Lynchburg council adopts five‑year CDBG and HOME goals after public hearing, 6‑1

Lynchburg City Council voted 6‑1 Tuesday to adopt proposed housing and non‑housing goals that will guide the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program allocations during the five‑year consolidated plan period beginning July 1, 2025.

City staff and consultant Bill Wasilewski of Mulligan and Lonergan presented the draft 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan goals at a public hearing. The plan identifies priority needs and sets broad strategic goals for use of federal CDBG and HOME funds granted to the city by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The plan period covered is July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.

Melva (staff) summarized outreach that informed the draft: stakeholder workshops in January on affordable housing, workforce development, homelessness and special needs, an online public survey, and a Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) public meeting. Wasilewski said the outreach confirmed core needs identified five years ago and noted COVID‑era stresses have exacerbated those needs.

The adopted goals emphasize increasing permanent affordable rental housing, raising owner‑occupancy where feasible, preserving existing affordable units through rehabilitation, and remediation of substandard rental housing. On non‑housing priorities, the goals include improvements to public facilities and infrastructure (including sidewalks and streetscapes), removal and redevelopment of dilapidated structures to combat blight, neighborhood partnerships to support self‑sufficiency and aging in place, alignment with economic development strategies, and coordinated support services for people experiencing homelessness.

Public commenters at the hearing praised the outreach and the focus on homeownership and homeless services. Dr. Sterling Wilder, who chaired the CDAC process, summarized the committee’s recommendation that council approve the draft goals. One council member asked whether a recent local appropriation for demolition related to the proposed CDBG objective to remove blight; staff said federal requirements and administrative overhead can make using federal funds for demolition inefficient unless targeted efforts are planned.

The council motion to approve the goals passed 6‑1. The roll-call recorded one no vote; the council did not alter the proposed goals in the hearing. The adopted goals will form the framework for annual allocations of CDBG and HOME funds during the five‑year consolidated plan period.

The public hearing record and the consultant’s materials will be part of the plan submission to HUD and are available through city staff.