St. Cloud Council Debates Entitlement Fund Allocations

(KNSI) – The public hearing on how to allocate Community Development Block Grant funds was the primary focus of Saint Cloud’s City Council meeting Monday. Community Development Director Matt Glaesman says it is a tough task to winnow down deserving organizations every year. Staff had managed to trim interested organizations to five.

Glaesman says there is more uncertainty than normal as the federal government has yet to say how much entitlement funding the city will be getting.

“This year, we are in a unique situation in that we do not know our entitlement amount. HUD [Housing and Urban Development] has asked that we proceed with a contingency plan so that we can take action tonight. With the understanding that in the coming weeks and months that we will actually find out what that amount is, so we should account for some deviation in that number.”

One of the organizations asked about by members of the public and certain councilors is Homeless Helping Homeless. The group operates out of the Lincoln Center in East Saint Cloud. They had applied for help with installing a sprinkler system, which would allow them to expand operations. Glaesman says the organization’s plans will be scaled back without it, but not scrapped entirely.

“If we do not have funding for them. If they are not able to achieve the — after one year of trying to find funding, they go back to what the conditional use permit says. They have to have 10 people, maximum occupancy.”

The future of the property is uncertain as well. The current owner is subject to a balloon payment, totaling tens of thousands of dollars. If the building reverts to the original owner it is unclear if he would still allow Homeless Helping Homeless to operate out of Lincoln Center. Glaesman says until the city knows more, it can’t recommend allocating funds there when other, more viable options exist.

St. Cloud Housing and Redevelopment Authority stands to receive $216,000 to rehab single-family residences. Place of Hope is expected to get $112,500 for electrical repairs. Other organizations earmarked for funds include Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, St. Cloud Parks Department, and Tri-CAP. The measure was approved by the council, 5-2.

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