Fall River holds public hearing on HUD consolidated plan; agencies request CDBG, HOME and ESG funds

Michael Dionne, executive director of the Fall River Community Development Agency, opened a public hearing on the City of Fall River’s proposed five-year consolidated plan and the first-year annual action plan, which will guide how federal HUD funds are used beginning July 1, 2025.

The hearing provided residents and stakeholders an opportunity to comment on housing and community development needs, needs of people experiencing homelessness, strategies to further fair housing, and proposed activities for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds. Dionne said the expiring consolidated plan was adopted in 2020 and that the five-year cycle will conclude June 30, 2025. He outlined the timetable: a summary of the draft plans will be published February 26, 2025; a second public hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.; written comments will be accepted through March 31, 2025; the city council is slated to receive plan materials by April 2025 and to consider a resolution authorizing Mayor Paul E. Coogan to file the plans with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development around May 7, 2025.

Dionne provided the agency’s current funding estimates for the upcoming program year as…