Council denies Family Promise predevelopment funding request, tightens use of CDBG/HOME and adopts unauthorized-camping ordinance

The Lawton City Council on Tuesday voted to deny Family Promise's request for $33,000 in HOME/CHDO predevelopment funds and took three related actions aimed at tightening how federal housing funds are used locally.

Council members debated Family Promise's proposal to spend $33,000 on predevelopment work for a proposed community housing development organization (CHDO) project at 1308 Southwest D Avenue, including architectural predevelopment, engineering, and HUD compliance activities. Michael Tau, president of the board of Family Promise, and Charlotte (housing staff) presented the request and provided a breakdown of the proposed use of funds. Staff said the $33,000 would cover administrative, CPA oversight and predevelopment (survey, structural engineering, conceptual design) work; the organization estimated a later total project cost up to about $540,000, but final construction estimates were not yet available.

Councilmembers raised concerns about committing local or federal funds to predevelopment work for a project with an uncertain overall construction budget and an approaching HUD funding expiration. Charlotte said roughly $42,000 in uncommitted HOME/CHDO funds were at risk of reverting to HUD if not used before the end of the week and explained constraints on how HOME/CHDO funds may be used. She also said Family Promise had paid donated earnest money on the property and that portions of predevelopment work (for example, a structural engineer visit) had already occurred.

After substantial discussion about timing, fiscal risk, and program rules, Councilmember Randy Wiger moved to deny the $33,000 request. The motion carried; Councilmember Williams announced an abstention because a family member works at Family Promise. The council’s recorded action was denial of Family Promise’s specific funding request; staff and Family Promise were encouraged to pursue other options and to return with more complete budgets if appropriate.

In separate but related votes the council also: (1) directed staff to amend the Kids First Homeless Action Plan and the city's HOME/CDBG policies so that city HOME and CDBG funds are awarded only to individuals who can show a connection to Lawton (for example, a prior Lawton address, family in Lawton, or other locally verifiable tie) and to discourage use of HOME/CDBG to expand shelter capacity; and (2) approved an ordinance that bans unauthorized camping on public or private property without owner permission and establishes procedures for removal and storage of unattended personal property. Both the policy direction and the anti-camping ordinance passed on council motions and roll-call votes.

Charlotte explained HUD rules restrict the percentage of HOME funds usable for operating expenses and that some HOME/CHDO funds are reimbursable rather than direct payments. Council members pressed staff on the timing for any potential reallocation of expiring HOME/CHDO money and whether alternate uses (for example, homeless-prevention activities) could be implemented in time.

Mayor and the council framed the suite of decisions as an attempt to focus scarce federal HOME/CDBG funding on residents with a Lawton connection and to avoid policies or funding choices that could unintentionally draw people into the city in the absence of sufficient services. Several council members and community speakers said the city has seen increased street homelessness and public-safety and property concerns. Salvation Army leadership and other nonprofit operators urged strategies that support transition and treatment rather than creating new high-capacity shelter space without wraparound services.

Votes and next steps: the motion to deny Family Promise's $33,000 predevelopment request passed at the meeting (Councilmember Williams abstained). The council directed staff to draft amendments to the Kids First Homeless Action Plan and the HOME/CDBG annual action plan to implement the local-connection and no-expansion-of-shelter guidance, and staff indicated it would return with recommended language. The anti-camping ordinance was adopted as an emergency ordinance and will be codified in the Lawton City Code; the ordinance provides a new enforcement mechanism intended to protect public health, safety and property rights while allowing limited exceptions and coordination with social services.

Council members asked staff to continue working with Family Promise and other providers to explore alternative uses of federal funds that would meet HUD rules and city priorities. Staff also said they would research the fiscal impact on future HOME allocations if expiring funds are returned to HUD and would report back.