6098116 Housing and Community Development, Department of - Open Forum and Public Hearing - FY2016 – FY2020 Five-Year Consolidated Plan, First Year Annual Action Plan, and FY2017 National Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

NOTICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT

 

OPEN FORUM AND PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

 

 Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Housing Finance Agency - 815 Florida Avenue, NW

Open Forum: 5:00pm - 6:15pm

Public Hearing: 6:30pm

 

FY2016 – FY2020 Five-Year Consolidated Plan

 First Year Annual Action Plan

FY2017 National Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan

 

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is seeking public input on draft priority needs, strategies, and projects laid out in the Five Year Consolidated Plan, First Year Annual Action Plan, and National Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan. The City anticipates receiving roughly $250 million from five federal resources between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2021. These documents serve as the District of Columbia’s strategic plan and application for the following federal resources:

·         The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is the District’s most flexible funding resource and can be used for both housing and non-housing activities, including those that revitalize neighborhoods, promote economic development, and improve community facilities, infrastructure and services in low-moderate income communities. DHCD anticipates receiving $13.7 million each year.

 

·         The HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program supports building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent, homeownership, or provides direct rental assistance to low-income residents. DHCD anticipates receiving $3.7 million each year.

 

·         The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program provides funding for programs and service supporting homeless individuals and families to engage homeless individuals to help operate shelters, provide essential services to shelter residents, rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families, and prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless. The Department of Human Services (DHS) administers this program and anticipates $1.2 million each year.

 

 

·         The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program makes grants to the District and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The Department of Health (DOH) administers this program and anticipates $11.17 million. HOPWA funds are distributed to the entire Washington, DC Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area- District of Columbia, counties in Northern Virginia, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s Counties, Maryland and parts of West Virginia).

 

·         The National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) supports the production, preservation, rehabilitation, and operation of housing affordable to extremely low-income households earning less than 30 percent of the area median income. DHCD anticipates receiving $3 million per year.

 

DHCD is the lead agency responsible for the submission of the Consolidated Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which is updated every five years. The strategies outlined in the plan are a result of substantial consultations and input from the public, including an online survey, four “Needs Assessment” hearings, a public forum, focus groups with service providers and community-based organizations, and consultations with other DC government agencies.

In addition to the Plan, the District is required to complete two reports on an annual basis before funds can be spent. The first is the Annual Action Plan, which specifies one-year planned use of grant funds, including project- and program-level information. All activities must tie back to the priorities and goals outlined in the five-year plan. The second report is the National Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan, which specifies allocation priorities and guidelines for use of the National Housing Trust Fund.

 

An open forum and hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 815 Florida Avenue NW (Housing Finance Agency) to provide an opportunity for the public to receive information related to the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, and Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan and offer comments in person prior to the submission of these documents to HUD. The open forum will be held between 5pm and 6:15pm for the community to engage with DHCD staff freely and provide comments. The public hearing will start at 6:30pm.

 

Draft versions of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan, First Year Annual Action Plan, and National Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan are available for public review and comment for a minimum of 30 days, pursuant to the District’s Citizen Participation Plan. An online copy is available on DHCD’s homepage at http://dhcd.dc.gov and is available for review at the Department’s office at 1800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020 in the Housing Resource Center. Additionally, copies will be available for review at the following community-based organizations:

AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street NW [phone]	Central American Resource Center 1460 Columbia Road  NW, #C1 [phone]	Greater Washington Urban League, Inc. 2901 14th Street NW [phone]	Housing Counseling Services, Inc. 2410 17th Street NW, Suite 100 [phone]
Latino Economic Development Center 641 S Street NW [phone]	Lydia’s House 4101 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SW [phone]	Manna, Inc. 828 Evarts Street NE [phone]	MiCasa 6230 3rd Street NW [phone]
University Legal Services 220 I Street NE, Suite 130 [phone]	University Legal Services 3939 Benning Road, NE [phone]	University Legal Services 1800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE [phone]

 

Pursuant to the Language Access Act of 2004, the Executive Summary, Table of Contents, and Notice of Community Engagement Events will be translated into the following six languages: Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Amharic. Translated versions will be available on DHCD’s website no later than Friday, July 1, 2016.

 

Written comments on the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, and Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan can be submitted one of two ways – via email to [e-mail] or by mail to Polly Donaldson, Director, DC Housing and Community Development, 1800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020. Written comments may be submitted any time between the publication date and Wednesday, August 10, 2016.

 

Telecommunications Device for the Deaf relay service is available by calling [phone]. A sign language interpreter will be provided upon request by calling [phone] five days prior to the event date. Residents who require language interpretation should specify which language (Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese-Mandarin/Cantonese, Amharic, or French). Interpretation services will be provided to pre-registered persons only. Deadline for requesting services of an interpreter is five days prior to the event date. Bilingual staff will provide services on an availability basis to walk-ins without registration.