Providence committee reviews mayor’s proposed CDBG budget amid federal funding uncertainty

Members of the Providence City Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal and Planning on Thursday reviewed the mayor’s proposed Community Development Block Grant budget for program year 2025–26 and heard staff describe priorities for food, childcare, homelessness prevention, refugee services and other basic needs as federal funding remains uncertain.

The mayor’s draft, presented by Emily Friedkin, director of Housing and Human Services, and Alyssa McDermott, director of Housing and Community Development, responds to nearly 100 applications for funding and prioritizes sustaining existing operations rather than launching new pilot projects because HUD allocations for the coming fiscal year are not yet final. Friedkin told the committee staff received “a staggering $20,500,000 in requests” and warned that “best case scenario is we’re looking at level funding, but more likely, it’s anywhere between a 5 to 10% cut” when final allocations arrive from the federal government.

The committee heard that staff used HUD program rules and scoring criteria to evaluate proposals, prioritizing number of clients served, equity and access, geographic targeting of concentrated poverty, past performance and agency capacity. McDermott said the office emphasized “clearly defined projects that are already ready to proceed,” and noted many recommendations are for direct service, emergency operations, facility…