Consolidated Plan Community Input

Every year, the City of Champaign receives more than $1 million from two Federal grants, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership, to benefit lower-income residents with affordable housing, social services, public facilities, public infrastructure, and other services. To continue to receive these funds, the City's Neighborhood Services Department is preparing the Consolidated Plan, which outlines the City's goals over five years, and the Annual Action Plan, which details how the City intends to use the grants for the coming year to meet those goals.

Public input is crucial in shaping these plans. The City is calling on you to share your thoughts on the most urgent needs in our neighborhoods and housing. Your responses to the survey will directly influence the project priorities in the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and the allocation of Federal funds. We urge you to to take five minutes to complete the survey.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan?

The Consolidated Plan is a strategic tool that helps the City assess its affordable housing and community development needs, understand market conditions, and make informed, place-based investment decisions. The Consolidated Plan provides long-range strategic direction for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs. It includes needs assessments, housing market analysis, and identified community needs and gaps to provide a framework for establishing priorities in allocating Federal, State, and local resources to meet community needs over the five-year time horizon.

The Annual Action Plan details short-term activities and funding, which will help meet the needs identified in the Consolidated Plan.

2. Who benefits from CDBG and HOME-funded projects in Champaign?

The City focuses CDBG and HOME-funded programs in targeted neighborhoods. These are the neighborhoods with more than 50% of households having lower incomes. However, programs are available across Champaign to people who meet income and other eligibility criteria.

3. What is considered lower-income in Champaign?

Lower-income households earn less than 80% of the Median Family Income. For example, a four-person household would need to earn less than $84,950 to be eligible for grant-funded services.

4. What types of activities can be included in the Consolidated Plan?

Federal grants can fund many different types of eligible activities, including but not limited to:

• Creating and rehabilitating affordable housing.
• Removing lead-based paint risks.
• Repairing public facilities, including homeless and domestic violence shelters, youth centers, group homes, daycares, parks, & playgrounds.
• Installing and repairing public infrastructure, including sidewalks, streets, curbs, water and sewer systems.
• Implementing public services.
• Supporting economic development projects.
• Eliminating slums and blight by demolishing dilapidated fences, garages, & sheds.