BATON ROUGE, La. – July 24, 2023 – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced the Office of Community Development's draft Annual Action Plan, made possible through housing and community development funding awarded to City-Parish by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The plan encompasses four categories of funding available to City-Parish, each designed to address critical community needs and foster positive change.

• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): This federal program offers financial support to cities and states to bolster community development projects and initiatives. CDBG grants are dedicated to enhancing living conditions and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals, as well as revitalizing neighborhoods. Funding from CDBG can be utilized for a diverse array of activities, including home repair, blight remediation, homeownership activities, and social services.
• HOME Investment Partnership Grants (HOME): Focusing on affordable housing development, the HOME program allocates grants to states and local governments with the aim of expanding the availability of decent, safe, and affordable housing for low-income households. HOME funds can be channeled into various activities, such as constructing new affordable housing units and rehabilitating existing properties.
• Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG): Addressing homelessness, the ESG program extends financial assistance to state and local governments, as well as non-profit organizations. The grants are intended to provide essential services and shelter to homeless individuals, offer rapid rehousing assistance, and support homelessness prevention efforts. ESG funds play a critical role in addressing the pressing needs of vulnerable populations during times of crisis.
• Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA): This federal grant program focuses on housing assistance and related supportive services for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. HOPWA aims to enhance housing stability, access to care, and overall quality of life for those affected by the disease. The funds are utilized to provide rental assistance, utility payments, and various tailored support services to meet the unique needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

To ensure community engagement and participation, the public is encouraged to provide their input for the plan during a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 25, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the EBRPL Carver Branch Library. Additionally, a virtual hearing will take place on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Registration for the virtual meeting can be found at the following link: https://www.brla.gov/registerpublichearing

For those interested, the draft Annual Action Plan can be accessed and reviewed at the following link: https://www.brla.gov/communitydevelopment. The final draft plan will be submitted to HUD in the coming weeks after this public input period.