The Consolidated Plan (Con Plan) is a document designed to help the City of Independence assess affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The Con Plan process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align with HUD’s block grant programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program. The Con Plan is carried out through the City’s Annual Action Plan (AAP), which provides a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Con Plan. The City annually reports accomplishments and progress toward the Con Plan goals in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
The Con Plan is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for funding under its entitlement formula grant programs established through legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990. Under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, jurisdictions that receive federal entitlement funds for housing and community development activities are required to prepare a comprehensive three- to five-year plan for using those funds. The City is required to prepare a five-year plan.
The City is currently an entitlement community for both CDBG and HOME funds with annual allocations based on HUD’s grant formula. A five-year strategic plan has been developed by the City that identifies and prioritizes the future use of the City’s CDBG and HOME funds. The Con Plan covers the timeframe from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026. The FY 2022-26 Consolidated Plan has been prepared to address municipal affordable housing needs, community and economic development needs, homeless issues, the needs of special clients (elderly, disabled persons, victims of domestic violence, persons with HIV/AIDs, unaccompanied youth, migrant/seasonal farmworkers, etc.) and community supportive housing issues/needs.
The five-year plan articulates the affordable housing, supportive housing and homeless needs for the City of Independence in addition to the non-housing, community development needs. The plan also incorporates a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for implementation of relevant programs that include the CDBG and HOME program funds and their proposed expenditure over the ensuing five years in addition to other selected funds being leveraged those identified to address identified priorities. The one-year Action Plan covering FY 2022-23 encompasses specific and detailed expenditures for the first year of the specific implementation of the five-year Consolidated Plan. The FY 2022-26 Analysis of Impediments To Fair Housing Choice incorporates primary and secondary research associated with the analysis of fair housing issues in Independence, and an action plan strategy to address such. Pursuant to applicable federal regulations, the FY 2022-26 Citizen Participation Plan outlines the timing, process and citizen participation procedures the city will undertake in the ensuing five-years concerning input secured, the review and approval of its future Consolidated Plan, Action Plans, CAPERs (Annual HUD Performance Reports) and substantial amendments thereto.
The City followed the required HUD citizen participation process that included:
· Two public hearings were held on November 8, 2021 to solicit input on local needs and resources and on April 6, 2022 to solicit input on the drafts of the FY 2022-26 Consolidated Plan, FY 2022-23 Action Plan, FY 2022-2026 Analysis Of Impediments To Fair Housing Choice and FY 2022-2026 Citizen Participation Plan.
· Surveys in both English and Spanish were prepared and released to solicit input from the public from early December of 2021 through January 1, 2022. Responses were obtained from the general public, housing and social services providers and other key community stakeholders. Survey questions were drawn predominantly from key information sought (priority needs) for the HUD Consolidated Plan/Action Plan as well as regarding information about the incidence of fair housing violations and knowledge of such by the public.
· In addition, consultations with several key stakeholders/entities were undertaken.
A 30-day public comment period for public review of the draft FY 2022-26 Independence Consolidated Plan, FY 2022/22 Annual Action Plan, FY 2022-26 Independence Analysis Of Impediments To Fair Housing Choice and FY 2022-26 Citizen Participation Plan. The 30-day comment period commenced on March 21, 2022 and ended on April 21, 2022. The public meeting dates and comment periods were published pursuant to the currently adopted Independence Citizen Participation Plan and applicable HUD regulation on March 19, 2022.
The Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) seeks to encourage citizen participation in the development and implementation of the Con Plan and the AAP for the CDBG and HOME programs. The CPP is a required component of the Consolidated Plan. This Citizen Participation plan is adopted by the City of Independence with the scheduled adoption of its Five-Year Consolidated Plan. The CPP outlines the criteria and process for implementing and amending the Con Plan and AAP. It specifies when and the timing of legal notices, the number of public hearings, the length of public review and comment and the local approving authority.
It is anticipated the City will receive an estimated $800,000 in CDBG program funds and $465,000 in HOME program funds. In addition, the City seeks to reallocate $138,596.34 of prior year CDBG funds from closed projects and $849.50 of HOME Program Income.
The following programs/projects are recommended for the 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan:
CDBG:
1. Program Administration – $160,000.00 (Cost Center 6601) (20% of allocation)
2. Housing - Property Maintenance Code Compliance – $195,000.00 (Account 6604.5226.102)
3. Minor Home Rehabilitation – $138,596.43 (Account 6604-5226-602)
4. Public Services (social services and assistance programs) – $120,000.00 (15% of allocation) (Cost Center 6603.5226)
5. Public Facility Improvements - $325,000 (Account 008-6600)
HOME
1. Program Administration – $46,533.00 (Cost Center 6802) (10% of allocation)
2. Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) – $69,800.00 (Account 6805.5406.700)
3. CHDO Operating Funds – $23,267.00 (Account 6805.5226.700)
4. Single & Multi-Family Housing Projects $326,349.50 (Account 6803.5406.505)
This ordinance allocates the CDBG and HOME Program funds, authorizes the City to make application to HUD for the available funds and execute a written agreement for the expenditure of these funds, and allows necessary appropriations to be made.