Yoo requested clarification on what was being asked of the Committee. She wanted
verification that Option 1, Option 2 and Option 3 was what the Committee would be
making a decision on. Chassee said that was correct. Hamlin also said for the Committee
to approve the changes to the Neighborhood Investment application as well. Yoo then
asked how Option 2 and Option 3 were different from Option 1, if the highest priority
needs are Option 1, why were Option 2 and Option 3 presented. Hamlin did not want to
limit it to one category, based on there being gaps present in the other categories. She was
requesting feedback from the Committee if the focus should be on the highest need,
especially with only 15% of the funding able to be used for public service. She did not
want to necessarily rule out other categories, specifically behavioral health, since the
Community Needs survey also showed behavioral health as a gap in services. Gustin said
County Board and the Chair were focusing on mental health.
At this point Keating asked how behavioral health and mental health were differentiated;
was there a description on the survey. Hamlin said no. There was no clarification in the
survey. The responses from the nonprofit partners showed there was a little bit of a
difference in regards to which one had a gap.
LaPlante agreed with Option 1 and the Committee should be focused on what the purpose
was of the grants. There were other committees/people supporting the mental health
aspect. If the department tried to do too much, it diluted the efforts so that the results
were not so impactful or efficient. Hamlin said it was important to remember the
regulatory requirements of CDBG. Mental and behavioral health did not just impact low
to moderate income individuals. These funds could only be used to support those that are
primarily low to moderate income.
Gustin commented why include mental health or behavioral health on the surveys if it is
not relevant to the funding source. Gustin felt that by incorporating County initiatives, it
would provide more help in different areas, but understood specializing in one area was
acceptable, as long as the way the funding was used was in compliance with the federal
government. Chassee said from a municipal standpoint, she felt the survey helped guide,
particularly for nonprofit partners, to some of the other areas they could focus on. Many
of the nonprofits have programs that extend well beyond what the County and Committee
were able to support with CDBG funding. Chassee said she has been on this Committee
for quite a while and has seen the Committee try to be all things to all people and it
becomes very complicated. What Chassee understood from the memo was the focus was
shifting post-pandemic, from help paying for actual housing to helping to support efforts
to assist with housing permanency. She felt addressing the highest priority needs was
what should be focused on. Garcia said according to the graphs shown, she agreed with
Option 1 being the most important. Affordable housing is a huge need in DuPage County.
Chassee felt she was starting to hear a consensus for Option 1, if so she would entertain a
motion that this would be the direction to take. At this point Yoo asked if there would be
any unintended consequences if Option 1 was approved. Would the nonprofits have
payroll problems with just Option 1 if they also did behavioral/mental health assistance.
Would it affect their ability to apply. Hamlin said that if they have a program that
supported the housing needs component, they could target their application for that staff
member. They could then shift their other funding to cover behavioral/mental health case
