City Council Allocates 2026 HUD Funding

The City Council approved a resolution allocating funds provided to New Britain by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the federal dollars meant to support viable communities, provide decent housing, and expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

Funding is provided annually to the city by HUD and distributed by the Council under its required five-year HUD funds action plan. The proposed funding recipients and amounts originates from the city’s Commission on Community and Neighborhood Development.

This funding includes two main categories: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HOME Program. According to the proposal, the allocations include an estimated $1,509,184 for the CDBG program and an estimated $507,374.06 for the HOME Program.

The city also anticipates receiving program income during Fiscal Year 2026, including $97,299 from CDBG activities and $171,170 from HOME activities, which will help support new projects. The proposed allocations also set aside $301,837 for General Management & Administration under the CDBG, and $50,737.41 for HOME Administration.

CDBG Allocations
The largest CDBG allocations in the proposal are $232,470 to the New Britain Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Dept. for Willow Brook Pool Upgrades/Repairs, and $200,000 to the Department of Planning and Development for the Neighborhood Preservation Program. The full list includes:

• Friendship Service Center: 59 Arch Street Window Replacement, $66,000.00.
• New Britain Department of Public Works: Infrastructure Program, $150,000.00.
• New Britain Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Dept.: Willow Brook Pool Upgrades/Repairs, $232,470.00.
• New Britain Senior Center: Handicap Accessible Van Purchase, $30,000.00.
• New Britain Public Library: Exterior Renovations: Back Entrance Handicap Ramp & Staircase, $125,000.00.
• Police Athletic League: PAL Facility Improvements, $90,000.00.
• New Britain Soccer, Inc.: NBSC Concession Stand, Restroom, & Roof Renovation Project, $50,000.00.
• Department of Planning and Development: Business Assistance Program, $37,500.00.
• Department of Planning and Development: Neighborhood Preservation Program, $200,000.00.
• Girls with Voices, Inc.: Girl Talk Whole Girl Wellness, $10,000.00.
• OIC of New Britain, Inc.: Rising Young Men Heights of Success, $10,000.00.
• Boys & Girls Club of New Britain, Inc.: Camp Schade Summer Field Trip Program, $10,000.00.
• Boys & Girls Club of New Britain, Inc.: After School and Saturday Program, $10,000.00.
• Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Pathways to Success in Higher Education, $15,000.00.
• New Britain Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Dept.: Every Kid Counts After School Program, $25,000.00.
• Prudence Crandall Center: Supportive Housing Program for Domestic Violence Victims and Their Children, $15,000.00.
• Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA: YMCA Basketball Training League, $10,000.00.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain: REACH (Rental Eviction Avoidance Counseling for Housing Stability) in New Britain, $10,000.00.
• Human Resources Agency of New Britain: Food & Resource Center HRA Food Security Stabilization Hub at New Britain, $10,000.00.
• Queen Ann Nzinga Center, Inc.: We’re Grownish Youth Enrichment Program, $10,000.00.
• New Britain Senior Center: Community Support Worker, $10,000.00.
• Arts for Learning Connecticut: “Express Yourself” Afterschool Arts for Learning at Smalley Elementary, $10,000.00.
• Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut: Workforce Literacy & Economic Advancement Program, $10,000.00.
• New Britain Judo & Dynami Arts, Inc.: Judo for Life: Empowerment Through Sports, $10,000.00.
• New Britain Police Athletic League: PAL All Year Activities, $11,377.00.
• YWCA of New Britain: YWCA Childcare Business Incubator, $10,000.00.
• YWCA of New Britain: YWCA House of Teens: Community Health Worker, $10,000.00.
• New Britain Roots, Inc.: New Britain Community Fridges, $10,000.00.
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters: $10,000

Proposed HOME Program Allocations
The largest HOME allocation proposed is $163,113.93 to CCARC, Inc. for Oakwood Drive ADA Bathroom & Safe Access Improvement. The full list includes:

• CCARC, Inc.: Oakwood Drive ADA Bathroom & Safe Access Improvement, $163,113.93.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain: Curtain Avenue Homes, $73,894.00.
• HRA of New Britain, Inc.: HRA Supportive Housing for People Living with HIV/AIDS, $45,000.00.
• Department of Planning and Development: Home Ownership Program, $98,522.61.
• Curtin Avenue Homes: CHDO Reserve (15%), $76,106.11.

The Council approved an amendment to the allocations proposed to add $10,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

CDBG funds are divide between capital improvement programs and city operating funding, on the one, hand and grants to community organizations to support operating funding for their programs, on the other.

In the past, a larger share of the funding went to support community program operating funds. Under former Mayor Erin Stewart (R), that share was reduced greatly—decreasing the total community programs operating allocation down to just 15% of the grant—a move that squeezed the budgets of agencies that had relied on the funds for over 30 years. Because of federal rules, once the city made that cut, the cut became permanent, so the Council now has very little option to provide funding for one program without cutting funding for another.

In other business, the Council tabled a resolution to appoint Jamie B Vaughan to a Council vacancy in Ward 2. The resolution, the third proposal attempting to fill the vacancy, was tabled in the Council on a party line vote, due, Council President Pro-Tempore Francisco Santiago noted, to pending litigation concerning the second of the three proposals.