20200513-2B: Recommendations on Draft Amendments for HUD Consolidated Plan and Citizen Participation Plan for Coronavirus Response — original pdf

Recommendation

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200513-2B Date: May 13, 2020 Subject: Draft amendments for the FY 2019-24 Consolidated Plan, FY 2019-20 Action Plan and Citizen Participation Plan. Recommendation: FY 2019-24 Consolidated Plan and FY 2019-20 Action Plan The CDC supports the proposed amendments to the FY 2019-24 Consolidated Plan and FY 2019- 20 Action plan with the additional recommendation to clarify language around the proposed allocation for homelessness to indicate the amount of funding that will go toward homelessness prevention versus homelessness intervention with a preference of more funding going toward homelessness prevention, and to ensure some portion of the funds are designated for artists and musicians. Vote: A motion to approve the recommendation above for the proposed amendments to the FY 2019-24 Consolidated Plan and FY 2019-20 Action Plan was approved on Commissioner Motwani’s motion, and Commissioner Paup’s second, on a 9-1-1 vote with Commissioner Mejia voting to abstain and Commissioner Sloan voting nay. Recommendation: Citizen Participation Plan The CDC supports the proposed amendments to the Citizen Participation Plan under the condition that there is a good faith effort made by the City of Austin to engage the community when decisions related to federal funding are on a compressed timeline. Vote: A motion to approve the recommendation above for the proposed amendments to the Citizen Participation Plan was approved on Commissioner Mejia’s motion to approve and Commissioner Paup’s second for a unanimous vote. Absent: Commissioners Fadelu, Tolliver, Delgado Date of Approval: May 13, 2020 Attest: CDC Chair, Joe Deshotel 1 of 1 Draft Funding Recommendations for U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Coronavirus Response City of Austin I May 13, 2020 Recommendations for use of CDBG-CV funds: ● Approximately $2.6 million for emergency rental assistance for low- and moderate- income households impacted by the economic impacts of COVID-19 lasting no more than three consecutive months. ● Approximately $1 million for the child care workforce to sustain jobs necessary for the response to coronavirus, avoid job loss caused by decreased enrollment of children in child care; incentivize overnight and weekend child care for essential workers by providing short-term working capital assistance to small businesses to enable retention of jobs held by low- and moderate-income persons; respite care for children whose parents or guardians are hospitalized or quarantined; and health and safety supplies needed for child care programs to operate during COVID-19 pandemic. ● Approximately $1 million for homelessness assistance to prevent, prepare for, and mitigate the economic effects of Coronavirus. Recommendations for use of ESG-CV funds: ● Approximately $2.3 million for homelessness assistance and to procure goods and services to prevent, prepare for, and mitigate the economic effects of Coronavirus. Recommendations for use of HOPWA-CV funds: ● Approximately $270,000 for services for the HOPWA program, including payments for short-term rent, mortgage and utility assistance, tenant based rental assistance, hotel/motel voucher assistance, permanent housing placement, facility-based housing, master leasing, supportive services, and housing case management. Note: The funding proposals reflect staff recommendations to address community needs responsive to COVID-19. Recommendations as to how best to fund these proposals may change based on funding availability from a range of sources to address these community needs. The City of Austin continues to explore funding sources that can align with community needs responsive to COVID-19.