Baton Rouge residents can comment on nearly $7.5 million in proposed housing and homelessness funds
Baton Rouge residents can review and comment through August 8 on a draft plan proposing nearly $7.5 million for housing, homelessness and community programs.
Baton Rouge residents can still comment on a draft City-Parish plan proposing nearly $7.5 million in federal housing, homelessness and community-development funds for the PY2026 program year.
The public-comment period began July 9 and ends August 8, 2026. The proposal is not final, and the listed amounts and activities could change after the comment and approval process.
What the draft plan proposes
The draft PY2026 Action Plan covers four federal funding programs:
- Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG: $3,346,995
- HOME Investment Partnerships: $1,450,716.46
- Emergency Solutions Grant, or ESG: $291,178
- Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS, or HOPWA: $2,397,770
Together, the proposed amounts total $7,486,659.46, or approximately $7.49 million. The City-Parish plan is intended to direct federal resources toward eligible housing, community-development, homelessness and supportive-service activities benefiting low- to moderate-income residents and households.
What the funding programs generally support
CDBG funding generally supports community-development activities and public services. In Baton Rouge, the Office of Community Development says its work can include housing rehabilitation, new housing, public services and other neighborhood improvements.
HOME funding generally supports affordable housing. ESG funding is tied to homelessness-related services, shelter and housing-stability activities. HOPWA supports housing assistance and supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Those descriptions explain the broad purpose of each program, but they do not guarantee that every proposed dollar will go directly to individual residents or that a specific project will receive funding.
How to review and comment
The City-Parish says the draft plan is available online through the Office of Community Development. Printed copies are available for public viewing at the Carver Library, 720 Terrace Avenue, and the Scotlandville Library, 7373 Scenic Highway.
Residents can request limited copies by calling 225-389-3039. Written comments may be emailed to OCD@brla.gov or mailed to the Office of Community Development, 222 St. Louis Street, 7th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
The public notice also says the plan can be provided in accessible formats upon request. Residents should use the City-Parish notice and Office of Community Development for the controlling version of the draft document and submission instructions.
Why the plan matters locally
The annual action plan is part of the City-Parish’s broader five-year consolidated planning process. The longer-term plan identifies community needs and priorities, while the annual plan outlines activities and funding proposed for the coming program year.
That makes the comment period an opportunity for residents, housing organizations, service providers and neighborhood groups to review how federal resources are proposed to support housing stability, homelessness response, public services and community development in Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish.
After the August 8 deadline, the City-Parish must complete its review and approval steps before the proposed allocations become final. Submitting a comment adds to the public record, but it does not guarantee that a particular recommendation will be adopted.
Sources
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