Longmont council adopts 2025–2029 HUD consolidated plan and 2025 CDBG/Housing funding package

Longmont City Council on June 17 adopted the city’s 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and approved the 2025 CDBG annual action plan and related local housing funding allocations.

The consolidated plan, prepared for Longmont as part of the Boulder Home Consortium, lays out housing priorities, needs assessment findings and five-year goals. Consultants from Root Policy Research presented data showing rising cost burden among renters — including in higher income brackets — and a shrinking supply of homes affordable to households earning under $100,000. The plan documents that middle‑income renter households in Longmont (income bands $50,000–$100,000) have seen the largest increases in cost burden since 2018.

Why it matters: The consolidated plan guides how the city will use federal CDBG and HOME funds and local housing dollars to address rental and ownership affordability, homeless prevention and services, and program administration over the next five years.

Council discussion and votes Council deliberations addressed gaps identified in the plan — particularly shortages of rental housing below 50% of area median income (AMI) and a lack of attainable homeownership options — and the implications for City policy and local programs. Council unanimously approved the consolidated plan and the recommended allocations in the 2025 action plan to HUD.

Key funding and program highlights presented to council - Longmont’s annual CDBG entitlement for 2025: $488,849. Staff reported a total 2025 CDBG budget (including carryforward and program income) of about $1,035,196 and recommended prioritizing owner‑occupied housing rehabilitation with the available CDBG resources. - Federal grants compliance: consultants reported roughly $7.1 million of federal funds expended in 2024; auditors said testing found no compliance exceptions for the grants examined. - Local affordable/attainable housing funds: staff summarized the Affordable Housing Fund budget and proposed non‑competitive and competitive awards. The city also proposed to add $250,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund to local down‑payment assistance (DPA) to supplement $1,000,000 in state DOLA (Prop 1‑23) funding, creating an initial local DPA pot of $1,250,000 to serve early True North and other buyers. - Attainable and affordable project awards: staff recommended loans/grants for projects and programs including housing counseling, owner rehabilitation, Thistle Community Housing’s Cannery acquisition, Habitat for Humanity’s proposed for‑sale partnership, and other preservation or supportive housing actions. Council approved the funding recommendations as presented.

What staff and partners said Christy Wiseman, the city’s housing investment manager, outlined the annual competitive cycle that produced the 2025 recommendations and noted that many awards include carryforward because multi‑year development projects draw funds on construction or closing schedules. Lucy McGee (Root Policy Research) summarized the consolidated plan data and resident engagement, and Molly O’Donnell (housing director) and other staff explained how state and local matching funds are being used to leverage additional resources.

Next steps and public comment Staff will submit the adopted Consolidated Plan and Action Plan to HUD. The adopted 2025 action plan carries a required 30‑day public comment period; staff also noted ongoing coordination with Boulder County on Proposition 1‑23 implementation and that future local match requests may be needed to maximize state funds.

Ending Council members emphasized the need for a balanced portfolio of interventions — rental preservation, down‑payment assistance and programs to help low‑income homeowners remain in place — while noting the limits of local authority to change regional land or construction cost drivers.