MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
NOTICE
OF DISPLAY OF DRAFT ACTION PLAN COMMENT PERIOD AND
FINAL PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING
NOTICE OF INTENT TO RELEASE FUNDS (pdf file, requires acrobat reader)
FY 2010 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK PROGRAM
Enclosures
and Other files
The range of activities which may be undertaken with CDBG monies include but are not limited to such things as housing rehabilitation; homeownership assistance; road reconstruction; water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer construction, and handicapped accessibility improvements. The activities are to primarily benefit low-to-moderate income families.
In accordance with the Final
Rule for revised program regulations, 24 CFR, Parts 91, et.al., and the
Millcreek Township Citizen Participation Plan, the Township will conduct a
public hearing to obtain input on how the funds might be utilized. The public
hearing was scheduled for
Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the
hearing. Those unable to attend but who would like to comment may do so by
contacting the Erie County Department of Planning by telephone at
(814) 451-6016 (TDD: 451-6237) between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through
Friday or by writing to the following address: Erie County Department of
Planning, Erie County Court House,
The
Erie County Department of Planning, on behalf of
As
a HUD “entitlement” municipality,
As
one of the agencies which assists residents of
Erie
County Department of Planning
Attn: Joseph Berdis, CDBG Administrator
To
be considered for CDBG funding, an applicant must show that its proposed
Activity is “eligible”, “fundable”, and addresses an identified
community need.
“ELIGIBLE”
ACTIVITY
“Eligible” activities
include, but are not limited to:
- water,
sanitary sewer, and storm sewer construction
- street
reconstruction, and sidewalk/curb replacement
- recreation
improvements
- housing
rehabilitation
- homeownership
assistance
- acquistion
of property
- fair
housing activities
- handicapped
accessibilty improvements
(See Exhibit 1)
“FUNDABLE”
ACTIVITY
“Fundable”
refers to whether the activity meets the National Objective of the CDBG
program of primarily benefiting low-to-moderate income (LMI) persons.
“Primarily benefiting” means that at least 51% of those benefiting from an
activitiy are of low-to-moderate income. HUD permits an “exception” to
this requirement for municipalities that have few, if any, areas within their
jurisdiction having 51% or more LMI residents.
A
“LMI person” is one whose income is no more than 80% of median
income established for the area. This percentage is determined by HUD based on
a four-person family and adjusted upward or downward for larger or smaller
families (See Exhibit 2).
Certain
groups of persons are “presumed” by HUD to be LMI and therefore activities
to assist these persons automatically meet the fundability requirement. Groups
presumed to be LMI include adults with physical disabilities, abused children,
elderly persons, battered spouses, homeless persons, illiterate adults,
persons living with aids, and migrant farmers.
Most projects do not benefit a
“presumed” group of LMI persons, so the applicant has to show that its
project will benefit an area or neighborhood where the concentration of LMI
persons is at least 37.1%. Concentrations
of LMI persons can be determined in one of two ways- HUD Census data and
income surveys. Exhibit 3 and the enclosed Map identifies the total
number and percentage of LMI persons in each of the Township’s census tracts
and block groups. In those cases where a project’s service area does not
coincide with a census area, an income survey may be undertaken to determine
fundability.
IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEED
As
a HUD entitlement community, the Township is required to develop a Five Year
Strategic Plan. This plan provides an assessment of the municipality’s
housing and community development needs and a strategy to address these needs.
The Township’s most recent plan was completed in May 2008 and covers Fiscal
Years 2008 through 2012. Applicants seeking FY 2010 CDBG assistance should
make sure that their proposed project addresses a priority need of the
community as identified in the Plan. (See Exhibit 4).
SELECTION
OF PROJECTS
The
deadline to submit an application to the Erie County Department of Planning
for FY 2010 HUD CDBG funding consideration is
Thank
you for your attention to this matter, Should you have any questions, please
contact Joe Berdis at 451-6016 or jberdis@eriecountygov.org.
