Colorado Springs looking for input on how to use HUD grant funding

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs is looking for residents' input on how to spend federal block grant funds.

On Tuesday the first of two meetings was held for the public to learn more about affordable housing, infrastructure, and services for low and moderate-income community members.

Public input from the meetings will be used to inform the City’s 2023 Annual Action Plan for the use of federal block grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Over $6.4 million in grants is expected to be headed to Colorado Springs when the federal budget is passed next year.

While about half of that ($3.5M) will be used to increase and preserve affordable housing, this money can also expand to a further range of services for low to moderate-income communities.

"They can support economic development opportunities, they can help build affordable housing," said Barb Van Hoy, policy analyst in Colorado Springs' Community Development Division. "They can provide rental assistance, food assistance. We really want to find out what the needs are in the community, and then we can tailor how we utilize the funds to those needs.”

New this year, are even more grants from the State of Colorado which can be combined with federal money.

"It's an unprecedented amount of funding for housing and community development,” said Van Hoy.

In the past, grant money has been used to build thousands of affordable homes and apartments, upgrade streetlights in high-poverty neighborhoods, and rehouse hundreds of families experiencing homelessness.

This year, money for low-income childcare or even job training could also be on the residents' wishlist.

"We really want to know where the gaps are, but we also want to know what's working," said Van Hoy. "If you know of programs or services that have helped you that you know are really important, let us know that, too.”

A community meeting regarding the Action Plan is being held Thursday, October 27 from 10 - 11 a.m. at the City Administration Building Rm. 102 (30 S. Nevada Ave.). People can also attend the meeting virtually.

To register for this meeting, click here.

For more information about the Community Development 2023 Annual Action Plan, click here.

You can reach out to the Community Development team at 719-385-5912.