Norwalk reviews draft five-year consolidated plan and FY 2025–26 annual action plan; public services and capital projects proposed

City officials on March 18 presented a draft five‑year Consolidated Plan and the fiscal year 2025–26 Annual Action Plan describing how Norwalk plans to use federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds.

The draft Consolidated Plan covers July 1, 2025–June 30, 2030 and will guide use of CDBG and HOME formula grants the city receives directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Monica Trancoso, a consultant who worked on outreach and the draft plan, told the council the city solicited 437 survey responses and held community meetings and a housing summit to shape priorities.

The plan identifies six priorities — affordable housing, neighborhood preservation, special‑needs services, community facilities, economic development and planning/administration — based on available data and community input. Staff estimated the city could receive roughly $5,000,000 in CDBG funds and $1,500,000 in HOME funds across the five‑year period, depending on federal appropriations.

Planned FY 2025–26 uses described in the draft annual action plan include: funding for social‑service providers, capital improvements, economic development activities and HOME program investments to support affordable housing. Community Development Director Miranda Montgomery and staff provided a preliminary breakdown of recommended allocations. For CDBG the draft lists about $977,097 in entitlement funds and program income and carryover that staff estimated would result in available funds for the annual plan; staff also identified $536,678 for capital improvements and proposed a $100,000 economic development allocation that includes a $10,000 microenterprise grant to Upwards Inc.

Staff recommended a social‑services cap consistent with federal limits and listed proposed awards recommended by the Social Services Commission, including $75,000 for emergency services delivered by the Social Services Center, $20,000 for Community Legal Aid SoCal, $20,000 for Community Family Guidance Center and $20,000 for LA Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. For HOME the draft identifies an estimated $240,414 for FY 2025–26, including administration, a CHDO set‑aside and a proposed security deposit assistance program.

Several nonprofit grantees spoke in favor of the funding recommendations during the public hearing. Melanie Fore, community impact manager for Upwards, asked the council to support the $10,000 economic development microenterprise award to expand child care capacity and coaching for low‑income in‑home providers. "This allows them to efficiently manage and expand their business, create local teaching assistant jobs, and improve the quality and inclusivity of care," Fore said. Bill Cinco, executive director of Community Family Guidance Center, described sharp rises in crisis‑level mental‑health cases among Norwalk youth and said the organization's services remain in high demand.

Council members thanked staff and social‑services commissioners for review work and asked for additional detail in the final plan. Councilmember Margarita Rios requested that, when the item returns for adoption, staff include the specific list of repair/completion items and a comparative market study for any long‑term leases associated with funded projects. Staff noted the draft plan will be available for public review from March 25 through April 25, 2025 and that a final public hearing to adopt the annual action plan is tentatively scheduled for May 6, 2025. Staff also cautioned that the draft financial figures will be updated once HUD issues final entitlement amounts.

The council took the item as information and directed staff to return with a final annual action plan after the 30‑day public review period and in advance of the May adoption deadline.