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City holds public hearing on 2024 CAPER; officials outline use of CDBG and HOME funds
Summary
City staff opened a public hearing on the 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), which reports use of CDBG and HOME funds including home repairs, park projects and eviction prevention; staff said more public comments are accepted through Sept. 25.
City officials opened a public hearing Sept. 23 on the 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER), the document the city files with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to report use of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds.
Sharonda Carson, director of Community and Neighborhood Services, said the CAPER communicates the city’s progress to HUD and to Muskegon residents. “This is our way of communicating with HUD, the citizens of the city of Muskegon,” Carson told the commission as she opened the hearing.
Carson summarized several allocations from the prior fiscal year, saying CDBG and related dollars were used for home repairs, support for a fire-station bond, senior Meals on Wheels through AgeWell Services, an eviction prevention program run by True North, park work including a pavilion at Reece Park, and alley paving in the McLaughlin neighborhood. She said the report shows the city repaired more than 58 houses during the last program year.
Carson described the program’s eligibility requirements and application process, saying emergency repairs (for example, leaking roofs or hazardous electrical systems) take priority and that applicants are turned away mainly for non-emergency needs, missing documentation or being over income limits. “Our goal is not to turn anybody away,” Carson said, but added that applicants who don’t complete forms are advised they can reapply in six months.
Commissioner Cochin asked for examples of what the dollars fund for the public; Carson cited roofing, siding, electrical, foundation and plumbing work when those needs are emergency-level repairs. Commissioner Kilgo asked whether the CAPER is available online; Carson said the report has been posted since Sept. 9 and comments will be accepted through Sept. 25 at cnsmail@shorelinecity.com or by phone and in person at Community and Neighborhood Services.
Carson told commissioners the city received an increase in CDBG funding for the upcoming fiscal year. She also described a “whole-house assessment” approach staff now uses that combines CDBG funds with senior millage, lead remediation funds and Healthy Homes resources to address multiple hazards at once; she said only on rare occasions does the condition of a home require staff to decline service because repair needs exceed available resources.
The public hearing remains open through Sept. 25 for written and phone comments; Carson provided the department phone number and an email address. No in-person commenters addressed the CAPER during the meeting.
