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Essex County seeks federal housing funds in 2025 action plan; department says grants are federally funded
Summary
County housing director outlined submission of the FY2025 HUD one-year action plan requesting CDBG and HOME funds and discussed timing and reliance on federal disbursements; commissioners asked about federal uncertainty and the division's funding reliance.
Essex County's Division of Housing and Community Development told the Board it will submit its FY2025 one-year action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requesting Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds to support housing and community development programs.
"We are requesting the board's approval for our submission of the Essex County fiscal year 2025 one-year action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $5,216,482 and the HOME Investment Partnership Program in the amount of $1,199,356.09," John Soares, director of the division, said to commissioners.
Soares also read an amount for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) in the presentation; the numeric figure as spoken in the transcript appears inconsistent and was not clear on the record. He told the board that, if everything goes as expected, the county should receive funds by November but acknowledged federal program uncertainty.
Commissioner Mary Thomas pressed administration on whether the county faced a risk of losing federal funds; Soares said the division is "100% federally funded" and that officials do not expect the grants to be rescinded but cannot fully predict federal actions.
The board approved the submission of the action plan and related resolutions. Commissioners asked that staff provide updates if federal program changes occur.
What happens next: the county will submit the FY2025 action plan to HUD; staff will monitor federal developments and report back on timing and any risk to planned programs.
