview and Kelso and that funding has been committed to the Catlin and Main project for 40 units. He said Foundation for the Challenge group homes has three units under construction and five additional units planned in the Longview–Kelso area. Robinson also cited tenant‑education classes and tenant‑based rental assistance, Parks & Recreation summer childcare programs serving children, and housing rehabilitation and repair work through Lower Columbia CAP.

During the public hearing, a caller raised a concern about whether Hope Village had been included in the plan. Robinson responded that he had added Hope Village as a shelter entry and that a revised draft had been uploaded that afternoon. Another speaker asked whether the plan’s projects are funded by grants or the city budget and whether the consolidated plan aligns with other local efforts to address homelessness; Robinson described the consolidated plan as the HUD submission that lists projects already approved by council in April and noted other local supportive services and programs cited in the plan.

After the hearing, a council member moved to approve Resolution 25-69; the motion was seconded, council voted in the affirmative, and the motion carried. The resolution authorizes submission of the consolidated plan and the city’s annual action plan for fiscal 2025 to HUD.

The consolidated plan materials presented to council include demographic and housing analysis Robinson said, with findings of population growth projections, an increase in people age 55 and older, a rise in poverty among 18–34 year olds, declines in regular school attendance and increases in homeless students, a high share of single‑family housing in the housing stock, rising median home prices since 2020, and widespread rent cost‑burden among low‑income and elderly households. Robinson also provided program‑level numbers mentioned in the plan draft (for example: tenant‑based rental assistance for 32 households and Parks & Rec services for 122 children) and listed public‑facilities work such as LED street lighting and ADA curb cut projects.

The council action sends the consolidated plan to HUD as the official five‑year strategy for HUD programs covering Longview and Kelso and preserves the list of projects the council previously approved. Staff said any further editing for HUD submission will follow standard HUD timelines and public‑comment requirements.

Council members thanked staff for the work compiling the plan and asked staff to continue coordinating the consolidated plan with local shelters and other homelessness response efforts.