Thornton council unanimously approves 2024 CDBG CAPER; staff cites housing and homeless outreach gains

Thornton—City Council on Dec. 16 voted unanimously to approve submission of the 2024 consolidated annual performance and evaluation report (CAPER) required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the city—s Community Development Block Grant program.

Deputy Parks, Recreation and Community Programs Director Jalen Stottler presented the CAPER, which staff described as the program—s "report card" to HUD. Stottler told council the city was awarded $803,000 for the 2024 program year and carried over $685,000 from the prior year, leaving roughly $1.488 million available for CDBG activities; staff spent just under $1 million (about 65.1% of available funds) during the reporting period and said Thornton passed HUD—s timeliness test by a margin of 1.3.

Stottler reviewed program results and targets: the city had a goal to assist 28 homes and reported serving 46 homes through housing rehabilitation programs administered by Community Connections; public facilities projects included a design effort for McAllister Park and a sidewalk/ramp/crossing-light project in Riverdale that is 85% complete. In public services, the homeless outreach team served 932 unique individuals and helped house 28 people during the year, Stottler said.

"We passed our timeliness test," Stottler said, adding that HUD either approves or rejects the CAPER and that the agency has been informed of the city's progress and partners on outstanding goals.

Council members asked detailed questions. Councilmember Russell asked whether HUD offers comparative feedback beyond approval or rejection; Stottler said HUD—s process is essentially an approval step and does not provide a graded comparison. Councilmember Martinez asked whether carrying over funds was a deliberate strategy or a function of project timing; Stottler said carryovers commonly result when infrastructure or construction timelines shift and that staff regularly plan for allowable carryover in such cases.

Council members sought clarity on the report—s "28 people housed" figure. Stottler said that metric covers multiple housing exits — including reunification with family, using housing vouchers, placement in longer-term programs such as the Aurora Navigation Center — and that the homeless outreach team closes a case after exit and does not track outcomes longitudinally.

The council engaged Stottler and staff about an unachieved goal for establishing a down-payment assistance program and was told staff have identified three potential partners and have resumed the goal for the next five-year consolidated plan period (2025—2029). No public speakers registered opposition or additional comment during the hearing.

Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize submission of the CAPER; the motion was seconded and passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.

The council closed the public hearing and recorded the approval needed to send the CAPER to HUD. No timelines for HUD—s final action were provided during the meeting.