CLEARWATER, Fla. — People who live in Clearwater have the chance to let the city know how they want to see federal dollars spent.

The city is updating its five-year consolidated plan for 2025-2029. Monday night marked the first of three meetings to get public input.

The exact amount of funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development changes from year to year. In fiscal year 2024, the city received more than $1.3 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds. The goal is to help low-to-mid-income neighborhoods.

What You Need To Know

  • Clearwater is holding three meetings this week for residents to give input on updates to its five-year consolidated plan

  • The plan gives leaders direction on applying for grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

  • Funds can be used for housing, homelessness, helping people with special needs and community development projects

  • The next meeting is being held Tuesday evening

“In my area, in Greenwood, we have a lot of older houses,” said Diane Stephens, one of a dozen people in attendance at Monday’s meeting. “We don’t want something really brand new, we just want to be able to fix up the house that we have.”

Housing rehabs are among the projects Stephens and others learned the plan can help with. Clearwater Housing Department Acting Housing Manager Dylan Mayeux said input from the public is key.

“They are the boots on the ground, and so they’re the best audience to provide us with feedback on how to move forward,” Mayeux said.

The plan will give city leaders direction when it comes to applying for the grants. Housing, homelessness, helping people with special needs and community development projects are all possible uses for that money. Stephens said last year’s hurricanes have created a greater need for her and some neighbors.

“With the insurance company, they say they have money for deductibles,” Stephens said. “OK, great, but you have a deductible and they’re going to pay it, but the insurance company doesn’t want to pay everything that needs to be done to get your house just up to code.”

Residents also suggested improvements like sidewalk and road repairs and better drainage and lighting in some neighborhoods.

“If you have ideas, if you have a plan, if you see things that could be better, we’d love to hear it so we could move those forward,” said Mayeux.

The future of different types of federal funding is uncertain right now as a funding freeze ordered by President Donald Trump faces legal challenges. A presenter at the meeting said city staff is closely monitoring the situation, but as of right now, the five-year plan process is moving forward as normal.

In addition to attending meetings, people can also fill out a community survey. Residents have two more chances to weigh in at upcoming meetings:

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m.

Ross Norton Recreation Center

1426 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.

Clearwater
 

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m.

The Long Center

1501 N. Belcher Rd.

Clearwater