Eastpointe council approves $23,600 in CDBG public-service allocations, prioritizes Lexington project for brick-and-mortar funding

The Eastpointe City Council on Feb. 4 approved allocation of $23,600 in Macomb County Community Development Block Grant public-service funds and authorized city staff to apply for two CDBG brick-and-mortar projects, prioritizing reconstruction of Lexington from 9 Mile to Semraw.

Council voted to distribute the available public-service funding among local nonprofits that had applied for CDBG support. During a public hearing before the vote, representatives of several applicant organizations spoke about services their programs provide and the populations they serve.

Sheila McCann, volunteer coordinator for Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, described the Safe at Home program, which uses volunteers to help older and disabled residents with chores and minor home repairs and said CDBG funds would expand that work in Eastpointe. Tim Joy, grant manager for Wave Project, requested funds to cover security at a Macomb County winter shelter operating at Trinity Lutheran Church in Warren; Joy said the shelter was serving 75–80 people a night. Krista Carpenter, director of Hearts 4 Homes, described eviction-avoidance assistance and cited Macomb County school data showing 1,554 school-age children experiencing homelessness in 2024. Jesslyn Gaskin, forensic interviewer and crisis counselor at Carehaus (the county child advocacy center), requested $15,000 to support services for qualifying Eastpointe children and families.

Councilmembers debated whether to fund all applicants at a straight percentage of their requests or to give small additional amounts to the groups that attended the hearing. Administration and a council spreadsheet were used to compute shares; council ultimately adopted allocations that total $23,600 and included small, extra amounts for four organizations that presented in person.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the recommended funding figures and allocations: approved by roll call (Council member Baker: Yes; Council member Curley: Yes; Council member Schadlick/Shadlick: Yes; Council member DeMonaco: Yes; Mayor Michael Kleinfeld: Yes). The motion carried unanimously. - Motion authorizing administration to submit CDBG applications for reconstruction of Lexington (9 Mile to Semraw) and block repair on Flocks (Hass to 10 Mile): approved by roll call (unanimous).

Why it matters CDBG public-service awards support small, local nonprofit programs that provide services to low- and moderate-income residents. The council’s authorization to apply for two brick-and-mortar CDBG projects also positions Eastpointe to seek federal/state funding for street reconstruction that would affect adjacent neighborhoods and businesses.

Details and context - Total public-service pool discussed: roughly $23,600 (as presented during the meeting). - Council prioritized Lexington reconstruction for the masonry/brick-and-mortar program and directed staff to prepare grant applications for Lexington (9 Mile to Semraw) and pavement work on Flocks (Hass to 10 Mile). - Applicants who spoke at the hearing included Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (Safe at Home chore-and-repair services), Wave Project (mobile showers, essentials van, and winter shelter security), Hearts 4 Homes (security-deposit and eviction assistance), and Carehaus (forensic interviews and trauma services; requested $15,000 for Eastpointe cases). Speakers supplied service counts and local impact estimates during the hearing.

What the council approved next Staff will prepare and submit the two CDBG brick-and-mortar project applications and will implement the adopted public-service disbursements in the fiscal year consistent with grant rules and City finance procedures.

Ending Council agreed to revisit allocation details in future budget reports and to consider refinements to the application package when staff returns with finalized application documents.