WORCESTER – Worcester City Council was presented with Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn’s recommendations for U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement program funding for fiscal year 2023, on Tuesday, May 24.
The HUD funding come from four federal programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDGF), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). The total allocated to Worcester through these programs is $7,202,429, a decrease of 2.65% compared to fiscal year 2022.
Funding from each program and changes from FY 2022 are:
- CDBG – $4,232467 (-9.24%)
- ESG – $392,016
- HOPWA – $733,016
- HOME Program – $1,844,930 (+ 12.01%)
The HOME program is a multi-year program, not an annual appropriation. Details of its funding were not in Dunn’s report.
Community Development Block Grant (CDGF)
The CDGF caps funding to in certain eligible categories. The funding recommendations by Dunn are:
- Public Services Category (15% Cap) $ 634,870
- Other Programs Funding (Public Facilities, City Projects and Programs, etc.) $ 2,751,104
- Planning / Administration (20% Cap) – $ 846,493
The recommendations call for $611 short of the limit to public service organizations, allocating $634,259 to the category to fund 14 proposals at 88 percent of the amount requested.
| Agency |
Proposal |
Funded |
| African Community Education (ACE) |
After School Program |
$57,330.00 |
| Centro Las Americas |
Case Management |
$25,142 94 |
| Centro Las Americas |
Emergency Food Pantry |
$55,566.00 |
| Community Builders |
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) |
$16,108.85 |
| Dismas House |
BAR None (Basic Advocacy for Reentrv) |
$8,820.00 |
| Family Health Center of Worcester |
Emergency Dental Services |
$17,640.00 |
| Family Health Center of Worcester |
Healthcare for Homeless Families |
$17,640.00 |
| Friendly House |
Case Management |
$119,732.86 |
| Friendly House |
Youth Development |
$62,090.03 |
| Quinsigamond Village Community Center |
Neighborhood Services |
$42,986.94 |
| Rachel’s Table |
The Children’s Milk Fund |
$17,640.00 |
Southeast Asian Coalition of Central
MA |
Case Management |
$67,856.93 |
| South Worcester Neighborhood Center |
Case Management |
$88,009.75 |
| Worcester Housing Authority |
Elder Transportation |
$37,694.70 |
Other funding recommendations in the proposal include:
Funding for Affordable Housing and Neighborhood Stabilization Initiatives
| Program |
Amount |
| Neighborhood Development Fund |
$300,000.00 |
| Enhanced Code Enforcement and Demolition of Slum & Blight |
$222,000.00 |
| HUD Section 108 Debt Service for GKH Neiqhborhood Improvements |
$380,000.00 |
| Green Island Improvement Activities |
$250,000.00 |
| Public Facility- Public Safety Improvements |
$1,000,000.00 |
Funding for Economic Development:
| City Division |
Program |
Amount |
| EOED- Business Assistance & Community Development Division |
Microloan, Facade & Small Business Improvement Program |
$269,474.60 |
Public Facilities Improvements
| Agency |
Public Facility Improvement |
Amount |
| African Community Education (ACE) |
Facility Gym Renovation |
$180,240.00 |
| Preservation Worcester |
Salisbury House Historic Preservation |
$150,000.00 |
Emergency Solutions Grand (ESG) Program
The funding recommendations for this program include the full allocation of $392,016, which includes 7.5% the program allows for administration.
| Agency |
Activity Proposed |
Amount |
| Open Sky |
Rapid Re-Housing |
$70,000.00 |
| Veteran’s Inc. |
Emergency Shelter |
$20,000.00 |
South Middlesex Opportunity
Council |
Rapid Re-Housing-
Tenant & Project Based |
$50,000.00 |
| Net of Compassion |
Emergency Shelter –
Overnight Seasonal |
$75,000.00 |
| South Middlesex Opportunity Council |
Emergency Shelter Case Management |
$40,000.00 |
Central Massachusetts Housing
Alliance |
Homeless Management
Info. System (HMIS) |
$15,000.00 |
City of Worcester Department of
Health & Human Services (HHS) |
Street Outreach |
$62,614.80 |
| Dismas House of Massachusetts |
Utilities, Transportation,
food |
$30,000.00 |
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS ( HOPWA ) Program
These funding recommendations are developed by the HOPWA Advisory Committee in Worcester. HOPWA allows for 3% allocated to administration. The remainder is recommended to be awarded to:
| Agency |
Proposal |
Recommended Amount |
Montachusett Opportunity
Council |
CARE AIDS Rental and Supportive
Services |
$241,422.00 |
| AIDS Project Worcester |
Housing Supportive Services and
Homeless Prevention |
$225,000.00 |
| AIDS Project Worcester |
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance |
$60,000.00 |
| Community Healthlink |
Housing Supportive Services
Maranda’s House/HOAP |
$107,483.52 |
Advancing Connecticut
Together |
ACT HOPWA East |
$77,120.00 |
Central Massachusetts Housing
Alliance |
Homeless Management
Info. System (HMIS) |
$15,000.00 |
City of Worcester Department of
Health & Human Services (HHS) |
Street Outreach |
$62,614.80 |
| Dismas House of Massachusetts |
Utilities, Transportation,
food |
$30,000.00 |
Image Credit: Sam Bishop
