Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
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CHERRY HILL TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOURTH PROGRAM YEAR Cherry Hill Township Department of Community Development 820 Mercer Street Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 91.220(b) ...................................................................................................................... 2 Citizen Participation 91.200 and 91.220(b) ................................................................................................. 6 Resources 91.220(c)(1)) and (c)(2) .............................................................................................................. 9 Annual Objectives 91.220(c)(3) ................................................................................................................... 11 Description of Activities 91.220(d) and (e) ............................................................................................... 13 Geographic Distribution/Allocation Priorities 91.220(d) and (f) .............................................................. 16 Annual Affordable Housing Goals 91.220(g) ............................................................................................ 21 Public Housing 91.220(h) .......................................................................................................................... 21 Homeless and Special Needs 91.220(i) .................................................................................................... 21 Barriers to Affordable Housing 91.220(j) ................................................................................................. 22 Other Actions 91.220(k) ............................................................................................................................ 22 CDBG 91.220(l)(1) ...................................................................................................................................... 27 HOME 91.220(l)(1) .................................................................................................................................... 28 HOPWA 91.220(l)(3) .................................................................................................................................. 28 ESG 91.220(l)(4) ......................................................................................................................................... 28 Monitoring 91.230 ...................................................................................................................................... 28 2013 CDBG Funds Overview ....................................................................................................................... 30 Appendix A: Public Hearing Notices & Resolution Appendix B: CDBG Citizen Participation Plan Appendix C: Needs Worksheets Appendix D: Specific Objectives Appendix E: Goals Appendix F: Project Information Appendix G: Certifications Appendix H: Environmental Review Record Appendix I: Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation Manual Appendix J: Program & Monitoring Manual 1 Annual Action Plan | Cherry Hill Township 2013 Annual Action Plan Fourth Program Year The CPMP Annual Action Plan includes the SF 424 and Narrative Responses to Action Plan questions that CDBG, HOME, HOPWA, and ESG grantees must respond to each year in order to be compliant with the Consolidated Planning Regulations. Narrative Responses ACTION PLAN Annual Action Plan includes the SF 424 and is due every year no less than 45 days prior to the start of the grantee’s program year start date. HUD does not accept plans between August 15 and November 15. Executive Summary 91.220(b) The 2013 Annual Action Plan describes the activities anticipated for the program year beginning July 1, 2013 and ending June 30, 2014 using Federal funds granted to the Township of Cherry Hill by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Anticipated activities described in this report primarily benefit low-income and moderate-income residents of the Township of Cherry Hill, neighborhoods with high concentrations of low-income and moderate-income households, and the municipality as a whole. A complete draft of this report was made available for public review and comment for a 30-day period beginning April 15, 2013 and ending May 15, 2013. The availability of the report was publicly advertised consistent with the provisions of the Cherry Hill Township Consolidated Plan and Citizen Participation Plan. The complete document is available for review at the Cherry Hill Township Department of Community Development, and the office of the Township Clerk. Two (2) public hearings were held on March 25, 2013 and April 15, 2013. Copies of the public notice and other advertisements can be found in Appendix A. Overview. The 2013 Annual Action Plan (Plan) represents year four for the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2010. This Annual Action Plan is Cherry Hill Township’s Department of Community Development’s official application for HUD entitlement grants and proposes programs and services to be funded during the Township’s Fiscal Year FY2014 (also HUD’s Program Year PY2013), which begins July 1, 2013 and terminates on June 30, 2014. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is the only and primary source of Federal program funds for this application. TABLE 1: 2013 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN BUDGET SUMMARY 2013 Annual Action Plan Summary (PY2013/Cherry Hill Township FY2014) Community Development Block Grant $ 322,073.00 CDBG Projected Program Income $ 0.00 TOTAL $ 322,073.00 Cherry Hill Township | Annual Action Plan 2 Annual Objectives & Outcomes. The Township’s primary objectives are to increase the availability, accessibility, and affordability of decent housing, of suitable living environments, and of economic opportunity for low‐ and moderate‐income households within the Township. The Plan identifies programs and activities that will be used toward meeting the Township’s goals. As required by HUD, each activity is linked to one of three (3) Federal program objectives matched with one of three outcomes – availability/accessibility, affordability, and sustainability: OBJECTIVE 1: Decent Housing; OBJECITVE 2: Suitable Living Environment; and OBJECTIVE 3: Economic development. The resulting outcome(s) for the Township’s 2013 Annual Action Plan, described below, fall into one of three (3) outcomes and objectives. The following annual activities that will enable the Township to achieve these outcomes and objectives in PY2013 are listed below: Decent Housing. 2013 Annual Action Plan activities, which facilitate making decent housing more available, affordable, accessible, and sustainable for low‐ and moderate‐income residents include: ‐ Increasing the availability of quality, affordable, permanent, and fair housing to low‐ and moderate‐income families, including minorities; ‐ Retaining the Township’s affordable housing stock; ‐ Assisting homeless persons obtain affordable housing; ‐ Providing affordable housing so that it is accessible and in proximity to job opportunities and employment centers; ‐ Providing housing that conforms to the American Disabilities Act (ADA) that includes structural features and services to enable persons with special needs to live in dignity and independence; and ‐ Increasing the supply of supportive housing. Suitable Living Environment. 2013 Annual Action Plan activities, which help make suitable living environments more available, affordable, accessible, and sustainable for low‐ and moderate‐income residents include: ‐ Improving the safety and livability of neighborhoods; ‐ Eliminating blighting influences and the deterioration of property and facilities; ‐ Increasing access to quality public and private facilities and services; ‐ Reducing isolation of income groups within areas through spatial de‐concentration of housing opportunities for low‐ and moderate‐income persons; ‐ Revitalizing deteriorating neighborhoods; ‐ Restoring and preserving properties of special historic, architectural, or aesthetic value; and ‐ Conserving energy resources and utilizing renewable energy sources. Economic Development/Opportunity. 2013 Annual Action Plan activities, which help increase access to economic opportunity for low‐ and moderate‐income communities include: ‐ Creating, retaining and expanding employment and job training opportunities; and 3 Annual Action Plan | Cherry Hill Township ‐ Encouraging the participation of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) in the contracting for services. Past Performance. Every year, the Township makes a concerted effort to streamline operations, implement best practice policies and procedures, and improve strategies to meet goals and objectives. The activities listed in table resulted in the following accomplishments during the 2012‐2013 Program Year. In addition to the specific outputs outlined below, the collective impact of these activities resulted in substantial improvements to the lives and neighborhoods of low‐ and moderate‐income residents of Cherry Hill Township. TABLE 2: 2012-2013 PROGRAM YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2012-2013 PROGRAM YEAR FY 2012- Accomplishment 5-Year FY 2012-2013 Activity 2013 Unit Goals Accomplishment Goals Removal of Architectural 11 Public Facilities 125 25 18 Barriers Housing Activities 10 Housing Units 5 1 0 Handy Helper 10 Housing Units 200 40 45 Single Family Rehabilitation 10 Housing Units 15 3