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During the Suffolk City Council work session on April 2, 2025, the mayor and council reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 annual action plan for the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) programs. Kevin Wyne, representing the department, introduced Deidre Garrett, the community development grant coordinator, to walk the council through the plan.

Garrett explained that the annual action plan represents a “one-year funding horizon” for the strategic implementation of CDBG and HOME funds. It is coordinated with the city’s operating and capital budgets and developed according to federal regulations and the city’s citizen participation plan. Both programs aim to benefit low—to moderate-income households.

The CDBG program has a broader scope, allowing for service to public service entities (up to 15% of allocated funding) and affordable housing projects. The HOME grant funding is administered through the Western Tidewater Home Consortium, which includes the City of Suffolk, the City of Franklin, Southampton County, and Isle of Wight County. This program focuses on down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers and homeowner-occupied housing rehabilitation to provide affordable and permanent housing to lower-income households.

For fiscal year 2025-2026, Suffolk anticipates a CDBG allocation of approximately $519,451 and a HOME fund allocation of $380,721. The CDBG funding is currently slated to assist two affordable housing developments (Oak Terrace and Hillpoint Trace) and the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s homeowner-occupied housing rehab and home repair program. Efforts will be made to allocate funding to five public service entities within the 15% cap.

The HOME allocation is split among the four consortium members, with a 15% mandate for the Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) — Habitat for Humanity receiving funds off the top before the remaining funds are evenly distributed..

Councilman Leroy Bennett inquired about potential funding cuts being discussed and whether the projected amounts were secure. Garrett responded, “The last word we got from my HUD representative was that we should have a finite answer by May 14th.”

Councilman John Rector asked about the administration of the first-time homebuyer down payment assistance program. 

“So, typically, what happens for Suffolk residents, they would apply with Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority,” Garrett said. “For our Franklin residents, they’ll apply with Franklin, Isle of White with Isle of White, and Southampton with Southampton. It looks at the low to moderate households that they take an intake application and make sure that that household qualifies below the 80% AMI … then we provide anywhere from 10,000 to 14,500 in down payment and closing costs for first-time home buyers.”

Garrett outlined the next steps, which include a 30-day public comment period ending May 2, a public hearing with the City Council on April 16, and an anticipated adoption date of May 7. The final plan will then be submitted to HUD for approval by mid-June.