City Budget Adds Funds for Housing & Homelessness Services

The City of Bloomington has released its draft 2025 budget, with several departments adding resources for housing and homelessness services.

Budget hearings are set for the week of Aug. 26, Monday-Thursday, starting at 5:30 p.m. each night at city hall, 401 N. Morton. Most of the housing-related presentations will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Of note, the Office of the Mayor has added a new position of homelessness coordinator. According to the budget materials, the “role would serve as the central person within the City to: lead the internal cross-departmental team working on homelessness; engage with the public and share strategies and information; serve as the City’s representative on collaborative teams with service providers; monitor and lead for results in agreed-upon action plans; research and recommend additional solutions (with the support of those providers and other City staff across multiple departments); and more.”

The 2025 goals for the Housing & Neighborhood Development (HAND) department include improving access to affordable housing and reducing unsheltered homelessness, in part by supporting the Heading Home Housing Action Plan.

One of the Planning & Transportation department’s 2025 goals is to adapt the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to accommodate evolving housing needs. The aim is to allow for more by-right development of more affordable housing types.

The Bloomington Housing Authority is also included in the city’s budget presentations, although it operates under an independent board and its budget does not require city council action. The mayor appoints all BHA board members.

• Read the Bloomington Housing Authority section here.

• Read the Housing & Neighborhood Development (HAND) section here.

• Read the Office of the Mayor section here.

• Read the Planning & Transportation section here.

• Read the full 383-page draft budget here.