The Village of Skokie held the first of three public hearings May 19 on its 2025 Community Development Block Grant program, with staff announcing a $532,514 allocation from HUD and accepting presentations from 17 applicants seeking funds for services and capital improvements.

Justin Malone, the village’s neighborhood and housing coordinator and CDBG administrator, explained the grant’s structure and timetable. “At the July 21 meeting, I’ll be back to present a draft of the action plan, including the budget,” Malone said. The board will consider a final plan before submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; programs typically begin after HUD’s approval in October.

Who applied: nonprofits and community agencies described requests that ranged from senior services and mental-health counseling to home repairs and accessibility upgrades. Applicants who presented included: Center for Enriched Living; the Children’s Advocacy Center of North & Northwest Cook County; Northwest Compass; North Shore Senior Center; Open Communities; Metropolitan Family Services; Journey to Road Home; Peer Services; AHS Family Health Center; Turning Point Behavioral Healthcare Center; Wings domestic-violence services; Orchard Village; Harbor youth services; SEARCH (services for people with developmental disabilities); CG Senior Life (Village Center); Connections for the Homeless; and Shore Community Services.

Types of requests: Malone said requests covered three CDBG categories: capital improvements (infrastructure, building repairs and accessibility upgrades), public services (direct client services and program staff), and planning/administration. By HUD rules, public services requests are capped at 15% of the grant and planning/administration at 20%.

Examples presented: AHS Family Health Center requested operating support for dental staffing and a capital request for site and interior repairs at its Skokie clinic; North Shore Senior Center sought funds to support senior social and benefits services after recent storm-related roof damage at its Northfield facility; Turning Point requested new flooring and other repairs in heavily used group rooms at its Skokie building; SEARCH and Shore Community Services requested accessibility and bathroom upgrades at community-integrated homes serving residents with developmental disabilities; Connections for the Homeless and Journey to Road Home described shelter and wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness; and smaller agencies detailed behavioral-health, prevention and housing counseling programs.

Timing and process: Malone said staff received 17 applications, will build a draft action plan for the board at the July meeting (which also includes a five-year plan overview) and intends to submit the village’s action plan to HUD by the program year start in October. Malone reminded the public that CDBG funds must primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents; the village also holds separate funding cycles and capital-improvement planning.

Public participation: Applicants and residents used the hearing to describe local need and how CDBG funds would be used. Several applicants noted past village support and emphasized the fragility of certain revenue streams (state or Medicaid funding) and how CDBG dollars enable services for low-income or uninsured residents.

Next step: staff will assemble the July draft action plan and a proposed budget that includes recommended allocations; the board will review and then submit the final action plan to HUD for approval.