PROPOSED 2024-2025 CD YEAR 50 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

A SUMMARY OF THE CITY OF WATERBURY CONSOLIDATED HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 2024-2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN/ USE OF FUNDS AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024

The City of Waterbury has prepared the City's proposed CD YR 50 (2024-2025) Annual Action Plan. Notice is hereby given that the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) will hold a Public Hearing and public comment period for the proposed plan. This action is undertaken in compliance with federal regulations 24 CFR 91. The Annual Action Plan delineates proposed activities to be funded under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program.

The CD YR 50 (2024-2025) Annual Action Plan identifies how this year’s funds will be used. As HUD has not yet notified the City of its allocations for the upcoming program year, development and draft of the plan was carried out using the following estimated funding amounts based on the 2023-2024 CD YR 49 allocations: $2,133,069 (CDBG), $186,749 (ESG), and $979,755 (HOME). Program income is anticipated to be $2,500 for HOME and $14,000 for CDBG. Further, in accordance with HUD guidance and requirements under Notice CPD-24-01, the City has included contingency provision language in the CD YR 50 Plan which explains how the proposed plan will be adjusted once actual allocations are known. The proposed CD YR 50 (2024-2025) Annual Action Plan is listed below.

A thirty (30) day public comment period will commence on April 1, 2024, and will end May 1, 2024. Drafts of the proposed plan will be available for public review at the Silas Bronson Library, 267 Grand Street; the City Clerk’s Office, 235 Grand Street; and the Office of Community Development, 188 Bank Street. The Plan is also available on the City of Waterbury website a www.waterburyct.org/services/community-development.

Written comments regarding the draft plan may be submitted to the attention of Christopher Bandecchi, Director of Community Development, Office of Community Development, 188 Bank Street, Room 115, Waterbury, CT 06702; or by email to cbandecchi@waterburyct.org.  

Second Public Hearing: Notice is hereby given that the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 5:30 PM for the purpose of receiving public input on the proposed plan. The hearing will be located at City Hall, Veterans Memorial Hall, 2nd Floor, 235 Grand Street. The facility is handicapped accessible. The City will provide interpreters and assistance for non-English speaking, hearing-impaired, or disabled residents upon receiving a request at least four (4) days prior to this hearing date. Contact Nancy Allen at 203-346-3810 ext. 7274 or by email at nallen@waterburyct.org. All interested person(s) are encouraged to participate.

Proposed 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - $2,133,069

Administration & Planning - $426,613

Administration (188 Bank Street): $426,613 - Allocation of 20% CDBG funds to provide for program administration.

Social Service Programs - $319,960

Catholic Charities (965 South Main St.): $7,000- Funds salaries, building facility, and case management at Waterbury Family Center.

Center for Human Development (690 East Main St.): $47,500 – Funds coordinators salary to support the Hospitality Center.

Community Partners in Action (77-79 Bishop St.): $30,000 - Funds case management and other services for Watebury Reentry Welcome Center (RWC).

Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries (770 East Main St.): $57,000 - Funds food, supplies, utilities, and salaries at soup kitchen and food pantry.

Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury, Inc. (267 Grand St.): $7,000 - Funds salaries and expenses of the literacy program.

Manufacturing Alliance Service Corp. (173 Interstate Lane): $55,000 – Funds teachers salaries and expenses for manufacturing trade training.

Safe Haven (29 Central Ave.): $10,000 - Funds utilities and insurance to support services for abused women/children.

Salvation Army (74 Central Ave.): $10,000 - Funds for emergency food pantry case worker salary and food at the Family Service Food Pantry.

Shakesperience Productions, Inc. (117 Bank St.): $10,000 - Funds acting intensive scholarship program for low- and moderate-income students.

Waterbury Senior Shuttle (188 Bank St.): $66,460 - Funds transportation costs for seniors.

Waterbury Youth Service Systems (83 Prospect St.): $10,000 - Funds truancy program salaries for case management for youth who are truant.

WOW-NRZ Association, Inc. (308 Walnut St.): $10,000 - Funds operating expenses of afterschool and summer program at the Community Learning Center.

