Loading...
#6b Public Hearing Consolidated Plan 2011 Acti NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MEMORANDUM June 8, 2010 TO: Community Development Authority FROM: Jennifer Petruzzello, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: Item #6 – Public Hearing on Consolidated Plan 2011 Action Plan – Community Development Needs and Operation of the CDBG and HOME Programs and Establish CDBG and HOME Priorities Summary: Every five years, a Consolidated Plan is developed for the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and Home Investment partnership (HOME) funds, followed by annual Action Plans. Last year, the CDA developed and the City Council approved a 5 year Consolidated Plan for the 2010-2014 time period. The CDA has elected to begin the development of the 2011 Annual Action Plan with a Public Hearing on community development needs and the operation of the CDBG and HOME program. Input obtained during this public hearing may be used to establish goals and priorities for the 2011 Annual Action Plan, including the allocation of public service dollars and the overall program budget. Program Goals and Background: The goals of the CDBG program are to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities. The goal of the HOME program is to buy, build, or rehabilitate affordable housing for rent or homeownership or to provide direct rental assistance to low-income individuals. Eligible activities include a wide variety of acquisition, rehabilitation, construction, and demolition activities associated with residential building, low-income housing, urban redevelopment, and public facilities. Only 15% of the CDBG funds may be used for public services. Public services include, though are not limited to, those concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education, fair housing counseling, energy conservation, welfare, homebuyer down-payment assistance, or recreational needs. Consolidated Plan Priorities: The 5-Year Consolidated Plan established the following priorities for the City of Janesville CDBG and HOME programs for the 2010-2014 years: Housing Priorities: quality Create affordable, , housing stock for low to moderate income families Improve existing housing stock Increase homeownership opportunities Community Development Priorities: Healthcare Job training or employment services Rent assistance Self-sufficiency programs (medium priority) Youth services (medium priority) In the interest of increased transparency and long-range planning, it is generally anticipated that these housing and community development priorities will remain the same over the 2010-2014 time period. While the Annual Action Plan is to be based upon the 5 Year Consolidated Plan, it provides additional detail regarding the specific programs and services that will be offered in conjunction with these overall priorities. Allocations proposed to non-profit organizations for pubic service activities are detailed within the Annual Action Plan. In addition, the Action Plan will include a proposed budget allocation. Following the public hearing, it is recommended that the CDA establish the housing and community development priorities for the 2011 Action Plan. Establishing clear priorities and narrowing the list of public service and housing activities the CDA identifies as priorities will give organizations a better understanding of the direction the CDA is heading. Through the establishment of clear goals, the CDA will be positioned to award funding where it will have the greatest impact in achieving those goals. Recommendation: Staff recommends that following the public hearing, the CDA make a motion to reaffirm the housing and community development priorities identified in the 5-Year Consolidated Plan as the priorities for the 2011 Annual Action Plan. Staff further recommends that Non-Profit agencies interested in CDBG and HOME funding be encouraged to submit proposals that address one of the identified priorities.