This informational meeting, held on April 27, 2026, at approximately 5:59 PM, focused on the proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, ESG, and HOPWA budgets for the 2026-2027 program year. The meeting was chaired by a council member, with presentations from Emily Friedman (Director of Housing and Human Services) and Alyssa McDermott (Director of Community Development) on behalf of Mayor Smiley. The committee reviewed the second year of the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan investments, discussed the overwhelming response of nearly 100 proposals totaling $17.5 million in requests, and ultimately voted to substitute the mayor's draft budget with a final ordinance.
Yes, no, it's okay. Okay. We are going to have an informational meeting. Um, Mr. Solicitor, could you please say the name is correct? Daniel starts in. Thank you. Um policy could just say you're in for the records, please. Project management. Uh Robert Baptiste, the third uh project management. Yeah, the guy's gone. All right, thank you. Um could you read the first communication from his honor the mayor dating March 27th 2026, submitting the community development off range budget program here 2026 and 2027? Emily Friedman, director of housing and human services, department of housing and human services. Alyssa McDermott, director of community development, and human services. Thank you and welcome. Uh time we're gonna try and fall with you and notes to go change. So it's only about a year from you. I don't know whether we want to start and also say your name for the right things. Good evening, Emily Friedman, Director of Housing and Human Services. So it's a pleasure to join me here tonight as we conclude our review of the proposed HUD and title in the grant budget on behalf of Mayor Smiley, the Department of House and Services. As a reminder, this budget represents our second year of investment on our 2025 to 2029 consolidated. Over the past few months, we have worked collaboratively to shape a strategic investment of our federal resources, CDBG, homework, ESG, and HOPO funds to meet the evolving needs of our community. This year this year we received an overwhelming response, receiving nearly 100 proposals. Of those 100 proposals we received, we were able to find about 40%. How many? Four. So with the requests, we received $17.5 million in requests, including $12.5 million in requests. Throughout this process, we ensured to prioritize proposals to uh critical services for being accessible, such as food access, child care, homeless production, and refugee support. We also focus the funding on funding facility and housing proposals that address serious operational barriers such as ADA improvements and fire safety. And that uh creates also new units uh to our affordable to our lowest income residents. I want to recognize the hard work of the counselors and of the staff, particularly Kyle Delgado and Robert Baptista for proactively identifying projects that need to work. Thanks to your diligence, all of the projects for each board have been incorporated into the ordinance, and we are on track to finalize and pass our budget before the May 8th docket deadline. This keeps us in line for a timely transmission by June July 1st. Today we plan to substitute the mayor's draft budget with a final ordinance, which has been sent to the chair and vice chair ahead of time for in closing. I want to sincerely thank all of you for your thoughtful engagement, partnerships, and collaboration throughout this process. Your commitment has ensured that these federal funds will have the greatest possible impact on Providence residents who need it most. So noted. I'd like to point out here to 559, so it's within half an hour. Thank you, six soliciters. 559, exactly. There we go. Do you have any questions for our question or just uh comment? Oh, please do. Just wanted to thank you for your due diligence. Um this committee was chose to leave from them. Uh the funds were limited, as you said, they were requests of over 17 million dollars. Yes, 17.5 million requests and uh fund uh a lot of them, and we hope that we can be good. Um the areas that were important uh for our city and uh thank you for the commission. Thank you.