Allen homeowners who need urgent repairs or accessibility upgrades will have more than $610,000 available through the city's home repair program starting in October.
The City Council approved its 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant action plan Tuesday, July 28 and expects to receive $468,647 in federal CDBG funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the coming fiscal year, according to Community Impact, which first reported the vote.
The allocation directs $335,647 to Allen's home repair program, $70,000 to All Community Outreach for public services, and $63,000 to program administration.
Home repair program will have $610K available
The $335,647 in new HUD dollars is only part of the picture. Program staff are carrying forward $275,000 in unspent funds from prior years, bringing the total available for home repairs in FY 2026-27 to $610,647.
Assistant Director of Community Enhancement Erin Jones told the council the funds help staff prioritize urgent cases, such as a home with no air conditioning in the summer, along with accessibility improvements and exterior repairs.
Jones noted the CDBG dollars are federal grant funds passed through to the city, not general fund dollars.
The home repair assistance program is administered by the city's Community Enhancement department and provides financial help to maintain safe, energy-efficient homes.
All Community Outreach gets $70K
The entire $70,000 public-service allocation will go to All Community Outreach, the Allen-based nonprofit at 801 E. Main St. that runs a food pantry, rental and utility assistance, and career services for Collin County residents facing crisis situations. CEO Marjorie Vaneskahian Burr leads the organization.
ACO's food pantry operates by appointment Tuesdays and Thursdays for choice shopping and Fridays for curbside pickup. Residents needing rental or utility help can call (972) 727-9131.
Slightly smaller allocation this year
Allen is receiving slightly less CDBG funding than the previous fiscal year. Jones explained that HUD determines allocations using a formula based on population, poverty levels, housing age and overcrowding. As an "entitlement community," Allen doesn't apply for the funds directly.
"Likely what this means is some other cities met the population threshold and the money had to be spread a little thinner this year than it had in the past," Jones said.
$63K for administration
Of the $63,000 for administration, $13,000 covers program training, legal notice fees, and analytics software. The remaining $50,000 will go toward exploring ways to use grant money more efficiently. Director of Community Enhancement Lee Battle said staff will consider all options before hiring an additional team member.
City staff expect to receive the funds when the new program year begins Thursday, Oct. 1.
