The Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board on July 8 unanimously recommended that Clearwater City Council adopt the city’s 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the fiscal year 2025–26 annual action plan, endorsing a federal-and-local funding package the presenter said totals $7,345,324.12.

Dania Perez, the city presenter, told the board the consolidated-plan cycle began in early 2025 with public outreach and that the city’s submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is due Aug. 15. "Our federal funds budget totals $7,345,324.12," Perez said, and she described draft allocations across public facilities, public services, economic development, and housing programs.

The board heard line-item details for several nonprofit partners. Perez said proposed capital and facility grants include $85,000 for Hope Villages of America for food-storage and electrical upgrades; $191,340 for Directions for Living for stairwell and door replacements; $105,000 for Saint Vincent de Paul to pave a parking lot, add dry storage and air conditioning; and $74,001.34 for Maddie Williams to install a permanent generator for disaster readiness. A set of six public-service projects — including Hope Villages’ senior wellness pantry, Victim Advocacy and Support Services (listed as InterCultural Advocate), WestCare Gulf Coast (Turning Point), Gulf Coast Legal Services and Metropolitan Ministries — were shown as receiving $23,001.47 each.

Perez described economic-development awards including $20,000 for Prospera’s Hispanic Business Institute and $19,600 for Upward to assist childcare microenterprise providers. A façade-improvement program combining CDBG entitlement and a revolving loan fund was shown at about $406,875 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Under homeownership and housing stability, Perez said Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services is proposed to receive up to $50,000 and Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation $10,000 for homeownership education and one-on-one counseling. The draft budget allocates $500,000 for a purchase-assistance program plus $250,000 more from SHIP (State Housing Initiative Partnership) funds; tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) was listed at $285,005.99. Perez said administrative funding for CDBG and HOME is estimated at $1,185,175.12 and $38,322.61 (presenter distinguished these line items during the presentation).

A board member questioned the slum-and-blight line, noting $68,052.02 for acquisition and demolition seemed small; staff replied the amount reflects limited eligible properties within the designated slum-and-blight area and prior acquisitions handled by partners, and that the budget was reduced accordingly.

Director (Mr.) Mayhew updated the board on a related housing transaction: Indigo Apartments closed two weeks before the meeting and will revert to income-restricted status at 80 percent of area median income. "Indigo Apartments closed 2 weeks ago," Mayhew said, and described a 12-month rehabilitation schedule. He told the board the developer will be required, under federal law (the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act), to assist residents who no longer qualify because of the income restrictions. Mayhew said the property has about 208 units and cited its location near Chestnut and Myrtle; he called the closing "a big win for Clearwater." (Mayhew gave the unit count and timing as approximate.)

After hearing no public comment on the item, board member Linda Byers moved approval of the recommended plan and funding package and the motion was seconded. The board voted unanimously to approve the recommendation to council; all five voting members recorded "yes." The board’s motion will be forwarded to City Council for final adoption and the administrative steps needed to execute HUD agreements.

Why this matters: the consolidated plan and action plan set the city’s CDBG and HOME priorities, allocate revolving loan and local SHIP funds, and authorize staff to apply for and enter agreements with HUD. The plans guide spending on homelessness prevention, rental and ownership assistance, nonprofit service contracts, and limited acquisition/demolition activities.

Board members and staff signaled several implementation constraints and next steps: the plan must be finalized for Council adoption, HUD must receive the submission by Aug. 15, and some program uses (for example, demolition or large rehabilitation) are limited by geography or eligibility rules. The board scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 12, 2025.