Loss of CDBG would be 'devastating' to non-profits, says mayor

Now in its 42nd year nationally, the federally run Community Development Block Grant or CDBG program has funneled millions of dollars to Warwick non-profits for services and projects in low-income neighborhoods from Oakland Beach to East Natick.

Now under President Trump’s proposed budget, CDBG funds would dry up.

That would be a shame in the opinion of Kevin Sullivan, director of the Warwick program allocated to receive almost $900,000 in the current year. Funding for the current year doesn’t appear to be at jeopardy, but depending on the president and the budget approved by Congress, the program could change dramatically, if survive at all.

“It would have a devastating effect on many social service agencies,” Mayor Scott Avedisian said yesterday. With a national budget of $3 billion, Avedisian said CDBG represents a way for Trump to increase spending in defense and other programs without having to increase taxes.

“It’s an issue of trying to make this [increased spending] up otherwise,” the mayor said.

Sullivan calls the program unique because it reflects a “bottom up” rather than a “top down” approach to addressing community needs. Many federal grants come with dictates on running a program, whereas CDBG turns to the community to solicit how the funds are to be used.

Sullivan said Trump’s budget was a major topic of discussion at Tuesday’s regional National Community Development Association in Worchester. Sullivan expects Trump will get a “lot of pushback” from legislators across the country if the budget cut is pursued.

Should program funding be cut, William Facente, housing officer and program coordinator, predicted non-profits would be forced to raise funding elsewhere, putting pressure on the community. Facente, one of three employed by CDBG funding, oversees the home improvement loan, lead hazard reduction and sewer connect grant programs created by CDBG funding. The programs provide low interest loans through a revolving fund that now totals about $400,000 to make home improvements and provide sewer connections.

From its current budget, the Warwick program administered by the Community Development Advisory Committee allocated $90,000 for site improvements being made by Child Inc. and Cornerstone Adult Services and $208,574 for housing. Housing funds flowed to the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, House of Hope CDC and Westbay Community Action.

An additional $144,000 of grant funds went into public service programs run by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Warwick, CCAP, Child Inc., Cornerstone Adult Services, Crossroads, EBC Center, Friends Way, House of Hope, The Kent Center and Westbay Community Action.

Grant funds have also been used on a rotating neighborhood basis, with $100,000 going to eligible neighborhoods. Following a comprehensive master plan, the neighborhood groups choose how the funds will be spent. Apponaug is in the rotation to receive the funds this year, Facente said. A plan on how it would be used has not been finalized, as the neighborhood association is waiting to see the outcome of the village circulator project. Other neighborhoods also in the program, which is determined by federal income guidelines based on Census data are Oakland Beach, East Natick and Pontiac. Conimicut had been in the program but was no longer eligible based on the 2010 Census, Facente said.