CDBG/Home

COMBINED NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND PUBLIC HEARING

CITY OF BETHLEHEM, PA (the “City”)

Post Date: June 19, 2026

NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD OPENING

 A public comment period has opened for the following attached City community development plan document(s): (a) DRAFT Program Year (PY) 2026 Annual Action Plan; (the “Plan Documents”). The City is preparing the Plan Documents as part of its application for certain funding to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  

The draft Plan Documents are available for public review and can be found and downloaded here. The documents will be available during a public comment period running from Friday, June 19, 2026, through Monday, July 20, 2026 (the “Comment Period”), at the following locations: 

• Lobby area of City Hall, 10 East Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 (during business hours: non-holiday weekdays, 8:00 am through 4:15 pm; see door monitor at the front desk);  
• DCED Front Desk, 10 East Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 (during business hours: non-holiday weekdays, 8:00 am through 4:15 pm; see receptionist at the front desk); 
• Bethlehem Area Public Library North Branch, 11 West Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 (available during business hours, see front desk); and
• City’s website: https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Community-Economic-Development/Community-Development/CDBG-Home. 

 Written comments may be emailed to Elivonne Nehmeh (enehmeh@bethlehem-pa.gov) with a copy to Robert G. Vidoni (rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov), or delivered to the Community Development Bureau, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 before the close of the Comment Period. Comments may also be provided by phone by calling Elivonne Nehmeh at 610-419-1447, or Robert Vidoni at 610-997-5731. 

 Summary of Annual Action Plan Allocations. The City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for Program Year (PY) 2026 is $ 1,370,309.00  and the City’s Home Investment Partnerships Programs (HOME) allocation is $ 388,308.10. CDBG Funds may be used to assist persons with low to moderate incomes, remove slums and blight, or address urgent needs. HOME funds may be used for homeowner rehabilitation, homebuyer activities, financing the acquisition and/or rehabilitation or new construction of homes for homebuyers or rental housing, and providing tenant-based rental assistance. See the attached summary of proposed activities to be funded with City CDBG and HOME funds. The City’s program year for CDBG and HOME begins January 1 and ends December 31. 

 NOTICE OF CDBG/HOME PUBLIC HEARING

 Notice is hereby provided that PY 2026 public hearing number two on the City’s draft 2026 Annual Action Plan (the “Plan”) will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM, during the Bethlehem City Council meeting, in the Town Hall Rotunda, located at 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. The purpose of the hearing is to present the proposed allocations and projects for the City’s Annual Action Plan for PY 2026. The City anticipates that the Plan will be submitted to HUD on the week of July 21, 2026, but in no event after August 16, 2026. All interested parties are encouraged to attend this public hearing and they will be given the opportunity to present comments concerning the proposed use of CDBG and/or HOME funds under the Plan. See the attached summary of proposed PY 2026 activities to be funded with City CDBG and HOME funds.

 This notice is issued in accordance with CDBG and HOME regulations. The City of Bethlehem does not discriminate based on disability. If you are in need of translation services, sign language services, or other reasonable accommodations related to the Plan Documents, providing comments to such documents, and/or attending the above public hearing, or participating at the hearing, please contact Elivonne Nehmeh (enehmeh@bethlehem-pa.gov) with a copy to Robert G. Vidoni (rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov), or call 610-865-7085. City Hall is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking is available at the primary entrance to City Hall at 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. 

CITY OF BETHLEHEM

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BUREAU

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

First floor, 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Phone: (610) 865-7085

Business Hours: 8:00 AM- 4:15 PM (Monday through Friday, excluding municipal holidays)

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, national origin, and disability. It also requires that all federal programs relating to housing and urban development be administered in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing.

North Penn Legal Services is the City of Bethlehem's Fair Housing partner. More information about Fair Housing is available on North Penn's website, and on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's website.

Complaints
Persons who believe they have experienced discrimination in housing rental, sales, or financing because of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, disability, or familial status can contact any of the following entities:

North Penn Legal Services
Bethlehem Office
559 Main Street, Suite 200
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Housing discrimination line: 610-317-5322 
https://www.nplspa.org

City of Bethlehem Fair Housing Officer
Jennifer M. Swett 
JSwett@bethlehem-pa.gov 
610-865-7099

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint

Program Contacts

Robert G. Vidoni, Esq. 
Housing & Community Development Administrator, rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov
610-997-5731