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Council approves HUD grant appropriations; adjusts CHDO operating funds and moves small allocations among nonprofits
Summary
Ordinance F 20 25-09, adopted June 23, appropriated HUD grant funds (CDBG, ESG, HOME). Council approved several intra-program adjustments and limited reductions to CHDO administrative allocations to meet HUD caps; the ordinance also moved modest sums to local nonprofits and a shovel-ready pot.
The Evansville Common Council adopted Ordinance F 20 25-09 on June 23 to appropriate federal HUD grant funds: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).
City staff described the grants at a high level: ESG funds the city uses to assist people returning to stable housing after experiencing homelessness; CDBG supports decent housing and suitable living environments for low- and moderate-income residents; HOME supports the creation of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households.
City staff and the citizens advisory committee recommended allocations; the council heard that year-to-year grant totals had fallen from 2024 to 2025. Colby Jackson told the council CDBG was down about $81,000 and HOME about $56,000 compared with prior expectations.
Amendments and reallocations: During the meeting council members proposed and approved several small-line amendments: moving $5,000 from item 65 into Feed Evansville (item 17); transferring $4,000 from DMD-focused neighborhood development (item 65) to St. Vincent De Paul (item 12); moving $5,000 each from items 70, 71 and 72 (total $15,000) into a shovel-ready pot; and reallocating $5,000 from Voices Inc. to Bethany Apostolic for an evening food pantry. Staff said the modest reductions to CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization) operating funds were intended to keep the city under HUD caps while leaving each CHDO with some operating funds; a public speaker who runs a CHDO warned that cutting administrative subsidies can squeeze operating capacity for mission-driven affordable housing work.
Why it matters: These grants provide operating funds for local nonprofits and city programs that serve low- and moderate-income residents, and small shifts in allocations affect service providers’ budgets for programming and administration.
Vote: After recorded amendments and a public comment exchange, the council adopted the ordinance. The clerk recorded the final vote as 6 ayes and 0 nays (two members were recused or absent for this item as noted earlier in the meeting). The amendments described above were recorded on the meeting spreadsheet and entered into the ordinance as adopted.
Ending: City staff said agencies can still access prior-year funds for eligible activities, and the administration will return if additional adjustments are necessary.
