Gastonia council hears plan to guide $570,000 in CDBG, $690,000 in HOME funding for 2025–26

City staff and a consultant presented Gastonia’s five‑year consolidated plan and the city’s 2025–26 annual action plan Thursday, laying out how the city would allocate federal CDBG and HOME funds if Congress makes the anticipated appropriations.

The plans, prepared by Mosaic Community Planning LLC and the city’s affordable housing coordinator, describe community engagement, estimated outcomes and program priorities and list roughly $570,000 in CDBG and $690,000 in HOME funds (plus program income) for the 2025–26 year. Over five years, the presentation projected about $2.8 million in CDBG resources and about $3.5 million in HOME resources, subject to federal appropriations.

Mosaic consultant Ms. Fish said the consolidated plan is “a strategic plan required by the United State Department of Housing and Urban Development” for entitlement communities and that the city’s draft was built from data analysis, public input and stakeholder interviews. The project website, gastoniacomplan2025.com, hosted the plan drafts, an online needs survey and public comment during the 30‑day period, the consultant said.

Council members and residents asked for specifics. Councilman Gallagher asked how many people the programs help; Ms. Fish pointed to the plan’s estimated outcomes slide and said the document breaks prospective outcomes into categories such as housing units rehabilitated and rental units constructed. Councilwoman Littlejohn and others pressed for clarity on funding for youth services and homelessness prevention. City staff said youth programming is an eligible activity under CDBG but public services are capped at 15% of the annual CDBG allocation; staff also said some homelessness services would be provided through the Gaston/Cleveland/Lincoln Continuum of Care.

The council voted to accept the plan as presented. The council and staff discussed next steps for outreach and application: staff will direct residents to local nonprofit partners that apply for and deliver services, and staff offered to attend neighborhood meetings to connect residents to resources. The plan and the annual action plan will be submitted to HUD after final local approval and remain contingent on HUD’s and Congress’s funding decisions.

The presentation includes a range of proposed projects for 2025 (housing rehabilitation, cold‑weather shelter support, acquisition for affordable housing, tenant‑based rental assistance and HOME program set‑asides for community housing development organizations). Staff emphasized the projections depend on future appropriations and that year‑to‑year funding can change.