Exhibit 1:
Eligible Activity
Categories
|
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITY CATEGORIES
1.
Acquisition of Real Property –Acquire real property in whole or in part by purchase, long-term
lease, donation, etc.
2.
Disposition
–Pay for costs incidental to disposing of real property acquired with CDBG
funds. Disposition costs include
fees paid for: appraisals,
surveys, marketing, legal services, financial services, transfer taxes, and
other costs involved in the transfer of ownership of property.
3.
Public Facilities and Improvements –Acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or
installation of public improvements or facilities (except for buildings for
the general conduct of government). Public
facilities and improvements include, but are not limited to:
water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer facilities; parking areas;
sidewalks and curbs; parks and playgrounds; senior citizen centers.
4.
Privately Owned Utilities
–Acquire, reconstruct, rehabilitate, or install distribution lines and
facilities of privately owned utilities.
5.
Clearance
–Clearance, demolition, removal of buildings and improvements, and movement
of structures to other sites.
6.
Public Services -
Provide public services (including labor, supplies and materials) with the
public service being either a new service or a quantifiable increase in the
level of a service. Public
services include, but are not limited to:
childcare, job training, public safety services, fair housing
activities, etc.
7.
Interim Assistance
–Make limited improvements to a deteriorating area as a prelude to permanent
improvements and also to alleviate an emergency condition which threatens the
publics’ health and safety.
8.
Relocation
–Relocation payments and assistance to displaced persons where required
under Section 570.606 of HUD’s regulations.
9.
Loss of Rental Income
–Pay housing owners for losses of rental income incurred in holding, for
temporary periods, housing units to be used for the relocation of individuals
and families displaced by CDBG – assisted activities.
10. Removal
of Architectural Barriers –Remove material and architectural barriers which restrict the
ability and accessibility of elderly and handicapped persons to publicly or
privately-owned buildings and facilities.
Architectural barrier removal includes the installation of ramps, curb
cuts, wider doorways, elevators, and physical modifications to buildings,
facilities and improvements to make them accessible.
11. Housing
Rehabilitation
–Finance the rehabilitation of any publicly or privately owned residential
property, including the conversion of non-residential property for housing.
12. New
Housing Construction –Finance or subsidize the construction of new permanent residential
structures if the funds are used by the following:
Local Development Company; Small Business Investment Company; or
Neighborhood-based nonprofit organization, for the construction of housing
which the grantee has determined is necessary or appropriate to achieve its
community development activities.
13. Code
Enforcement
–Payment of salaries and overhead costs directly related to the enforcement
of local codes. CDBG funds may be
used for code enforcement only in deteriorating or deteriorated areas where
such enforcement, together with public improvements, rehabilitation and
services to be provided may be expected to arrest the decline of the area.
14. Historic
Preservation
–Rehabilitate, preserve, and restore publicly or privately owned historic
properties.
15. Commercial
or Industrial Rehabilitation –Finance the rehabilitation of commercial or industrial buildings.
16. Planning
and Capacity Building –Pay for studies, analyses, data gathering, preparation of plans and
the identification of actions that will implement plans.
The types of plans which may be paid for with CDBG funds include, but
are not limited to: comprehensive
plans; community development plans; capital improvement programs; functional
plans (such as plans for housing, land use, energy conservation), etc.
17. Program Administration Costs –Pay reasonable program administration costs and carrying charges related to the planning and execution of community development activities assisted in whole or in part with funds provided under the CDBG or Urban Development Action Grants programs.
