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Fresno holds public hearing on $11.7M HUD annual action plan; residents press for more outreach and shelter services

Fresno City Council · December 4, 2025
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Summary

City staff opened a public hearing on the draft PY2026 annual action plan — the process for allocating an estimated $11.7 million in HUD entitlement funds — and heard extensive public comment urging greater outreach, lived‑experience inclusion, low‑barrier shelter services, and investment in affordable housing and infrastructure.

FRESNO — City staff on Dec. 4 held a public hearing to gather community input for the Fiscal Year 2026 annual action plan, the document the city uses to allocate an estimated $11,700,000 in HUD entitlement funds (CDBG, ESG, HOME, HOPWA).

Karen Jenks, manager of the Community Development Division, told the council that the annual planning process is one element of the city’s five‑year consolidated plan and that staff completed six in‑person and two virtual community workshops and an online survey as part of outreach. Staff said the next steps will be a notice of funding availability, application scoring, a 30‑day public comment period on a draft action plan, and then return to council for consideration and submission to HUD.

Public commenters repeatedly urged improved outreach to low‑income communities (flyers, more accessible meeting locations and times), inclusion of people with lived experience in planning and evaluation, and funding priorities that include utility assistance, crisis outreach teams (non‑police), low‑barrier shelters and warming/cooling centers, safe camps, job training and placement, childcare and youth programs, and street and infrastructure repairs.

"Just putting it on your website is not enough," said a resident who identified herself as Des, urging mailed flyers and better ADA access for community workshops. Brandy, another speaker with experience working on homelessness issues, emphasized the need for a lived‑experience board, stronger grievance reporting and accountability for outreach teams, and permanent housing options rather than criminalization.

In response to council questions, Jenks said the federal budget that will determine HUD allocations had not been finalized, that the city plans conservatively on last year’s allocation, and that HUD is developing a proposed CDBG final rule (not yet in effect). Jenks also summarized common needs raised in outreach: more funding for utility assistance; crisis outreach teams; warming/cooling centers; mobile laundry services; streetlight and resurfacing projects; community gardens; youth programs; legal aid and housing counseling; and affordable housing targeted at households at 30% of area median income.

No council action was taken at the hearing; staff will use the input to draft a Notice of Funding Availability and a proposed annual action plan to return to council after the required public‑comment period.