City CDBG funding unclear for coming year
Reduction expected
How much funding the city's Community Development Block Grant Program will receive is a good question, given the federal government's sequestration — or mandatory cutbacks.
That doesn't stop the clock's ticking on the preparation of the city's annual CDBG action plan, though, noted Nikki Hoogendoorn, Neighborhood Services specialist.
During a presentation to the Yuma City Council work session Tuesday, she outlined the work that has been done so far on the plan and the timetable for when it needs to be completed.
The final action plan will come before the council for a public hearing and adoption on May 1. Hopefully by then, the city will know how much funding it will receive for the 2013-14 fiscal year, she said. The document is to be submitted to HUD (Housing Urban Development) by May 14 with the funds to become available July 1.
For the current year, the city received $847,269, Hoogendoorn said, adding that the staff anticipates a 10 percent cut in funding for the coming year. In addition, there is estimated program income of $70,000.
Hoogendoorn noted that the amount of funding has been declining over the years and is now at the lowest level the city has received since 1993.
Without knowing the dollars that will be available, a list of recipients for the funding has been compiled and prioritized without any amounts noted.
Congress' primary objective for CDBG is to improve communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate income people defined as $39,350 or less for a family of four.
The 2013 CDBG action plan for Yuma funding priorities for public services include:
• Fair housing — Neighborhood Services
• A Hand Up Foreclosure Prevention — WACOG
• Backpack Program — Yuma Community Food Bank
• Job development for the disabled — Saguaro Foundation
• Jobs preparation — Crossroads Mission
• Employment opportunities — Achieve (formerly Excel)
• Neighborhood outreach — Neighborhood Services.
The priorities for housing and neighborhood revitalization include:
• Home accessibility modifications and emergency repairs — SMILE
• Housing rehabilitation — Neighborhood Services
• Code enforcement/rental inspection — Neighborhood Services
• Tax credit housing support — Neighborhood Services
• Orange Avenue Apartments renovations — Achieve
• Colorado Street Apartments rehabilitation — Housing America
• Voluntary demolition program — Neighborhood Services.
Hoogendoorn said the action plan is the product of considerable community input through public meetings and the participation of the Citizen Advisory Committee that included Paul Gutierrez, Kenneth Ham, Michael Abraham, Stephanie Cabrales, William Casanova and Lynn Dalbey. They come from diverse backgrounds; all but one are graduates of the Neighborhood Leadership Academy.
