Biloxi City Council Workshop: CDBG Funding & Housing Priorities (Nov 6, 2025)

On November 6, 2025, the Biloxi City Council held a workshop to address urgent concerns regarding the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The meeting was driven by recent field observations of deteriorating housing conditions among senior citizens in East Biloxi and immediate appeals from non-profit sub-recipients. The primary outcome was a strategic decision to pivot from prioritizing a road construction project toward a comprehensive senior housing rehabilitation program for Program Year 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Motion to approve the agenda moved by Mr. Schumacher and seconded by Mr. Tisdale; motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Stacey Riley (Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence): Expressed concern regarding the release of CDBG-funded grants for their agency's preschool program (serving children aged 3-5 with trauma exposure). She urged the council to move contracts forward immediately to ensure continued prevention and intervention services. She positioned the agency as essential for supporting families in the shelter program.
• James Pennington (Back Bay Mission): Requested confirmation that $20,000 in CDBG funds, originally designated for the mayor's East Biloxi tour and tenant-based rental assistance (Tibra) for utilities, would be secured. He expressed support for the funds being released to address housing needs identified during the tour.
• Kay Denult (Mental Health Association of South Mississippi): Mirrored concerns regarding CDBG funding delays. She positioned mental health and substance use services as critical interventions for at-risk residents, many of whom experience homelessness due to childhood trauma, and emphasized the need for safe housing and treatment resources.
• Leo Carney (ADOS Empowerment Project): Proposed partnering with the city to utilize a National Wildlife and Fisheries grant to restore green areas and nature trails in the Augusta area. He articulated a vision to address urban flooding and lack of safe outdoor spaces for residents and the homeless through environmental restoration and beautification.

Discussion Items

• Field Observations of Housing Conditions: Councilmembers Marshall, Tisdale, and Glavin detailed a morning visit to East Biloxi, describing homes in extreme disrepair. Dr. Tisdale and Mr. Glavin noted seeing senior citizens (ages 70-90s) living in environments with unsafe, spongy, and warped flooring, rotting foundations, and leaking roofs—conditions exacerbated by soil displacement from Hurricane Katrina 20 years prior. They positioned these conditions as life-threatening and beyond the financial capacity of residents to fix via loans.
• Back Bay Mission Capabilities & Challenges: Representatives from Back Bay Mission explained their scope of work, which typically includes foundation piers, roofs, flooring, and porches, often expanding due to "scope creep" as issues are uncovered. They stated that while they possess volunteer labor, they rely entirely on grant funding for materials. They noted a typical renovation cost of approximately $40,000 per home and estimated a capacity of 10-15 homes annually with current resources, though they have completed ~58 roof replacements this year through federal bank funding. They clarified that their funding sources are essential for material costs and that grant writing is a core business function.
• CDBG Program Mechanics and Timeline (Ms. Susan Pickage): The Federal Programs Manager outlined the administrative process for Program Year 2026. She noted that substantial amendments to divert funds currently allocated to a road project (Porter to Graham extension) would require public hearings, a 30-day comment period, and HUD approval, creating a timeline likely not ready until March or later. She emphasized the risk of "torpedoing" the current road project, which has been in development since 2016, without a solid plan.
• Council Deliberation on Funding Allocation: A significant discussion ensued between Councilmembers Marshall and others on one side, arguing that the community cannot wait years for a road project while seniors live in unsafe conditions, and on the other side, cautioning against disrupting the ongoing road project which is near bidding stage. Councilmember Glavin and others stressed the need for a methodical, inclusive plan that does not leave any ward behind. The consensus shifted toward committing to a housing rehabilitation plan for Program Year 2026 while preserving the road project's current trajectory, pending final bids and budget adjustments.

Key Outcomes

• Strategic Pivot: The Council agreed in principle to pivot the CDBG focus for Program Year 2026 (FY 2026-2027) from road construction to a senior housing rehabilitation program, provided a detailed plan is developed.
• Commitment to Resolution: Councilman Marshall will draft a resolution for the next council meeting explicitly stating that CDBG funds for Program Year 2026 will be allocated to housing rehabilitation, with a target cap of $25,000 per unit to maximize the number of homes served.
• Timeline for Action: The administration (Ms. Pickage) and Council will begin the planning process immediately to ensure the program is ready for October 2026, starting with public hearings in February or March. Substantial amendments to the current budget to reallocate funds will proceed only after the current road project bids are finalized or if the council decides to cancel the road project entirely, which was deemed a riskier path without a full plan.
• Next Steps: Ms. Pickage will prepare a questionnaire to be distributed to agency representatives and the Council to gather specific data on needs and capabilities. A formal vote on the resolution to commit FY 2026 funds to housing is scheduled for the next city council meeting.