LOW-TO-MODERATE
INCOME LIMITS
(Effective
March, 2009)
|
1 Person |
$31,800 |
|
2 Persons |
$36,350 |
|
3 Persons |
$40,900 |
|
4 persons |
$45,450 |
|
5 Persons |
$49,100 |
|
6 Persons |
$52,700 |
|
7 Persons |
$56,350 |
|
8 + Persons |
$60,000 |
q
A Low- to-Moderate Income person (LMI) is an
individual whose income is no more than 80% of median income for the area. 80%
of median income is determined by HUD based on a four-person family and is
adjusted upward or downward for larger or smaller families.
q
Median Family Income (MFI) is
an annual income figure. Unlike per capita income, which is an average, the
median income divides income distribution into two equal parts: one-half below
the median income and one-half above. For example, consider five families with
incomes of $10,500, $20,100, $31,000, $40,800 and $50,000. For family average
income, add the five incomes ($152,400) and divide by the number of families
(5). The result is the average of all family incomes considered or a
per-family income of $30,480. The median income for these families would be
$31,000, as there are an equal number of income persons below and above
$31,000. MFI is based on the distribution of the total number of families,
including those with no income.
q
The median family income for a family of four (4) in
q
Section 8 regulations state that all income from all
persons residing in the household be counted when verifying income status.
There are exceptions such as dependent children under the age of 18 who are
working. Sources of income include the following:
- gross amount of wages and salaries
- net income from operation of a business
- interest, dividends and other income from net
family assets
- Social Security (after the deduction of any
Medicare premiums)
- payments in lieu of earnings, such as
unemployment and disability compensation, workmen’s compensation and
severance pay
- public assistance (excluding food stamps)
- alimony
- rental
income
2000 HUD
LOW AND MODERATE INCOME DATA
|
Census
Tract/ Block
Group |
Total
Persons |
Total Low/Moderate Income
Persons |
Percent Low/Moderate Income
Persons |
|
CT
104 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 |
5,148 2186 1130 1832 |
1,597 380 293 924 |
31% 17.4 25.9 50.4 |
|
CT 105 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 |
4,765 1834 1990 941 |
1,960 577 815 568 |
41.1% 31.5 41.0 60.4 |
|
CT
106 BG
1 BG
2 |
1,489 974 515 |
538 342 196 |
36.1% 35.1 38.1 |
|
CT
107 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 BG
4 |
4,090 887 947 1615 641 |
1,339 258 266 551 264 |
32.7% 29.1 28.1 34.1 41.2 |
|
CT
108 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 |
3,686 1603 867 1216 |
1,124 594 201 329 |
30.5% 37.1 23.2 27.1 |
|
CT
109.02 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 BG
4 |
4,373 1097 830 1640 806 |
1,276 396 334 281 265 |
29.2% 36.1 40.2 17.1 32.9 |
|
CT
109.03 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 |
6,229 3331 754 2144 |
1,309 908 74 327 |
21% 27.3 9.8 15.3 |
|
CT
109.04 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 |
3,289 807 1565 917 |
407 26 220 161 |
12.4% 3.2 14.1 17.6 |
|
CT
110.01 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 BG
4 BG
5 |
6,681 1853 1020 1662 832 1314 |
1,789 380 109 385 269 646 |
26.8% 20.5 10.7 23.2 32.3 49.2 |
|
CT 110.02 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 |
3,435 1889 734 812 |
1,297 679 261 357 |
37.8% 35.9 35.6 44.0 |
|
CT
111.01 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 BG
4 |
4,892 531 1767 671 1923 |
865 174 123 127 441 |
17.7% 32.8 7.0 18.9 22.9 |
|
CT
111.02 BG
1 BG
2 BG
3 |
3,178 1403 1065 710 |
933 373 465 95 |
29.4% 26.6 43.7 13.4 |
|
TOTALS |
51,255 |
14,434 |
28.2% |
NOTES:
1) Total persons is not necessarily the total population as based on the 2000 U.S. Census, but the maximum number of persons that have the potential of being classified as low/mod. HUD’s formula for calculating LMI persons includes persons residing in households and excludes persons residing in group quarters. The group quarter population includes persons under formally authorized supervised care or custody such as correctional institutions, nursing homes and juvenile institutions. The group quarter population also includes non-institutionalized persons living in group quarters such as college dormitories, military quarters, and group homes.
