By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Common Council held a special session Thursday to make sure the city does not miss out on millions of dollars in federal HUD block grant dollars.
Lawmakers approved more than $26 million that will provide funds to human services agencies and other block grant programs. North District Council member Joseph Golombek says the funding had to be approved before 6:00pm Thursday. He says it was the first time in years that the city passed the block grant funding on time and within budget.
"I believe this is the first year in the 30 years that we have had block grants that the actual HUD process has been followed," Golombek said. "There was a citizens council that was put together to make recommendations to the city. I believe the administration held public hearings and we were given the block grant over the past week. We basically had three days to pass the grant."
Delays in past years caused a number of problems for community organizations. In order for funds to be finalized, the block grant plan must now be submitted to HUD officials in Washington by March 17th. The Council says the funding would be split up in several ways including funding to 35 human services agencies.
But not all the groups previously receiving block grants were included in this year's application. After Thursday's vote, several residents gathered at the Northwest Community Center. Many expressed anger, including Eastside PRIDE, which claims it was left out of the process. But others noted that there was plenty of opportunity at public hearings held last August and September.