Norwalk staff previews 2025 consolidated plan; council asks for service-level data after homeless count

City staff presented a draft 2025 consolidated plan and the fiscal year 2025–26 annual action plan for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds to the Norwalk City Council on March 4, 2025, saying the meeting was a presentation only and no formal action would be taken that night.

Alex Hamilton, senior planner, told the council that "CDBG is Community Development Block Grant and HOME" and said the city receives roughly $1,000,000 annually in CDBG funding and about $250,000 in HOME funding. He described eligible CDBG activities including public facilities, housing rehabilitation, public services and economic development, and said each CDBG activity must meet HUD's national objectives and generally take place in HUD-eligible census tracts.

Hamilton outlined staff's draft allocations for FY 2025–26: approximately $977,097 in CDBG-entitlement recommendations including $75,000 for social service agencies, $60,000 for other social-service allocations (to be determined), $100,000…