City plans to allocate HUD ESG funds to eight homeless‑service providers; committee approves consent placement

The Planning and Economic Development Committee recommended sending to the consent agenda an ordinance authorizing the director of the Department of Planning and Urban Development to enter into agreements with local agencies to implement the 2025 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program and to authorize payment of awards.

Planning Department staff said the city will receive approximately $514,137 from HUD’s 2025 ESG allocations. The department reported it received 10 applications requesting a larger total and recommended funding eight applicants: five emergency shelter providers, one transitional shelter provider, one agency to provide street outreach, and one to provide homeless prevention and rapid rehousing. Staff said funded shelter activities will serve youth, single women, women with children, and single‑ and two‑parent families and that applicants had demonstrated the ability to leverage matching funds.

Committee discussion and clarifications

Council members asked for historical award figures and outcome data; staff agreed to provide awards and service data for the prior three years and noted application materials include service counts. Members also asked about other funding sources. Planning Department staff said the city had used HOME‑ARP funds in the prior year (example cited: $250,000 to United Way as earlier council action) and that other state funding programs (Ohio Development HCRP) provide two‑year funding cycles and were currently level. Staff noted that federal ESG COVID funds previously used for homeless prevention have ended and that agencies are experiencing funding pressure.

Next steps

The committee placed the ordinance on the consent agenda; staff committed to follow up with three‑year award and service data for council.