Public Notice for City of Visalia Action Plan

Public Notice for City of Visalia Action Plan

Posted on March 4, 2016

Self-Help Enterprises has been a partner with the City of Visalia since 2011 providing housing services to the citizens of Visalia utilizing HOME and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.  Services have included Housing Rehabilitation, Emergency Repairs, Senior Mobile Home Repair Program, Homebuyer Counseling and Education, Acquisition/Rehabilitation/Resale, and Multi-Family Housing development and revitalization.  The City’s Action Plan identifies the need for such programs and funding and allows the citizens of Visalia to voice their opinions for or against proposed program, as well as other needed services.  It is important that we assist the City in making this information available to those most likely to utilize the services being provided and supports Self-Help Enterprises’ mission to work together with low-income families to build and sustain healthy homes and communities.

The City of Visalia is seeking feedback. The City of Visalia receives federal funds to invest in improving its community. The City of Visalia is seeking comments on a 1) Draft 2015 Substantial Amendment to redirect HOME funds of $127,349, from a recapture program, to Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Acq/rehab Program and Program Policy Amendment; and 2) direct HOME Program Income up to $148,k, to SHE CHDO Highland Gardens to finalize commitment of $1.8M approved last year; and 3)2015 Amendment
redirecting Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds $25k from Housing Rehabilitation and $25,000 from Emergency Rehab Program to the Senior Mobile Home Repair Program; and 4) Proposed 2016 CDBG/HOME Funding as identified in the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan (ConPlan) priority needs, and proposed 2016 Action Plan activities listed below.

5-Year Priority Needs: Based on the Needs Assessment, Market Analysis, and community outreach
conducted in mid-2015, the 2015-2019 ConPlan efforts resulted in the following four goals, which represent high priority needs approved by City Council and HUD, which serves as the basis for the strategic actions the City will continue to take for the use of Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funding:

1. Creation and preservation of decent affordable housing
2. Provide a suitable living environment
3. Promote economic opportunity
4. Provide program administration, planning, and management

Proposed 2016 Action Plan activities: In the Five Year ConPlan Visalia indicated that HOME funds would generally be used for multifamily new construction, scattered site acquisition/rehab of existing rental and ownership properties through the City’s certified Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), down payment assistance and tenant-based rental assistance.

The CDBG program planned priorities identified for the same term is public and park improvements, public services, such as code enforcement, fair housing, voucher program, case management, owner occupied housing rehabilitation, and economic development, specifically repayment of the Section 108 loan. For the 2016 Action Plan, the allocations for Visalia will be $1,116,868 in CDBG grant funds, with estimated $50,000 in program income; and, $368,014 HOME grant funds, with an estimated $200,000 in program income.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, Visalia will fund activities in furtherance of the objectives and priorities identified in the Strategic Plan with the outcome of improving availability, accessibility, affordability and sustainability through activities which benefit the community. The activities for the 2016 FY will support at least one objective and one outcome.

2016 DRAFT Action Plan –Comment Period and upcoming community and City Council Meetings:

The City Of Visalia will receive comments on the Draft Action Plan beginning March 10, 2016 through April 18, 2016.

Visalia City staff invites you to attend one of the community meetings, city council work session, or submit your comments in writing as we develop the HUD 2016 Annual Action Plan, based on the priorities adopted through the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan process. If you are unable to attend you, may submit your comments in writing to Rhonda.haynes@visalia.city.

The Public Hearing for the final 2016 Action Plan will be held on April 18, 2016.

Information will be made available in alternative formats upon request by contacting Rhonda Haynes, Housing Specialist at: Rhonda.haynes@visalia.city and (559) 713-4460. Requests for disability-related modifications or accommodations required to facilitate meeting participation, including requests for auxiliary aids, services or interpreters, require different lead times, ranging up to five (5) business days.
Please keep this in mind and provide as much advance notice as possible in order to ensure availability. Assistive Listening Devices (ALD’s) are available upon request.

The flyer for the Public Notice for City Action Plan can be downloaded here. The Spanish version can be downloaded here.