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Irving residents and nonprofits press council for stronger HUD plan, staffing and grant access
Summary
Three residents and nonprofit leaders urged Irving council to back renewed coordination and funding for homelessness response during the July 31 work session, and staff defended elements of the proposed FY2025 HUD action plan while promising follow-up detail on nonprofit partnerships and ESG spending.
Three community speakers on July 31 urged the Irving City Council to strengthen the city's approach to homelessness and to increase support for nonprofit case management ahead of a vote on the FY2025 HUD action plan.
Sharon Barbosa Crane, who said she chaired a prior Human Services Needs Assessment committee, told council the city's prior planning led to shelters, social-service sites and federal funding streams and recommended a new coordinated paradigm to respond to the current, evolving crisis. Laura Anderson summarized public input on the draft HUD plan and said the city received 23 written comments—most asking for more funding—while dozens of faith leaders and nonprofit representatives have submitted coordinated proposals. Lana Hansen, founder and executive director of Many Helping Hands, described program outcomes the group has achieved without city funding (helping roughly 15 people obtain identification this year and transitioning about 10 people into tiny homes, apartments or group housing) and asked the council to fund two caseworkers and create fiduciary partnerships so local nonprofits can access federal grants including CDBG and ESG.
Council and staff discussion focused on specifics in the HUD action plan packet. Staff said ESG funds (the packet cited a roughly $193,000 figure in the meeting) include an administrative allowance (up to 7–7.5%) with the remainder targeted to rapid re-housing; staff estimated that the proposed ESG allocation would support rapid re-housing assistance for roughly seven to nine families. Councilmembers pressed staff for clearer evidence of ongoing coordination with the Urban Community Action Network (ICANN) and its role in serving chronically homeless residents, and urged stronger engagement of locally active nonprofits that report higher rehousing outcomes. Staff acknowledged the request and agreed to supply additional documentation on nonprofit coordination and capacity, and to explore contracting models that would let the city leverage nonprofit providers for rapid rehousing services.
The council did not take a final vote on the HUD action plan during the work session. Staff said that more detail on partners, program delivery and how ESG dollars will be allocated will be provided to council and that the item remains on the regular agenda process for later action.
