Executive Summary AP-05 Executive Summary - 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b) 1. Introduction Federal CDBG and HOME funds are intended to provide low and moderate income households with decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities. Eligible activities include community facilities and improvements, housing preservation and rehabilitation, affordable housing development activities, public services, economic development, planning and administration. Mount Vernon’s allocations for FY 2016 are: $1,495,211 of CDBG funds and $371,551 in HOME funds. In addition to the anticipated resources listed below, the City anticipates receiving $1,090,417 in Continuum of Care funds to continue to assist homeless residents by providing housing and supportive services and to prevent homelessness by providing those at-risk of homelessness with supportive services. Funding priorities are based upon the following criteria: Meeting statutory requirements of the CDBG and HOME Programs Meeting the needs of low and moderate income (LMI) residents Focusing on LMI areas or neighborhoods Impacted areas of concentrated minorities or LMI persons Coordination and leveraging of resources Links to ongoing planning activities Response to expressed need Ability to demonstrate measurable progress and success It is anticipated that approximately 43 percent of CDBG funds will be utilized for neighborhood revitalization projects, including affordable housing, code enforcement, program delivery, residential rehabilitation and the commercial sign grant program. Approximately 37 percent will be utilized for public services and economic development, with the remaining 20 percent supporting planning and administration through the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency. In addition, 75 percent of the HOME funds will be used for development and construction of affordable housing units, 15 percent allocated to non-profit Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) and the remaining 10 percent allocated to program administration. A concentration of CDBG and HOME activities are proposed for Census Tracts which are located on the City’s south and west sides where there is a majority concentration of LMI households and the minority concentrations of Black/African American and Hispanic households are highest (>74 percent for Black/African American and 23.0 – 46.5 percent for
Priority Table Program Source of Funds Uses of Funds Expected Amount Available Year 1 Expected Amount Available Reminder of ConPlan $ Narrative Description Annual Allocation: $ Program Income: $ Prior Year Resources: $ Total: $ CDBG public - federal Acquisition Admin and Planning Economic Development Housing Public Improvements Public Services 1,495,211 0 0 1,495,211 4,675,849 Funds to support improvements in Low to Moderate Income (LMI) areas HOME public - federal Acquisition Homebuyer assistance Homeowner rehab Multifamily rental new construction Multifamily rental rehab New construction for ownership TBRA 371,551 0 0 371,551 1,066,521 will be used to assist households at or below 30% and up to 60% AMI for rental housing; and at or below 80% AMI for homeownership opportunities 5 - Expected Resources – Priority Table
Annual Goals and Objectives AP-20 Annual Goals and Objectives - 91.420, 91.220(c)(3)&(e) Summary Information Sort Order Goal Name Start Year End Year Category Geographic Area Needs Addressed Funding Goal Outcome Indicator 1 New Accessible/Supportive Housing 2015 2019 Affordable Housing Special Needs CD target Area Downtown Southside Mount Vernon West Accessible Housing for Seniors/Disabled New Affordable Housing for LMI Households Housing & Services for Persons with HIV/AIDS Services for the Homeless CDBG: $0 HOME: $0 Rental units constructed: 67 Household Housing Unit 2 Affordable Housing 2015 Affordable Housing CD target Area Downtown Southside Mount Vernon West Accessible Housing for Seniors/Disabled New Affordable Housing for LMI Households Housing & Services for Persons with HIV/AIDS Services for the Homeless CDBG: $49,281 HOME: $334,396 Rental constructed: 149 Household Housing Unit 3 Economic Development 2015 2019 Non-Housing Community Development CD target Area Downtown Southside Mount Vernon West Employment/Job Training Services for the Homeless CDBG: $254,473 Public service activities other than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit: 100 Persons Assisted
4 Neighborhood Revitalization 2015 2019 Non-Housing Community Development CD target Area Downtown Southside Mount Vernon West Employment/Job Training Streetscape/Commercial Facade Improvements Housing & Services for Persons with HIV/AIDS Services for the Homeless CDBG: $675,610 Public service activities than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit: 100 Persons Assisted Facade treatment/business building rehabilitation: 8 Business Rental units rehabilitated: 70 Household Housing Unit Homeowner Housing Rehabilitated: 5 Household Housing Unit Housing Code Enforcement/Foreclosed Property Care: 80 Household Housing Unit 5 Program Administration 2015 2019 Affordable Housing Public Housing Homeless Special Needs Non-Housing Community Development CD target Area Downtown Southside Mount Vernon West Accessible Housing for Seniors/Disabled New Affordable Housing for LMI Households Residential Rehabilitation Employment/Job Training Streetscape/Commercial Facade Improvements Housing & Services for Persons with HIV/AIDS Services for the Homeless CDBG: $515,847 HOME: $37,155 1 Other
Continue to invest Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in public service activities such as education, media outreach, child care, job training, youth services, etc. Work with service provider(s) and developers to foster economic development programs that provide employment and training opportunities for City residents. Work with the business community to foster relationships and to encourage them to train and hire low and moderate income individuals from underserved areas. Discriminatory Lending Policies and Practices Work with service provider(s) to provide workshops to educate the public, lenders and real estate agents. Support housing counseling services and financial education sessions in Mount Vernon on a regular basis. Hold at least one City Hall meeting to discuss issues related to fair housing, including education efforts and outreach. Discussion AP-85 Other Actions – 91.220(k) Actions planned to address obstacles to meeting underserved The City will continue supporting and coordinating assistance among advocacy groups providing services to the underserved non-homeless special needs population: Youth Programs – including after school, summer and recreation programs, are needed. Particularly those that focus on STEM and help students identify and prepare for higher education or the workforce. While there are some free or low cost recreation programs
Due to limited funds available through CDBG and scarce local funds, the City relies on the County to address abatement of lead-based paint in Mount Vernon’s aged housing stock. Buildings and properties identified as potential hazards are referred to the County of Westchester Department of Health or to the Westchester County Department of Planning-administered Lead Safe Westchester program for appropriate action. Actions planned to reduce the number of poverty-level families Mount Vernon’s anti-poverty strategy centers on creating jobs for low-income residents through economic development activities, expanding City-run job training programs and enhancing connections to County-wide employment services such as those available through the Westchester County Office of Workforce Investment. Actions planned to develop institutional structure The major gap in the institutional delivery system remains the scarce financial resources and limited staff to effectively operate service programs and projects. The City will continue to coordinate with all stakeholders and leverage all funding sources to minimize gaps in the institutional delivery system. Actions planned to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies The Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency (URA) in conjunction with Mount Vernon Department of Planning and Community Development facilitates regular meetings of service providers to oversee strategy implementation and to ensure coordination of efforts at the local level. Discussion