Evansville releases draft 2025–2029 consolidated plan, proposes 2025 action plan and Center City NRSA

Haley Hale, community development coordinator for the City of Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development, presented the city’s draft 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the accompanying 2025 action plan and opened a 30‑day public comment period during a June presentation.

The consolidated plan sets priorities for use of the city’s federal grants — Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) — over the next five years and incorporates several background studies, including an Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH), a community needs assessment, a housing needs assessment (HNA), and an updated Strategic Plan to End Homelessness developed by the Commission on Homelessness (COH).

Hale said the consolidated plan is data driven and informed by community engagement and partner input. “The consolidated plan is that five‑year housing and community development strategic plan,” Hale said. The presentation summarized prior accomplishments, current needs, proposed program priorities, and draft funding allocations for program year 2025.

Why this matters: The consolidated plan determines how Evansville will use federal HUD formula funds to address affordable housing, homelessness, community services and neighborhood investment. The action plan for 2025 is the first year of the five‑year strategy and will guide city subrecipient allocations for the coming program year.

Key needs and background findings The community needs assessment received 367 survey responses and ranked nine categories of need. Housing affordability, basic needs and homelessness were identified as the top priorities. The housing needs assessment reports an overall housing gap of 6,321 units in Evansville, consisting of a rental gap of 2,907 units and a for‑sale gap of 3,414 units.

The COH strategic plan described rising homelessness…