Syracuse holds public hearing on draft five-year consolidated plan; service providers urge steady CDBG, HOME and ESG support

The City of Syracuse Department of Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD) held a public meeting to open the comment period on its draft five‑year consolidated plan and the proposed one‑year action plan and budget. The department said both documents are drafts and will be revised based on comments submitted during the public comment period, which the department said is open through April 2 at midnight; the department also announced an additional public comment opportunity on March 31 at 5:30 p.m. in the chambers.

Deputy Commissioner Michelle Zabanski described the consolidated plan as the city’s statement to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of community funding priorities over the next five years and said the draft focuses on preserving the quality and safety of existing housing, promoting affordable homeownership, expanding affordable housing supply, preventing and addressing homelessness, improving neighborhood health (including remediation of vacant properties), building family wealth and improving neighborhood vibrancy. From the department’s draft annual budget, staff said six new programs are recommended for funding, including initiatives targeting weatherization barriers, workforce development, legal services and estate planning.

A series of local nonprofits and service providers spoke…