Cheektowaga holds public hearing on 2025–2029 HUD consolidated plan as federal funding pause raises uncertainty

The Town Board of Cheektowaga opened a public hearing Jan. 29 on the town27s draft 20252D2029 Consolidated Plan and the 2025 Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships funds.

The hearing, led by Rachel Straker of the town27s community development staff, explained the five-year planning period (April 1, 20252DFebruary 2029) and the town27s outreach and needs assessment process. Straker told the board the draft anticipated about $972,451 in CDBG funds and $499,000 in HOME funds for the 2025 program year, plus program income from loan repayments.

The plan, prepared to comply with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations and the Community Development Act of 1974, sets six goals: improve housing stock; neighborhood revitalization through infrastructure and public facilities; reduce homelessness and provide supportive services; affirmatively further fair housing; support community service needs such as youth and senior programs; and foster economic development. Straker said public service allocations cannot exceed HUD27s 15 percent cap and administration cannot exceed 20 percent of CDBG funds; HOME administration is limited to 10 percent and 15 percent of HOME funds are designated for community housing development organizations.

Why it matters: the plan directs how federal HUD dollars and program income will be spent in towns and the incorporated villages of Sloan and Depew, and so affects housing repairs for low- and moderate-income residents, infrastructure work and local small-business assistance.

During the hearing Doug Terry, a Meadowbrook Parkway resident, urged the town to coordinate road repaving plans with Erie County Water after repeated water-main breaks on his street. "There's no sense in repaving the street if there's gonna be a continuing problem," Terry said, asking the town to contact the highway superintendent and town engineer.

Council members and staff also discussed the potential impact of an executive order and a subsequent temporary federal pause on spending. When asked about the effect of the federal pause, Straker said, "The pause affects all of the funding that we receive ... except for Section 8." She told the board a judge had issued a temporary stay until the following Monday, which gave local officials time to await further guidance. Town staff said HUD had not issued detailed guidance at the time of the hearing and that the pause could require adjustments to planned public-service and administration activities if final awards change.

The board noted the draft plan had been published for public review on Dec. 20, 2024, and that no written comments had been received by the clerk27s office during the 30-day public comment period. Straker said the draft and materials had been placed in branch libraries, the town clerk's office and the community development office, and on the town website.

The hearing was opened for public comment and then closed with no formal vote recorded on the plan during the meeting; the record shows the town accepted oral comments and will accept written comments via the community development office.

What comes next: town staff said final allocations from HUD could change the plan27s funding mix and that adjustments would be made on a prorated basis if necessary; any substantial change would trigger another public comment period.