Acting Mayor Robert K. McCarthy has announced that the City of Salem is developing its annual Action Plan, which will outline priority activities for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds that the City of Salem anticipates receiving during Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). This funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, assists income-eligible households and low- to moderate-income neighborhoods through a variety of programs, services and improvements.

The FY24 Action Plan will outline Salem’s housing, economic and community development needs and funding priorities for the period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The plan will continue to put into action the goals and strategies established in the 5-Year Consolidated Plan, which was completed following an extensive public participation process in 2020. 

“Salem community members are invited to provide input on the housing, community, and economic development programs and services needed for Salem residents and neighborhoods,” said Acting Mayor McCarthy. “Your help will guide the use of Salem’s Federal CDBG and HOME dollars.”

During FY22, Salem expended $1,367,442.43 in CDBG; $160,381.31 in CDBG-CV Funds and $203,888.44 in HOME funds. With these funds the City assisted 20 families with first/last rent and/or security deposits and placed 7 high risk homeless individuals into housing with supportive services, assisted 3 households first time home buyers and assisted one family with a housing rehabilitation. Economic development activities included assistance to 34 businesses with an incentive bonus for employees returning to work.

CDBG also funded 35 social service programs that served over 25,000 persons with services, including emergency homelessness prevention, food assistance, support programs for victims of domestic violence, remote learning after school program, accessible housing assistance, medical services for homeless persons, ESL/ELL classes, tax preparation services, career counseling, financial literacy sessions, senior transportation, a senior exercise program, police bicycle patrols, citizenship classes and legal services for immigrants, Spanish GED classes, after school and engagement programs including playground programs, and college success savings programs. COVID-19 support included an expanded a food pantry and distributed food through mobile food pantries and care packages. In addition to the housing, business and social services support, the City also expended funding to complete the YMCA community garden at Palmer Cove Park, provide housing stability assistance to 29 persons, complete the historic building guidelines, and plant 21 new trees.

Acting Mayor McCarthy invites Salem residents, businesses, organizations, and agencies to participate in the public input participation process that will kick off on January 19, 2023, with a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. via remote participation. For remote participation instructions, see the complete public hearing notice at https://www.salem.com/legal-notices.The purpose of this hearing is to give interested persons the opportunity to comment on the housing, community and economic development needs of Salem’s low- to moderate-income residents and on the types of activities that could be undertaken to meet those needs  Interested parties may also provide written comment addressed to the City of Salem Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) or via email to [email protected], by January 23rd.

Following this hearing, the DPCD will prepare the draft Action Plan for FY24, which is expected to be available for public comment at the end of March. Copies of the draft plan will be available for viewing on www.salem.com.