TO: Community Development Block Grant Program Committee
THRU: Russell Bunim, Community Development Director
FROM: Jessica Herrera, Housing Manager
1. Subject
title
Public Hearing for the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan including the 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan.
body
2. Summary
Public Hearing for the development of the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and funding recommendations for the 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Determine the funding amounts for each program and project proposal received for consideration for the 2025-2026 Community Development Block Grant funding.
2. Recommend the priorities for the funding for Fiscal Year 2026-2030 to be identified in the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan to City Council for adoption.
3. Direct staff to incorporate funding recommendations and any public input received at the Public Hearing into the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan.
end
4. Discussion and Background
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires a Consolidated Plan (CP) from States and local jurisdictions that receive annual CDBG or HOME funding. The CP is designed to help states and local jurisdictions assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities. The CP is carried out through Annual Action Plans (AAP), which provide a summary of the actions and activities that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the CP.
The City is in the process of developing the 2025-2029 CP. As part of the CP, five priority goals were identified, as noted below, for the CDBG and HOME funding received by the City in fiscal years 2026-2030:
1. Economic Development
2. Homelessness
3. Affordable Housing
4. Public Programs
5. Public Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Projects
In order to determine the priorities for funding, the following sources are referenced to determine need:
1. City Council identified priorities;
2. Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (see section below under Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice for more information);
3. City-wide needs assessment survey conducted from August 2023-December 2023 via the City’s website, City sponsored city-wide events, Housing Summit, and at the City’s public counters;
4. Other data sources identified in the CP, including but not limited to the City’s General Plan, U.S. Census Bureau, and Orange County Housing Authority;
5. Public input from City Council and CDBG Program Committee Public Hearings and Meetings.
Funding Recommendations for the 2025-2026 CDBG and HOME Funding Year
The 2025-2029 CP includes the first year of the plan, the 2025-2026 AAP. The City published a Notice of Funding Availability in the City Orange News on November 14, 2024 and solicited applications from November 14, 2024 to February 1, 2025 for consideration of estimated funding for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 CDBG and HOME funds. The City received eight applications for public programs and two applications for public infrastructure projects (summarized in Attachment A) for the 2025-2026 AAP.
On February 13, 2025, the CDBG Program Committee held a Public Hearing to hear the presentations by applicants for the funding. Copies of the applications and presentations are available as Attachments B-K of this report.
In addition to the applications received, the Community Development Department is requesting $200,000 under the Public Capital Improvements and Infrastructure category to establish a new program to assist qualifying businesses under the Economic Development goal in the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan. The details of the program will return to the CDBG Committee and City Council for direction and recommendation before it is formally adopted. The purpose of the program is job creation and retention of qualifying low and/or low-moderate income individuals and/or assisting businesses that serve a qualifying population.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 Summary of CDBG Funding Requests
Attachment 2 Friendly Center
Attachment 3 Fair Housing Foundation
Attachment 4 Casa Teresa
Attachment 5 City of Orange Police Department Bike Patrol Program
Attachment 6 Families Forward
Attachment 7 Assistance League Operation School Bell
Attachment 8 Fentanyl Solutions
Attachment 9 The Hub OC
Attachment 10 City of Orange Public Works Department Accessibility Ramps
Attachment 11 City of Orange Public Works Department Street Rehabilitation