2)
HUD has classified any census tract or block group in
5 Year
Strategic Plan
This document includes Narrative Responses to specific questions that grantees of the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS and Emergency Shelter Grants Programs must respond to in order to be
compliant with the Consolidated Planning Regulations.
GENERAL
Executive
Summary
The Executive Summary is required. Include
the objectives and outcomes identified in the plan and an evaluation of past
performance.
5
Year Strategic Plan Executive Summary:
The
Five Year CP for
·
A planning document that enables
the township to view its HUD funding, not in isolation, but as one tool in a
comprehensive strategy to address housing, community development, and economic
development needs.
·
An application for CDBG Program
funds under HUD's formula grant.
·
A strategy document to be followed
in carrying out HUD programs.
·
An action plan that provides a
basis for assessing performance in carrying out use of CDBG Program funds.
Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to address the needs outlined in the
Strategic Plan are anticipated to be approximately $235,000 for each of the next
five years. The three overarching
objectives guiding the proposed activities are:
·
Providing Decent Affordable Housing
·
Creating Suitable Living Environments
·
Creating Economic Opportunities
Outcomes show how programs and activities benefit a
community or the people served. The three outcomes that will illustrate the
benefits of each activity funded by the CDBG program are:
·
Improve Availability/Accessibility
·
Improve Affordability
·
Improve Sustainability
All future activities funded in the next five years
will support at least one objective and one outcome.
The township’s framework for realizing the objectives and outcomes
include the following goals:
·
Provide decent, affordable housing
·
Provide a suitable living environment
·
Expand economic opportunities
·
Increase homeownership
·
End chronic homelessness
During the five year period covered by the
Consolidated Plan,
Housing Needs
1.
Rehabilitation of owner-occupied residential units – Goal: 10 units
Rehabilitation
of renter-occupied residential units – Goal: 10 units
2.
Increase supply of affordable housing –
Goal (rental housing): 30 units
Goal (owner housing): support efforts to expand the supply of homeowner
housing
3. Assistance to
First-Time Homebuyers - Goal:
establish first-time homebuyer program and assist five households
4. Maintain and increase
rental assistance - Goal: (tenant-based
assistance) obtain an additional 40 Section 8 vouchers
Goal: (project-based assistance) support at least one application for a
project-based assistance development
Community Development Needs
1.
Public Facilities
Recreation
– Goal: Improve two parks or other recreation facilities
2.
Infrastructure
Flood
Drain Improvements – Goal: Implement two flood drainage or storm sewer system
projects
Water/Sewer
Improvements – Goal: Replace, reconstruct, improve or extend water/sewer lines
or facilities
Street
Improvements – Goal: Reconstruct or improve two streets
Sidewalk
Improvements – Goal: Construct, reconstruct, or improve sidewalks in two
residential or non-residential areas
Handicap
Accessibility Improvements – Goal: Make accessibility improvements to one
public facility
3. Public Services
Goal: Support the pursuit of funding by local service agencies for the
following types of services or activities: handicap services, homeless services,
youth services, health care services, crime awareness/prevention, employment
training, and fair housing
4. Senior Services
Goal: Assist the establishment of a senior center and/or provide
operating expenses
5.
Economic Development
Goal: Support employment training by the Greater Erie Community Action
Committee or other Entities.
q
Refusing to sell or rent to, deal or negotiate with any person.
q
Discriminating by advertising that housing is available only to persons
of a certain race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or
handicap.
q
Denying that housing is available for inspection, sale or rent when it
really is available.
q
Blockbusting for profit, persuading owners to sell or rent housing by
telling them that minority groups are moving into the neighborhood.
q
Denying or making different terms or conditions for home loans by
financial institutions.
q
Denying to anyone the use of, or participation in, any real estate
service, multiple-list service or other facilities related to the selling and
renting of housing.
Any resident who believes they have been
discriminated against under any of the above conditions may file a complaint
with: