Item 25: Reallocation of CDBG-DR Funds to Infrastructure Projects

[COSM_Admin]

Receive a staff presentation and provide direction on whether to bring forward an amendment to the Community Development Block Grant “CDBG” Disaster Recovery Action Plan to cancel the Reimbursement and Rental Rehabilitation programs and reallocate funding to infrastructure projects.

 

[MBaker]

What lessons were learned about why the program failed to attract applicants? How many programs like this do we have that are set up to help those in need but fail to serve their target populations? Are some of these barriers created by the restrictions on the funding itself, and to what degree do we lobby/leverage this data to advocate for reforms?

 

[COSM_Admin]

Response provided by Amanda Hernandez, Assistant Director of Planning & Development Services:
What lessons were learned about why the program failed to attract applicants? There were too many federal restrictions on the funding that discouraged people from applying. For example, a landlord has to agree to rent at a lower than market rate for five years or an owner must have receipts from 2016 to prove when work was completed.
How many programs like this do we have that are set up to help those in need but fail to serve their target populations? These are the only two programs failing to serve their target population. Other programs are serving their target population.
Are some of these barriers created by the restrictions on the funding itself, and to what degree do we lobby/leverage this data to advocate for reforms? Yes, the restrictions on the funding were a barrier. Meetings with HUD occur bi-weekly, and HUD is aware of the difficulties with the programs.