Cleveland Proposes $28 Million in Federal Grant Spending for Housing and Homelessness Programs

October 24, 2026

Cleveland City Council is considering an emergency ordinance, File No. 1321-2026, that would allow the Director of Community Development to contract for and spend millions of dollars in federal grant money. The proposed spending targets several major housing and community assistance programs for the 2026 program year using funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

What's in the file

The ordinance seeks to authorize the expenditure of several federal grant programs to support local housing stability and community revitalization. The official record notes that while Ordinance No. 520-2026 previously authorized the city to apply for these funds, the final allocations from HUD have been confirmed.

The proposed spending includes:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Funds will support home repairs (including furnace and hot water tank replacements), neighborhood revitalization, small business technical assistance, and senior transportation connections.
HOME Investment Partnerships Act: Funds are designated for the Housing Trust Fund, the Housing Development Office, CHDO set-asides, and the Repair-A-Home Loan Program.
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG): Targeted toward reducing homelessness and assisting at-risk individuals.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA): Dedicated to AIDS prevention.

The following table breaks down the final 2026 allocations for each program:

Program	2026 Allocation
CDBG	$19,656,877
HOME	$4,151,355
HESG	$1,727,911
HOPWA	$2,553,384
TOTAL	$28,089,527

The legislation also authorizes various department directors—including Community Development, Public Works, Public Health, Building and Housing, Aging, and Development—to enter into contracts and make standard purchases for labor, materials, and services necessary to implement these grants.

Who may be affected

Low- to moderate-income homeowners: Eligible for residential rehabilitation, furnace repairs, and tree trimming assistance.
Community Development Corporations (CDCs): Authorized to administer housing rehabilitation and receive administrative support.
Individuals experiencing homelessness: Target recipients of emergency rental assistance and shelter improvements.
Seniors and persons with disabilities: Eligible for specific services such as senior transportation and hazardous tree removal.
Neighborhood-based development organizations: Fifteen organizations may receive support for neighborhood-specific housing activities.

Status and timeline

The ordinance is currently in the early stages of the legislative process.

2026-10-23: The emergency ordinance was introduced to City Council.

What to watch next

The record indicates the ordinance is currently at its First Reading.

Residents can verify these details by reviewing the official record for File No. 1321-2026 via the Cleveland City Council website.

Source record

File: 1321-2026
Type: Emergency Ordinance
Status: First Reading
Committee: City Council
Introduced: October 22, 2026

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