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Nonprofits press Garland council for CDBG support at federal grant hearing; VNA, Family Gateway, Senior Source among requesters
Summary
At a May 5 public hearing on federal grant applicants, local nonprofits including the Visiting Nurse Association, Family Gateway, The Senior Source, My Possibilities, and others asked Garland City Council for CDBG funds to support senior meals, homelessness diversion, ombudsman visits to nursing homes, and programs for people with IDD.
Garland City Council held a public hearing May 5 on the federal grant applicant process, during which multiple nonprofit representatives described services that rely on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and requested city support. Organizations seeking funding emphasized both ongoing service needs and rising program costs.
Kyle Francis of the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas asked the council to fund Meals on Wheels operations, saying ‘‘recently released data shows there are more than 30,000 seniors living in Garland’’ and requesting $20,200 from the city to provide meals and supportive services to homebound seniors. Renee Perry, chief operating officer at The Senior Source, urged continuation of funding for the long-term care ombudsman program that serves Garland’s six nursing homes and said ombudsmen make more frequent visits under CDBG-supported arrangements than the minimum required schedule. Rhonda McTeer, supervisor at Fields Recreation Center, described STARS summer camp and after-school programming that now serves "over 250 plus children combined" and asked the council to consider ongoing support to cover rising materials and staff wages.
Kendall Brown of Family Gateway requested $25,000 to fund diversion services for families facing homelessness, citing a rise in Garland families served (21 in 2023, 55 in 2024, 91 in 2025) and noting diversion costs about $1,000 per family versus $5,000 for shelter placement. Brenda Rosinski of My Possibilities outlined services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, said Medicaid reimbursement averages about $27 per client per day while true cost is closer to $72, and requested city support to sustain the program that serves 50 Garland residents at a Plano campus.
Council members asked applicants about program retention, frequency of visits, funding sources and how city funds would be leveraged. Council thanked the presenters and noted funding decisions would be made following the public hearing process. The city closed the hearing noting it would make decisions about funding very soon.
