RESEARCH DIVISION
SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS & SERVICES MTG MINUTES
July 18, 2016
10:32
a.m.
Lynwood Roberts Room
Ground Floor, City Hall
117 W. Duval Street
Attendance: Council Members: Scott Wilson (Chair), Reggie Brown (Vice Chair), Doyle Carter, Garrett Dennis, Joyce Morgan, Matt Schellenberg; Council Member Bill Gulliford was excused; Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman, Assistant Council Auditor Kyle Billy, Jessica Baker, Administration, Jeff Clements, John J. Jackson, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistant Philip Zamarron.
The Chairman called the special committee meeting to order at 10:32 a.m.
The Special Committee next heard a presentation by the Neighborhoods Department’s Housing and Community Development Division. Dayatra Coles, Affordable Housing Coordinator, gave the PowerPoint presentation.
Ms. Coles explained the purposes and objectives of the Housing and Community Development Division. They include: managing community development and housing related initiatives; ensuring the availability of services to low and moderate income persons through public and private partnerships; and fostering resident involvement. She introduced most of the Division’s staff who were present at the Special Committee meeting.
To implement the various housing initiatives, the City relies on funding from the federal government.
Ms. Coles explained how the City applies for and receives federal and state funding resources for various programs. Federal funding comes primarily from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.). State funding comes largely from SHIP (State Housing Initiative Partnership). Approximately $11,000,000 federal funding, through H.U.D. per year is allocated to the City through four grants. These funds are allocated to the Beach communities, as well.
Ms. Coles explained the four particular funding sources for housing initiatives. They included: CDBG (Community Development Block Grants), HOME (Home Investment Partnership Program), HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS), and ESG (Emergency Solutions Grant).
Ms. Coles explained the application process and how her agency monitors funded grants and programs to ensure that everything complies with federal law and regulations.
She discussed the role of CPACS in ascertaining the input of the numerous communities and neighborhoods in assessing their respective needs. Council Member Matt Schellenberg expressed surprise that the Housing Division apprised the various CPACs on the Division’s plans and proposed initiatives but did not brief or apprise the City Council on those matters.
Ms. Coles underscored the fact that all of the grants for housing initiatives are 100% federally funded. There is absolutely no funding that comes from the City’s General Fund.
The national objectives of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) are: to provide benefits to low to moderate income persons; to aid in the prevention or elimination of slum and blight; and to meet an urgent community need. When asked if CDBG funds could be used for mowing abandoned property so as to minimize blight, Ms. Coles explained that CDBG funds could not be utilized for maintenance, and mowing was a form of maintenance. Allowable uses of the CDBG grants, in developing viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, include; acquisition of real property, clearance/demolition, code enforcement, economic development, fair housing initiatives, historic preservation (exterior work), housing counseling, housing rehabilitation, public facilities & improvements.
HOME funding is targeted exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. Allowable uses for HOME funding include: development subsidy for Community Housing Development Organization’s ( CHDO’s), downpayment assistance, operating support for CHOD’s, owner-occupied rehabilitation, multifamily development and rehabilitation and relocation.
The ESG program provides funding that is designed to defray the operating costs and support services provided by agencies to address emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons and families (including significant sub-populations such as those living on the streets). Allowable uses for ESG funding include essential services for the homeless and assisting families who have received notices of eviction or termination of utilities.
HOPWA funds are allocated to carry out activities that address the priority needs and community identified objectives associated with housing persons with HIV/AIDS and their families. In addition, it provides funding to support services and the prevention of homelessness.
The Division provides various services to assist grant applicants in applying for and managing grants. There are mandatory budget workshops and mandatory technical assistance workshops.
Ms. Coles cited numerous groups and agencies that have applied for one of the four aforementioned federal funding sources. She had the statistics on the agencies that had applied for grants and which were allocated funds, the amount and percentage of the funds. When applicants were unable to acquire funding, it was frequently due to common mistakes that Ms. Coles explained. Those common mistakes include: jurisdiction, ineligible activity, an application that was incomplete, financial statements that “don’t add up”, a non-profit that does not show capacity to perform insufficient or funding ‘no match’, and the lack of experience with the proposed activity.
Ms. Coles fielded and answered numerous questions on funding sources and process.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:51 a.m.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
07.25.16
Posted: 3:00 P.M.