ATTACHMENT C
Community Development Staff Report
Summary of Comments and Community Development Application Requests
The citizen comments received at the January 31, 2007 public hearing and applications for funding are summarized below. All agencies that requested funding were required to submit an application.
Activities eligible for Community Development funding must meet one of three National Objectives:
· Benefit low- and moderate-income persons; or
· Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight; or
· Treat urgent needs posing an immediate threat to public health and welfare.
Examples of eligible activities include acquisition and/or renovation of property, second mortgage assistance, and site development.
The following comments and applications were considered:
1. Chapel Hill Department of Housing
The Chapel Hill Department of Housing requests $258,800 of Community Development Program funds for the following purposes: $165,000 to pay a portion of the cost to renovate seven apartments in the South Roberson Street public housing community; $61,800 to continue the Five-Year Refurbishing Program to refurbish about 40 apartments; $30,000 to paint the exterior of Trinity Court apartments; and $2,000 to replace playground equipment.
Staff Comment: The preliminary plan matches the requests of $165,000 for the renovation of South Roberso n Street and $2,000 to replace playground equipment. The Town’s public housing is an important source of affordable rental housing and the Town’s investment in this property should be maintained. The refurbishing program currently has a balance of approximately $60,000 which we proposed be used for painting Trinity Court and to supplement next year’s refurbishing expenditures, which currently run about $40,000 per year. Therefore, we recommend $30,000 for the refurbishing program, for a total of $197,000.
2. Orange Community Housing and Land Trust
In its application, Orange Community Housing and Land Trust requested a grant of $200,000 for its Homebuyer Assistance Program for existing Land Trust homes and for homes that will be brought into the Land Trust in the Culbreth Park/Tandler neighborhoods.
Staff Comment: The preliminary plan includes $100,000 for the Land Trust’s Homebuyer Assistance Program. We recommend supporting this program because it helps maintain the Town’s investment in affordable housing.
3. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County
Habitat submitted an application for $150,000 to be used for infrastructure costs for the Purefoy Drive Subdivision located off of Rogers Road. The development comprises about 50 single family homes to be sold to buyers earning between 25 percent and 80 percent of area median income.
Staff Comment: The Town granted approximately $35,000 of 2005-2006 Community Development funds to this project that has not yet been spent. The project timeline indicates that the earliest that funds would be expended for infrastructure is April 2008. Therefore, we recommend that Habitat reapply for funding in the 2008-2009 grant cycle.
4. InterChurch Council Housing Corporation
The InterChurch Council submitted an application for $30,000 - $50,000 for cleaning, resurfacing, and re-striping the parking lot at Chase Apartments, located off U.S. 15-501 in southern Chapel Hill. The apartments were originally funded by HUD and provide rental opportunities to lower-income tenants, including those with Section 8 vouchers.
Staff Comment: Though Chase Apartments provides a valuable rental opportunity to lower-income tenants, given our limited funding we do not feel it is as high a priority as the projects for which we have recommended funding.
A. EmPOWERment Inc./Pines Community Center, Inc.
EmPOWERment and the Pines Community Center requests $220,000 for development costs and a revolving fund to finance the rehabilitation of three houses and the construction of five houses on Park Road in the Pine Knolls neighborhood.
Staff Comment: This application was received after the deadline. The application also did not meet the submission requirements and omitted several key elements requested. Therefore, we do not recommend funding this request at this time.
The use of funds for public service activities is eligible under federal Community Development regulations. Examples of public service activities include programs concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education, fair housing counseling, energy conservation, homebuyer down payment assistance or recreational needs. The amount of Community Development funds used for public services cannot exceed 15 percent of the Town’s Community Development grant ($89,442 in 2007-2008).
In the past, the Council has funded public service projects that support other Community Development objectives and activities, especially public housing and Neighborhood Revitalization. Some emphasis has also been placed on job training for low-income residents. We evaluated the following applications in terms of previous performance and their relationship to other Community Development objectives. In general, we are recommending that some funding be set aside for community services, but that the Council emphasize affordable housing objectives as contained in the Consolidated Plan.
The following agencies submitted applications for Public Service activities:
1. Chapel Hill Police Department
The Chapel Hill Police Department requests $30,000 to continue the Youth Employment Program for youth aged 14-18 living in the Pine Knolls, Northside and public housing neighborhoods. During the summer, approximately 35 youth would work up to 20 hours per week for seven weeks in various Town Departments and local non-profit organizations. Youth would also participate in workshops focusing on financial education and interviewing skills.
Staff Comment: The preliminary plan matches the request for $30,000 for the Youth Employment Program. Based on our monitoring of the program, it has continued to meet its goals by providing valuable work experience for the participants. In post-program surveys, both supervisors and youth report that it was a positive educational and work experience. In addition, the program supports the Town’s current neighborhood revitalization efforts in the Northside, Pine Knolls and public housing communities.
2. Chapel Hill Training Outreach Program
The Chapel Hill Training Outreach Program requests $16,123 of Community Development funds to continue to operate an after-school program at the South Estes Drive public housing community. The Center provides free after school care for about 14 children.
Staff Comment: The preliminary Plan includes $15,000 for this project, maintaining the 2006-2007 level of support. We believe that the provision of after-school services is an important activity and supports the Town’s efforts in providing services to public housing residents. The Town has supported the program since 2003 and it continues to meet its goals by providing quality after school care and academic support for the children.
3. Chapel Hill Carrboro YMCA
The Chapel Hill Carrboro YMCA requests $15,000 to operate an After School Program for youths living in the South Estes Drive and Airport Gardens public housing communities.
Staff Comment: This application was received after the deadline. The preliminary plan includes $14,500 for this request, maintaining the 2006-2007 level of support.
Since 1994, the Town has provided Community Development funds to the YMCA for its After School Program at the Pine Knolls Community Center. In 1999, the YMCA established a similar program for youths living in South Estes Drive public housing community. The program has merged with the YMCA’s existing after school program held at the YMCA facility. In the current year, twelve children are being served by the program. The YMCA continues to operate a program that meets the goals and objectives established by the Performance Agreements.