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Community Development Block Grant Funding

At a glance

Built from the City Council minutes of May 18, 2026 (the newest minutes posted; later Council meetings have agendas only, and no committee minutes are posted since April) and a posted agenda for the October hearings.

  • What: Council's handling of the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the related HUD programs (HOME, Emergency Solutions Grant, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS).
  • Where it stands: On May 18, 2026 Council passed, 14-0, both the 2025 budget amendment and the application to accept the 2026 program year grants. CDBG budget hearings were scheduled for October 22 and 23, 2026 (from the agenda; no minutes).
  • October 22 hearing (day one): The department presented the PY2026 budget and the 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan (submitted to HUD August 15): about $28.1 million in total, CDBG about $19.66 million, with a proposal to name council's discretionary projects in the plan. See CDBG Council Discretionary Funds Process Change and Community Development Corporation Funding.
  • Next: Day two of the hearings, October 23 at 9:30 AM, covers the programs and projects; no minutes are posted.

May 18, 2026 votes

  • Ordinance 518-2026 amends Sections 2, 3, 5 and 8 of Ordinance 858-2025 (passed July 9, 2025, as amended by Ordinance 1225-2025 on November 10, 2025) on how the City allocates the 2025 HUD grants: CDBG, the HOME Investment Partnerships grant, the Emergency Solutions Grant and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. Passed 14-0 (Santana moved, Bishop seconded; Kazy absent).
  • Ordinance 520-2026 authorizes the Director of Community Development to apply for and accept the PY2026 grants under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 for the same four programs. Passed 14-0, same movers.
  • A single presentation (464, 518 and 520-2026) was attached to both and to the Community Engagement Healthy Home Initiative. The minutes do not give dollar amounts.

October 22, 2026 hearing

  • Funding: about $28.1 million (CDBG about $19.66 million, plus HOME, Emergency Solutions Grant and HOPWA); total funding down about $2.3 million since 2021. HUD announced awards late again this year.
  • The department has 77 staff (down about 15), about $6.7 million all in; administration is capped at 20 percent of CDBG. It plans a public Power BI dashboard, new grants software, and two citizen workshops plus two public hearings and plain-language summaries.
  • HUD's concerns, as described: thin citizen participation, lump-sum allocations that break procurement and monitoring rules, and unpredictable project starts; Cleveland has the highest risk rating in Ohio.
  • 2025 allocation cited: about $10.2 million affordable housing, $570,000 CDBG homelessness, $3 million neighborhood revitalization (mostly Project Clean), $728,000 access to housing, $1.1 million public services, $3.9 million planning and administration.
  • Members asked for the number of home repairs done with department dollars from 2022 to 2026, and the report card on Housing Plan 2030 Report Card.

Sources

Log

2026-05-18 - City Council

Ordinances 518-2026 and 520-2026 (2025 allocation amendment; PY2026 grant application) passed 14-0.

2026-10-22 - Development, Planning and Sustainability Committee

Day one of the budget hearings: $28.1 million program year 2026 plan and the 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan presented; proposal to make council's discretionary share named projects starting in November drew pushback on timing and discretion; debate on CDC funding, slow contracts and home repair. Day two was set for October 23.