Interim director Gloria Martin Roberts told Harrisburg City Council on Dec. 8 that the Department of Community and Economic Development and Building and Housing has completed 38 home rehabilitations, has 11 projects in progress and eight more approved for work. Roberts said $500,000 allocated for bridge housing has been dispersed to community partners CCU and Downtown Daily Bread to assist people experiencing homelessness.

Roberts addressed a HUD corrective action originating in program years 2016–2017 that required the city to repay $113,049.60 for ineligible uses of HOME funds. “We are waiting to hear back from HUD on their approval to use the HOME funds to pay or repay the corrective action in the amount of $113,049.60,” she told council.

Council members pressed for details on ARPA home‑repair program counts and distinctions between ARPA and non‑ARPA program activity. Roberts said the ARPA home repairs program has received more than 265 applications and reiterated that 38 units are completed, 11 in progress and 8 approved. She said the ARPA home‑repair allocation is $5,000,000 and that staff will provide separate counts for non‑ARPA applicants in writing.

On economic development, several council members, citing four years of repeated planning promises, pressed for a concrete timeline for a citywide economic development plan. Roberts announced that the city had secured $100,000 from a Commonwealth contact to hire a consultant to help develop a comprehensive plan and said an invitation to participate in the planning committee would be issued shortly.

Roberts also defended her time as interim director when questioned about the length of her appointment; she said the mayor has discretion over staffing and asked that the council focus on departmental accomplishments. Council members requested additional written information about federal HUD and HOME questions, contractor lists and a clearer separation of ARPA vs. non‑ARPA program counts.