The Cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls are beginning work on five-year plans that will guide investments in community development, affordable housing, and homelessness assistance programs across the two cities during the 2024-2028 planning period. Also underway is a fair housing study that will consider whether all Waterloo and Cedar Falls residents have equal housing opportunities.
The Cities' community development plans, called "Consolidated Plans" will assess the Cities' current housing markets, discuss characteristics of their respective populations, identify community improvement priorities, and outline a plan to fund and implement them. The joint fair housing study, called an "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice" will identify barriers to equal access to housing and will propose fair and affordable housing strategies to overcome those impediments. These plans are required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Cities to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds.
Community input is essential to help the Cities focus their efforts and limited resources on the programs and services that are most needed. To engage in the planning process and share ideas with the planning team, residents are encouraged to attend one of three public meetings:
Cedar Falls Resident Meeting
- Tuesday, November 28 at 5:30 PM
- Hearst Center for the Arts
- 304 W Seerley Blvd., Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Service Provider Meeting (for organizations and people who provide community services and resources in Waterloo or Cedar Falls)
- Wednesday, November 29 at 3:00 PM
- Waterloo Center for the Arts
- 225 Commercial St., Waterloo, IA 50701
Waterloo Resident Meeting
- Wednesday, November 29 at 5:30 PM
- Cedar Valley Sportsplex
- 300 Jefferson St., Waterloo, IA 50701
Residents can also participate by taking an online survey, which may be accessed here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/wcfconplanai.
To learn more about the project, visit www.WaterlooCedarFallsHUD.com. Initial drafts of these plans and studies will be shared for public review and comment beginning in March 2024. For more information, please contact Mosaic Community Planning at (470) 435-6020 or info@mosaiccommunityplanning.com.