Relocation Projects - $200,000

Emergency Relocation – Waterbury Development Corporation (83 Bank Street): $200,000 – Funds Emergency Relocation Program which provides assistance to individuals and families displaced by the City’s code enforcement activities. Assistance includes lodging, storage, replacement housing payments, and moving expenses for displaced individuals.

Housing/Rehabilitation Projects - $300,000

Waterbury Emergency Home Repair Program (WEHRP) (188 Bank Street): $300,000 – Funds the City’s new/proposed emergency housing repair program for income-eligible homeowners.

Improvement Projects - $886,496

Park Improvements – Lakewood Park (129 Lakewood Road): $886,496 – Funds will be used to carry out various proposed improvements within the park, including rehabilitation of the carousel pavilion roof supports, rehabilitation of the pathways for ADA access, rehabilitation of the two staircases, rehabilitation of the lake house bathrooms and lifeguard room, and lighting at various locations within the park. Program Income of $14,000, if realized, will also be added.

CDBG Contingency Provision Language:

In the event of a realized increase in the City’s actual 2024-2025 CD YR 50 CDBG allocation, the following project funding will be increased:

·         Waterbury Senior Shuttle (up to the 15 percent cap under 24 CFR § 570.201(e)(1))

·         Administration (up to the 20 percent cap under 24 CFR § 570.200(g))

·         Park Improvements – Lakewood Park (remaining increase)

In the event of a realized decrease in the City’s actual 2024-2025 CD YR 50 CDBG allocation, the following project funding will be decreased:

·         Waterbury Senior Shuttle (by the amount necessary to comply with the 15 percent cap under 24 CFR § 570.201(e)(1))

·         Administration (by the amount necessary to comply with the 20 percent cap under 24 CFR § 570.200(g))

·         Park Improvements – Lakewood Park (remaining decrease)

Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) - $186,749

Administration (188 Bank Street): $14,006 - Allocation of 7.5% of ESG funds for program administration.

Safe Haven (29 Central Ave.): $20,400 – Funds shelter operations for victims of domestic violence.

Salvation Army (74 Central Ave.): $48,094 - $9,800 to fund shelter operations; $27,894 to fund salaries and direct financial assistance related to homelessness prevention services; and $10,400 to fund salaries and direct financial assistance related to rapid re-housing services.

St. Vincent DePaul (114 Benedict St.): $104,249 - $81,849 to fund shelter operations; $22,400 for direct financial assistance related to rapid re-housing services.

ESG Contingency Provision Language:

In the event of a realized increase in the City’s actual 2024-2025 CD YR 50 ESG allocation, the following project funding will be increased:

·         Administration (up to the 7.5 percent cap under 24 CFR § 576.100(c))

·         Any remaining increase to be divided proportionately amongst the components, ensuring compliance with 24 CFR § 576.100(b)(2)

In the event of a realized decrease in the City’s actual 2024-2025 CD YR 50 ESG allocation, the following project funding will be decreased:

·         Administration (by the amount necessary to comply with the 7.5 percent cap under 24 CFR § 576.100(c))

·         Any remaining decrease to be divided proportionately amongst the components, ensuring compliance with 24 CFR § 576.100(b)(2)

HOME Program – $979,755

HOME Funds will benefit low and moderate households, targeted as determined by the City. HOME allocations include the following:

Administration: $97,975 (10%) - funds will be used for administration.

CHDO Set-aside: $146,964 (15%) - funds will be used for CHDO housing development.

Housing Related Activities: $734,816 - funds will be used for housing activities. An estimated $2,500 in program income, if realized, will be put back into the program.

HOME Contingency Provision Language:

In the event of a realized increase in the City’s actual 2024-2025 CD YR 50 HOME allocation, the following project funding will be increased:

·         Administration (up to the 10 percent cap under 24 CFR § 92.207)

·         CHDO Set-aside (up to the 15 percent set-aside requirement under 24 CFR § 92.300(a))

·         Housing Related Activities (remaining increase)

In the event of a realized decrease in the City’s actual 2024-2025 CD YR 50 HOME allocation, the following project funding will be decreased:

·         Administration (by the amount necessary to comply with the 10 percent cap under 24 CFR § 92.207)

·         CHDO Set-aside (decreased to the 15 percent set-aside requirement under 24 CFR § 92.300(a))

·         Housing Related Activities (remaining decrease)

R-A March 29, 2024