San Angelo staff presented the five-year Consolidated Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships funds during a public hearing Aug. 5, and the council heard public comment before adopting the plan-related items as presented. Morgan Chegkowiden, interim director of Neighborhood and Family Services, said the city had completed required public-notice steps and two evening community meetings, and that the FY26 CDBG award was nearly unchanged from FY25.

Chegkowiden said year-one funding availability on the CDBG side was about $643,137 and HOME funding was about $314,000 for the coming fiscal year. She described core program activities that include admin, a housing rehab program (minor and emergency repairs), and a long-standing code compliance position the grant has helped fund. "This is our culmination, our final public hearing to gather public input and to report back to you on what can be done with the funding this year," Chegkowiden told the council.

On the HOME side, staff proposed a modest reduction in a tenant-based rental assistance line that had been underspent. Staff said a prior allocation of about $64,000 for a rental program administered by MHMR was not fully expended in the current year and recommended reducing the new-year allocation to $49,000 while keeping the option to use prior-year funds if eligible clients later come forward.

Council members and public commenters asked how the public applies for rehab and other assistance; Chegkowiden said residents should call or visit the Neighborhood and Family Services office at 52 West College and that income eligibility guidance is posted on the city website. Public commenter Jamal Schumpert urged more outreach and town-hall-style meetings as the river- and park-master-plan process proceeds, and later criticized program administration and asked for clearer reporting on how many affordable houses had been produced.

Chegkowiden responded that accounting on CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization) set-asides can appear technical and that Galilee CDCs allocation was largely unchanged in real terms despite accounting revisions. The council moved and approved the plan-related items 6-0.

Next steps: staff will continue intake and program delivery under the CDBG and HOME rules, monitor program utilization (particularly the MHMR rental assistance), and return to council if reallocation of prior-year funds becomes necessary.