by David Dahlbacka in All Ages, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Economy & Poverty, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Housing, Neighborhoods and Squares, Public Health & Safety, Somerville By The Numbers, Special, Transportation
Posted on February 12, 2010 at 9:45 am
| February 18, 2010 | ||
| 6:30 pm |
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Public Hearing for 2010-2011 HUD Action Plan
Thurs. Feb. 18 6:30 PM
Ralph and Jenny Center
9 New Washington St.
Somerville MA (map)
HUD Action Plan Meeting Flier (PDF)
This is a public hearing to begin planning for the 2010-2011 HUD Action Plan. In this plan, the City will identify the uses of HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership grants, and Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG). Possible uses include community and economic development, parks and infrastructure, public services, and housing programs.
This hearing is important because it is a key step toward getting Federal money for improving Somerville.
Persons with disabilities can contact Carlene Campbell at 617-625-6600 x 2615 for accommodation.
For more information, see:
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Attended 2/18/10 public hearing. Schedule for plans, hearings, and RFP proposals set as follows:
* (2/24/10) Draft Consolidated Plan and 1 Year Action Plan Due for Public Review.
* (2/25/10) Requests for Proposals available 8:30 AM at Purchasing Dept. CDBG Program: Bid #10-50 CD, Emergency Shelter: Bid #10-51 CD.
* (3/24/10) Proposals due 11:00 AM.
* (4/1/10) Public Hearing on Action Plan scheduled.
* (4/6/10) Submission to BOA.
* ( 5/14/10) Submission to HUD.
There were presentations on affordable housing and shelter for formerly homeless, as well as on the use of HUD funds for transit-oriented community development. For more, see http://www.whyisthisimportant.net/comingevents/planningandregulatoryactivities.html#HUDActionPlan.
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3/5/10: In response to a resident’s inquiry regarding where we can review the Draft Consolidated Plan and 1 Year Action Plan online (that was stated as due for Public Review by 2/24/10), OSPCD’s Director states:
“Development of that plan has just started. We had the public hearing on February 18th. We hope to have the second public hearing to review the draft plan during the first week in April and it will be put on the website then.”
HUD’s regulations require that the applicant (in this case, Somerville, an Entitlement Community) provide residents with an opportunity to complete a timely review of this plan before it is sent to HUD. Here are the regs, in part:
24 CFR §570.431…
(b) Citizen participation plan. The applicant must develop and follow a detailed citizen participation plan and must make the plan public. The plan must be completed and available before the application for assistance is submitted to HUD, and the applicant must
certify that it is following the plan.
The plan must set forth the applicant’s
policies and procedures for:
(1) Giving citizens timely notice of local meetings and reasonable and timely access to local meetings, information, and records relating to the grantee’s proposed and actual use of CDBG funds including, but not limited
to:
(i) The amount of CDBG funds expected to be made available for the coming year, including the grant and anticipated program income;
(ii) The range of activities that may be undertaken with those funds;
(iii) The estimated amount of those funds proposed to be used for activities that will benefit low- and moderate-income persons…”
At this time, residents can take the opportunity to submit recommendations and bring up concerns that we feel should be addressed within the Draft HUD Plan. Please be sure to review the City’s 5-Year Comprehensive Plan, to see how your recommendations can blend within the existing framework of Somerville’s 2008-2013 HUD ConPlan.
That 5-Year HUD Plan can be reviewed at: http://www.somervillema.gov/Section.cfm?org=OSPCD&page=1309
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I have sent comments regarding the urgent need for the City to address the lack of fair, inclusive and equal opportunities for residents with disAbilities. Individuals with disAbilities over the age of 5 comprise 19.5% of the city’s constituency; and for households below poverty, community members with disAbilities comprise 30.5% of the lowest income constituents in the City.
My comments are online at:
http://www.slideshare.net/eilily/cdbg-complaint-for-somerville-ma-program-year-20102011
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