Council approves 2026–2030 consolidated plan and FY2026 annual action plan, allocating CDBG, HOME and ESG funds

Councilors voted July 14 to submit Columbus’s 2026–2030 consolidated plan and the FY2026 annual action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, following a presentation by Jeremy Gray of Mosaic Community Planning.

Gray summarized the plan’s six strategic priorities — expanding and maintaining affordable housing, revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, public services, homelessness reduction, and program administration — and described the 2026 allocations. “These are one‑year funding amounts,” Gray said, listing approximate numbers: CDBG roughly $1.7 million, HOME just under $1.0 million, and ESG about $148,000 for the coming program year.

The 2026 annual action plan dedicates ESG funding mainly to strengthen the homeless response system (including overnight shelter and a Homeless Management Information System). Gray said the city used a combination of quantitative data and focused community engagement (focus groups, stakeholder interviews, English and Spanish surveys) to set goals and identify priority projects. The presentation also included a South Columbus Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) study to enable more flexible use of CDBG funds in targeted neighborhoods.

Councilor Tucker asked about the adequacy of ESG allocations for recent shelter needs; staff said ESG has been used for hotel/motel vouchers in partnership with local providers and that additional providers could be brought into a competitive application process if needed. Council approved the plan and the city will submit the package to HUD so funding for the new program year can flow.

What’s next: HUD review and, if approved, the program year begins July 1 and funding will be available for projects tied to the consolidated plan priorities.