Council approves HUD CDBG consolidated plan and $301,000 annual action plan for 2025–26

Housing Coordinator Ashlyn Newman presented Fountain Valley’s 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan and the FY2025–26 Annual Action Plan required by HUD. The plan, which guides the city’s use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, draws on HUD-supplied data (based on 2020 statistics) and local outreach; staff said the city will receive about $301,000 for 2025–26 and will augment that with previously unspent HUD funds to create a $500,000 program pool for the year.

Newman said HUD’s data indicates nearly 39% of households were cost-burdened in 2020 and that households under 30% of area median income and elderly residents are most affected. The proposed FY25–26 program retains the city’s existing mix of homeowner rehabilitation loans/grants, public‑service agency grants (Meals on Wheels, Interval House, youth and mental-health services), homeless outreach and code‑enforcement activities targeted in HUD‑designated lower‑income census tracts. The council held the required public hearing; no public commenters requested to speak on the item. Council approved the consolidated plan and annual action plan for submission to HUD by the due date, 5–0.

Council members asked about federal funding stability and whether future federal budget actions could reduce allocations. Newman said FY25–26 funding is secured under the current continuing resolution but noted future allocations depend on federal appropriations; staff retains some carryover funds that could be used if allocations are reduced in a later year.