Council adopts Community Development Agency consolidated plan and Year‑1 action plan with $3.9M in HUD program allocations

The Fall River City Council adopted a five‑year consolidated plan and the Year‑1 annual action plan for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), approving the Community Development Agency’s (FRCDA) funding priorities for the 2025 program year.

Funding announced: FRCDA told councilors it expects approximately $2,584,036 in Community Development Block Grant funding, roughly $1,100,000 in HOME Investment Partnership program funding and about $231,000 in Emergency Solutions Grant funding for the program year starting July 1, 2025. Staff said those grants together will support infrastructure projects, economic development, public services and homeless‑services programming.

Why it matters: The consolidated plan directs federal entitlement dollars that the city uses for sidewalks, parks, first‑time homebuyer programs, homeowner and investor rehabilitation loans and grants, and services for people experiencing homelessness.

Public participation and housing data: CDA Executive Director Michael Dionne told the council the agency received 722 survey responses for the plan and conducted neighborhood outreach; several councilors and speakers said participation should be broader. Councilors pressed staff on whether the city has a comprehensive housing study to show how market‑rate development will affect HUD thresholds. CDA staff said the city has about 43,000 housing units, about 4,300 of which are on the subsidized housing inventory (roughly 11%), and that other program counts raise that to about 23–24% when all subsidized programs are included.

Homelessness spending and services: Dionne provided a summary of recent homelessness‑related funding the agency administered: roughly $1.2M in ESG, nearly $2M in CARES Act ESG‑CV funding, a four‑year SAMHSA award totaling $2M, a Department of Justice award of $550,000, and approximately $400,000 in opiate‑related funding. He also listed local services the agency supports, including hotel placements, overflow warming centers, a mobile shower trailer and laundry trailer, and a purchased homeless van. “No veteran will be homeless in the city,” Dionne said, summarizing CDA practice for veterans outreach and emergency placements.

Council discussion and next steps: Several councilors urged the administration to commission a comprehensive housing study to clarify how planned market‑rate development—particularly in waterfront and transit‑oriented areas—will affect HUD thresholds, affordable‑housing percentages and local priorities. Staff said planning resources exist and that the agency will continue outreach and monitoring of HUD program guidance.

Vote and outcome: The council adopted the consolidated plan and Year‑1 action plan by roll call vote with one abstention (Councilor Ponte). The plan will be filed with HUD by the agency for the 2025 program year.