Saginaw council approves 2026–27 HUD program submissions after public hearing on five‑year plan

The Saginaw City Council voted to approve the city’s FY2026–27 submissions for federal entitlement funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, after a public hearing and a presentation of the draft five‑year consolidated plan.

The council’s approvals, taken by voice vote, allow the city to seek Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds for the coming program year. The Human Planning Commission had recommended a slate of allocations for public services, housing repairs and shelter support; staff and the consultant incorporated those recommendations into the action plan the council approved.

‘‘It is an absolute honor to represent the Human Planning Commission,’’ Valerie Tony, chair of the commission, told the council as she summarized the group’s recommended allocations. The commission recommended $90,000 to support Wi‑Fi for high‑rise residents through the Saginaw Housing Commission and $210,000 for Maplewood Manor fire‑alarm monitoring upgrades. For public services it recommended $20,000 for a youth protection program; in HOME funding it recommended $120,000 for the Compassionate Care Network and $73,634 for a building/new construction project listed by the applicant as Building Podair. ESG recommendations included $25,000 to Mustard Seed Foundation (women and children shelter) and $40,000 to Restoration Community Outreach (men’s shelter).

Consultant Alexis Frell of McKenna told the council the consolidated plan frames how the city will direct roughly $3 million per year in HUD entitlement funds over the five‑year horizon and reflects outreach done in December as well as recent federal allocations. ‘‘The consolidated plan really is a long‑form grant report,’’ Frell said, describing the document’s role in tying needs assessment to proposed uses of federal funding.

Council members asked detailed questions during the hearing about how the plan’s data were compiled and how proposed grants would be implemented. Frell said much of the analysis is drawn from HUD’s IDIS/ACS data and noted staff can layer local program funds with other grants where program rules allow.

Votes at a glance

- CDBG program submission (FY2026–27): approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified in the transcript. (motion to adopt; manager made a manager’s adjustment to restore a prior DDA allocation after HPC recommendation had been zero.) - HOME program submission (FY2026–27): approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified. (includes $120,000 recommended for Compassionate Care Network; staff explained how HOME can support new construction when paired with other funding.) - ESG program submission (FY2026–27): approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified.

What the grants would fund

The approved submissions send the city’s consolidated plan and annual action recommendations to HUD for review and funding. Specific items highlighted in the council packet and by the Human Planning Commission included connectivity and safety upgrades in public housing, home rehabilitation programs, a proposed small‑scale new construction/homeowner assistance line in HOME, and continued ESG support for shelters. Council members and staff discussed program limits (for example, CDBG generally cannot fund new construction) and the need to layer HOME dollars and other grants when projects require more capital.

Public comment and implementation priorities

Public speakers at the hearing included residents who urged more new housing and stronger neighborhood enforcement of blight. One resident, Jessica Chandler, described receiving multiple parking tickets under an overnight parking ordinance dating to the 1950s and asked the council to revisit that rule. Melanie Velasco urged more immediate action for people exposed to cold weather, including boarding unsafe buildings and pursuing small, low‑cost housing options for people experiencing homelessness.

Staff acknowledged the plan is a working document and asked for written comments by May 21; the plan will be revised as appropriate before final adoption.

What’s next

With the resolutions submitted, the city will proceed under HUD timelines for program year implementation, and subrecipients recommended by the Human Planning Commission will be able to begin preparing project paperwork and funding scopes. Several council members asked staff to continue outreach and to refine program rules (for example, how HOME can support new construction) before funds are expended.

(Reporting note: the transcript records voice votes; the council did not read a roll‑call tally into the record for these resolutions.)