ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and the Community Development Director with a Request to APPROVE $25,000.00 from the Community Investment Plan (CIP) Housing Programs Project to REBUILDING TOGETHER for Housing Rehabilitation Projects. (City Wide)
Body
BACKGROUND: On November 25, 2015, as a part of the 2015 Community Investment Plan (CIP), the City Council allocated $25,000 for "Housing Programs." This amount of funding on its own is not sufficient to undertake a substantial stand-alone house rehabilitation program. However, used as leverage for an existing program, the $25,000 can be stretched to provide service to a larger number of Peoria residents.
For many years, the Rebuilding Together organization (formally Christmas in April) has received federal funding through the City's allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Although the use of CDBG funds is appropriate and permitted, the federal regulations that are attached to the funds can make their use difficult. Rebuilding Together identified the $25,000 in the CIP and has made a request (see attached letter) to the City to use these funds as match for their private fund raising and in-kind assistance.
Rebuilding Together provides housing rehabilitation assistance to low-income home owners, disabled home owners, and veteran home owners. Their services are provided free of charge and entail a variety of repairs that make houses safe and livable. The goal for 2015 is to provide rehabilitation assistance to ten (10) households.
Over the past 21 years of partnership between Rebuilding Together and the City, over 230 homes have been repaired:
· 132 in the first Council District,
· 39 in the second Council District,
· 57 in the third Council District, and
· 9 in the fourth Council District.
If approved by City Council, Rebuilding Together has pledged to use the $25,000 allocation to endeavor to rehabilitate at least one property in each Council District. Rebuilding Together has agreed to honor this commitment of serving the identified Council Districts until the total $25,000 has been expended. This pledge may carry over to the organization's 2016 programming dependent upon the scope of work and project costs for 2015. Notwithstanding the pledge to serve the identified Council Districts with carry over funds, any remaining funds will be returned to the City after December 31, 2016.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds already allocated for housing programs in the 2015 CIP budget.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: None received. Rebuilding Together has a positive and productive working relationship with neighborhood residents.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Rebuilding Together will be able to leverage awarded funds to provide rehab services to additional homeowners in Peoria with a commitment to endeavor to serve at least one property located in each Council District. Saturday, April 25, 2015 is Rebuilding Together 22nd annual National Rebuilding Day; the organization's largest volunteer day. The approval of these funds will assist with current application intake and prioritization for the 2015 programming.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Rebuilding Together will not receive the $25,000 in CIP Housing Programs funds and another activity will have to be identified.
ALTERNATIVES: NA
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: 02406-151231
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
2. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
3. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Support sustainability.
2. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development