Mount Clemens nonprofits seek CDBG allocations as city opens public hearing

The Mount Clemens City Commission opened a public hearing on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and heard presentations from four local nonprofits outlining services and specific funding requests.

Brian Tingley, introduced by the city manager as the staff lead on CDBG matters, told the commission the city's FY2022 allocation from the Macomb program is approximately $13,800 and that five nonprofit applications requested a total of $21,838. He emphasized the hearing was strictly for public input and that allocation decisions would come at a later meeting.

Dory Vasquez Nolan, executive director of Carehaus, described the agency's countywide work providing forensic interviews, crisis counseling and family advocacy for child victims of abuse and said Carehaus conducted hundreds of forensic interviews annually. "We respectfully request your consideration for funding this year in the amount of $7,200, which would support services for 12 qualifying child victims and their families that reside in the city of Mount Clemens," Dory Vasquez Nolan said. She also noted Carehaus's audited spending rate, saying, "88 cents of every dollar that comes into Carehaus is specifically devoted for the programs that treat children and families."

Diane Banks, executive director of the Advancing Macomb Foundation, detailed a regional youth-recreation initiative that piloted in Mount Clemens and asked the commission for $6,860 in CDBG support to fund scholarships. Banks said the program estimates a per-child gross cost of about $886 for a 40-week program and that her organization had conditional commitments from other funders to cover a portion of the total.

Representing Turning Point, Karen Bates Gager described shelter and housing services for domestic violence survivors and gave local utilization figures: "Last year, we had a Mount Clemens resident in our shelter for 1,737 bed nights," she said, adding Turning Point is requesting about $5,000 in CDBG support to subsidize shelter and related services for residents. She described a recently launched housing subsidy program that can cover up to two years of rent for formerly sheltered individuals while they access wraparound services.

Karen Curl, director of Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (speaking by Zoom), asked for $888 to fund the group's Safe at Home project, which targets repairs and chore assistance that allow older and disabled Mount Clemens residents to remain in their homes.

Commissioners asked staff questions about how the county allocation is calculated and whether countywide senior programs previously reduced local allocations; Tingley said the allocation is largely population-based and noted the county had at times centralized senior chore services but recently restored that program.

The city manager noted that allocations and any final approvals are expected at an upcoming meeting; staff indicated the commission would consider awarding CDBG funds at a subsequent session (the staff presentation said allocations would most likely occur on February 7).