CDBG advisory committee reports allocations, Lead Safe & Healthy Homes activity and plans for next program year

Christine Howe, grants manager and staff liaison to the CDBG advisory committee, and Heather Dislecun, CDBG chairperson, presented the committee’s annual update to the Pocatello City Council on April 3.

Howe said Pocatello is an entitlement community that receives formula CDBG funds from HUD and described the committee’s role in reviewing subrecipient applications, developing the five‑year consolidated plan, overseeing projects, and assisting with Fair Housing Act outreach. The committee is composed of seven members, four of whom must live in designated target neighborhoods; Dislecun noted the committee was fully staffed for the first time in several years.

Howe reported the city’s program year 2024 CDBG allocation of just over $375,000 and described program spending across housing, public infrastructure (sidewalks), public facilities, public services and administration. She said public services funding is capped at 15% of the entitlement and typically draws requests well above that amount.

Highlighted recipients and results for program year 2024 included: leveraging CDBG to support the Lead Safe and Healthy Homes initiative (Howe reported leveraging roughly $2,600,000 through that program), 21 renewal grant projects to assist homeowners (many manufactured homes), two 0% deferred loans for sewer line replacements, sidewalk grinding and ADA ramp work in partnership with PRT, and public services awards totaling about $63,000 to local agencies including Aid for Friends, Boys & Girls Club, New Day Products, the Free Clinic (dental services) and Saint Vincent de Paul.

Howe said the Lead Safe and Healthy Homes grant remains an important offering; the competitive grant’s income and child‑under‑6 prioritization limit some households but provide fully grant‑funded mitigation and healthy‑homes work at no cost to qualified homeowners. She said program staff sometimes place properties on a wait list and encouraged residents who think they may qualify to contact the planning office for an inspection and intake.

Howe explained the program year timeline: Pocatello’s program year runs April 1–March 31; HUD entitlement notices are sometimes delayed and the city expected an entitlement number around May 15. For program year 2025 planning the staff presented an anticipated entitlement of $350,000 plus $25,000 program income as a planning baseline; Howe said fiscal year 2026 federal appropriations were uncertain and that some federal proposals would reduce or eliminate the CDBG program, so staff will plan conservatively and adjust as HUD guidance arrives.

Dislecun and committee members described their October–December review season when agencies present applications, the existing application scoring process, and the committee’s practice of attempting to distribute limited public‑service funds across applicants in a year when demand exceeds the cap.

Howe concluded by noting program administration requirements, the upcoming consolidated plan cycle for 2026, and the advisory committee’s intention to present a full strategic plan to council during the calendar year.