Human Services Committee approves $220,000 in CDBG awards; rejects larger Boys & Girls Club increase

The Human Services Committee on Sept. 24 approved staff recommendations allocating $220,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to local social-service providers, after a two-hour review of requests that totaled about $774,000.

The committee’s approval follows a staff update from Joseph Fest, director of economic development, who told members he had received an email from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) saying evaluations are in progress and that the signed grant agreement should arrive toward October, allowing the city to implement the awards. “We should expect our signed grant agreement, sometime, towards the October to allow us to move forward with this year's plan,” Fest said.

Why it mattered: demand far outstripped supply. Fest said applicants requested roughly $774,000 while the city’s CDBG allotment for social services totals $220,000, forcing staff and the committee to prioritize among many programs. The staff recommendation preserved most prior-year awards and funded a mix of youth, senior and basic-needs programs.

What was approved and notable awards: staff recommended and the committee approved awards including Boys and Girls Club of Meriden $25,000; Girls Inc. $15,000; Franciscan Life Center $17,000; Meriden Soup Kitchen $8,000; Meriden Senior Center $5,900; Meriden Farmers Market $5,000; MidState ARC $8,000; United Way of Meriden and Longford $10,000; and smaller awards to several other nonprofits. Fest explained some applicants were not funded or fully funded because of eligibility or documentation issues and HUD rules.

Immigration-related services and a large request denied: the committee discussed Resias Latinas, a local chapter newly operating in Meriden that sought $194,000. Fest said three reasons led to no award: the chapter is new to Meriden and had not submitted sufficient local financial documentation; the request represented an outsized share of the $220,000 allotment; and current HUD guidance prevents funding certain immigration-related legal services with CDBG dollars. “In the HUD guidelines ... immigration isn't something that we are allowed to fund for the attorney fees,” Fest said.

Debate over the Boys and Girls Club: Councilor Bruce Fontanella moved to raise the Boys and Girls Club award from $25,000 to $28,500, proposing to spread the additional $3,500 proportionally across other allocations. Supporters argued the club’s program size and track record justify greater investment; critics cautioned against increasing the largest award when many organizations received far less. Jonathan Zakarowski questioned taking money from smaller programs to augment the largest award. After discussion the motion failed and the Club’s award remained at $25,000.

Advocacy Academy increase approved: Councilor Fontanella made a separate motion to increase Advocacy Academy’s allocation from $5,000 to $10,000 and to spread the additional $5,000 proportionally across other awards. Committee members who had heard a participant testify in favor of the program supported the increase, and the motion passed by voice vote. The director confirmed the $5,000 increase would be found by proportionally reducing other allocations on the list.

Process and next steps: following the votes the committee approved the full allocation list as amended and adjourned. Fest reiterated that the committee’s actions are contingent on receipt of the formally executed HUD grant agreement expected in October; only after that agreement is in hand can funds be disbursed and reimbursements processed.

Quotes that stand out: Fest on HUD timing: “the evaluations are in in progress and HUD shuts down for the first week or 2 in October, and we should expect our signed grant agreement, sometime, towards the October”; on ineligible services: “immigration isn't something that we are allowed to to fund for the attorney fees.” Councilor Cortez pressed staff on why a local nonprofit was denied when many requested more than the available funds, and Jonathan Zakarowski questioned whether raising the largest award was justified when many organizations serve children and seniors with far smaller allocations.

The committee did not receive any public comment in person or online at this meeting. The allocations will proceed once the HUD grant agreement is executed.