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Harrisburg council approves revised plan to spend leftover 2021 ESG funds, splits $45,068 between two providers
Summary
After questioning why $55,529 from a 2021 Emergency Solutions Grants allocation remained unspent, Council approved an amended resolution to split the available operating funds between Christian Churches United and the YWCA; Shalom House was removed from the allocation because it was deemed ineligible. Council voted 5–1 to approve.
Harrisburg City Council approved an amended resolution to allocate remaining 2021 Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funding to local homelessness service providers, after discussion about how the balance was discovered and why it remained unspent.
Interim Building and Housing staff told council that HUD had identified an unallocated balance of $55,529 and that $10,461.01 would be used for grant administration, leaving $45,067.99 for subrecipient allocation. The administration proposed splitting the remaining funds equally among eligible recipients; an amended resolution reduced the number of recipients to two after staff said Shalom House was temporarily ineligible because of building and operational issues.
Council debated the timeline and oversight. The business administrator said HUD first notified the city in a March 18, 2024 letter and later approved an extension allowing the funds to be committed and expended by March 31, 2025. Interim director Martin Roberts said turnover in the Building and Housing Department had contributed to delays in fully accounting for the grant balance.
Council members asked whether the city had other outstanding federal funds and whether the city had provided adequate notice to council when HUD corresponded with staff. Vice President Green and Councilwoman Rawls expressed concern about community outreach and the urgency of spending dollars that support rapid re-housing and emergency shelter. Councilwoman Davis asked who would oversee the work during the workout plan period; staff said Patrice Dawkins and Linda McClure remain assigned, while Tamika Moore is no longer employed by the city.
Vote and outcome: Resolution 1 of 2025 as amended passed 5–1. The roll call recorded Councilwoman Daniels voting no; Councilwoman Davis, Vice President Green, Councilman Jones, Councilwoman Rawls and Council President Bowers voting yes. Council instructed staff to execute the amended subrecipient agreements and to provide HUD-required bimonthly expenditure reports for the extension period.
Service providers gave brief descriptions of their programs during the committee discussion. Christian Churches United said it operates rapid-rehousing and outreach programs; the YWCA described an emergency shelter and related services, noting that city ESG funds cover only a portion of operational costs and that providers also rely on other funding sources.
Next steps: staff will finalize and execute amended subrecipient agreements, provide HUD-required bi-monthly progress reports, and attempt to expedite subrecipient spending to avoid recapture by HUD if funds are not committed by March 31, 2025.
