The Evansville Common Council adopted Ordinance F 20 25-09 on Monday to appropriate 2024–25 HUD grant funds, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds.

Colby Jackson of the Department of Metropolitan Development summarized the grants’ purposes: ESG assists people returning to stable housing after crises, CDBG supports decent housing, suitable living environments and economic opportunities for low-to-moderate-income persons, and HOME funds affordable housing for low-to-moderate-income households. Jackson told council that HUD reduced local allocations for CDBG (about $81,000) and HOME (about $56,000) compared with expectations for 2024–25.

Council considered several amendments and reallocations proposed at the meeting. The council approved moving $5,000 from one line item into Feed Evansville and a $4,000 transfer into St. Vincent de Paul; a total of $15,000 was moved across specific categories into a “shovel ready” pot by aggregating $5,000 from each of three numbered line items. Council also moved $5,000 from Voices Inc. to Bethany Apostolic for an evening food pantry program. The council discussed concerns from CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization) representatives about administrative funding cuts; a CHDO representative warned that reducing administrative subsidies could force organizations to seek other revenue or raise rents, and city staff said their recommended $5,000 per CHDO reduction was intended to keep totals under HUD caps while not zeroing out administrative allocations.

Council approved the ordinance by roll call (six ayes and no nays recorded in the clerk’s roll call for this item as presented). City staff said they will return with updates on outstanding compliance forms from two companies and will report further amendments as needed.