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Hopewell Council approves HUD CDBG annual action plan, delays decision on COVID funds
Summary
Council approved the HUD Community Development Block Grant annual action plan and five‑year consolidated plan (annual allocation $239,391) but agreed to set aside COVID (CV) funds for further review; allocations recommended include housing rehabilitation and several nonprofits serving youth, domestic violence and homeless outreach.
Mr. Ward presented the city’s draft Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan and five‑year consolidated plan and said the city’s annual HUD allocation for this year is $239,391. Staff and the CDBG committee recommended distributing the annual allocation across administration, public-service grants (up to HUD caps), housing rehabilitation, and a proposed ADA connection to the Riverwalk using older unspent funds.
Recommendations described by staff included: Hebron Healthy Families $5,000 for after‑school services; Healthy Families (child-abuse prevention) $10,008; The James House $15,000 for domestic-violence intervention; Pretty Purposed $5,000 for after‑school youth services; housing rehabilitation allocations totaling about $140,000 to benefit low‑ and moderate‑income owner‑occupants; plus a Riverwalk ADA connection proposed at ~$258,000 drawn from prior-year unspent funds. Staff also recommended allocating $31,002 in unspent COVID-related CDBG funds toward homeless outreach services through Commonwealth Catholic Charities, but councilors asked that the COVID funds be pulled out for separate consideration.
Several members of the public urged prioritizing homeless services and homeowner rehabilitation over the Riverwalk project. Councilors debated whether to approve the full packet tonight or to separate out the CV funds for further review. Staff said the annual allocation portion must be submitted to HUD by August 16 and that the CV funds could be handled separately without missing federal deadlines. Council moved to approve the annual action plan and consolidated plan and to authorize the city manager to submit them to HUD while excluding the COVID funds; the motion passed 7-0 on roll call.
Next steps: staff will proceed with submittal of the approved items to HUD and the CDBG committee will continue to review options for the COVID funds and possible alternate providers for homeless outreach.
