Reginald, chair of the Needham Housing Authority, told the Town of Needham Finance & Community Housing Oversight Committee on Nov. 10 that major predevelopment work is on track and that funding progress includes a recently announced $1,150,000 Climate Ready award.

Reginald said the project’s overall status is largely unchanged from the update given in September: the team expects to complete 100% construction documents in January, put the work out to bid in February–March and start construction in mid‑summer next year if financing closes as expected in May–June. He emphasized the project has multiple funding sources, that town contributions make up roughly 15% of the overall stack and that the committee needs visibility on all sources as the project advances.

On funding specifics, Reginald described an ‘‘embargoed’’ award of about $1,150,000 he had been asked not to publicize until an official announcement; he confirmed that announcement was made and that the award is an important component of the overall funding stack alongside the town’s $3.2 million and existing ARPA funds. He also described work to finalize grant‑agreement language and to align reporting requirements with the committee’s oversight needs.

Separately, Reginald described an emergency response after state SNAP benefit interruptions: the housing authority identified dozens of residents who reported missing benefits, used interim funds to purchase Welch Brothers/Sudbury Farms gift cards and distributed them while awaiting state or federal benefit payments. Reginald said the authority initially spent approximately $4,775 from an internal account and expected emergency funding to be reconciled once grants or state actions were confirmed.

Reginald stressed that while the Cambridge Housing Authority and other partners are ‘‘terrific’’ development partners, the town requires a reporting template that shows what paid consultant hours produced and how town funds are being encumbered and spent. He also discussed procurement complexity under chapter 149A and the unusual constraints the team is working with as they approach contractor selection.

What’s next

Reginald said the housing authority will provide a fuller update next month and that the committee’s requested template and reporting clarifications will help ensure the town has visibility into the full funding stack before larger disbursements occur.