Affordable housing, quality of life and homeless services make up the bulk of Lancaster City Councilâs five-year plan for using money it expects to receive from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The plan, approved unanimously by council on Tuesday night, focuses specifically on about $8.37 million in Community Development Block Grant funding anticipated between 2021 and 2025 as well as about $710,000 in Emergency Solutions funds. Council President Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Council Member Janet Diaz were absent.
âThe city plans to allocate a total of $9 million over the next five years to a set of five major funding categories or priorities: [to maintain] affordable, good quality housing; increase affordable housing opportunities; promote neighborhood quality of life through investment in community assets and engaging services; expand economic opportunities with an emphasis on small businesses; and support homeless services,â said Council Member Faith Craig, chairman of the community planning committee.