BACKGROUND:
Cathedral City is an entitlement city that receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The CDBG program seeks to address the housing and community development needs of low-to-moderate (low-mod) income persons and households in the City.
The City is required to submit a five-year Consolidated Plan (Con Plan) to HUD that outlines the community’s priority needs and establishes goals for the five-year period of the CDBG Program. Additionally, the City is required to submit an Annual Action Plan (AAP) that states how CDBG funds will be allocated for a specific program year. On June 22, 2022 at the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting, a public hearing was held for comments on the Con Plan/AAP. No comments were received, and the Con Plan/AAP were approved by City Council.
DISCUSSION:
During the strategic planning process for the Con Plan/AAP, Cathedral City also prepared an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Report (AI). The City hosted two community meetings on Feb 17th and a focus group meeting on March 23rd.
Additionally a fair housing survey was conducted from December 2021 to the end of January 2022. The input gathered from the meetings and surveys were compiled into the AI. This report examined community demographics, poverty data, housing market, availability of affordable housing, mortgage approval data, and the results of the community needs survey relative to fair housing. A draft of the AI is available as an attachment to this Staff Report. The Fair Housing Choice Report will keep Cathedral City compliant with HUD’s requirement for grantees to affirmatively further fair housing and reduce barriers to housing choice.
The four impediments to fair housing choice were identified as:
•Landlord-Tenant Conflicts
•Limited Disabled Access
•Access to Fair Housing
•Homeownership Opportunities
Cathedral City will work to address these impediments during the five-year Consolidated Plan period by working with Inland Fair Housing Mediation Board (IFHMB) to resolve any resident complaints and to provide educational resources regarding fair housing for residents. IFHMB has been proactive with their Cable Releases on the City website every month.
Additionally, grantees are required to review and update their Citizen Participation Plans. The Citizen Participation Plan serves as a guide to outline how residents and stakeholders can participate during the planning process. It also gives guidance on the City’s process to accept applications from non-profits seeking CDBG funds during each funding cycle. No updates were made at this time.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Per the City’s adopted Community Participation Plan, the AI was made available for thirty (30) days from August 1, 2022 to September 1, 2022. A public notice was published in the local newspaper, The Desert Sun, promulgating the availability of the draft AI. A notice was also posted at City Hall, Cathedral City Senior Center, Cathedral City Library, and Boy’s and Girl’s Club. No comments were received at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommended action will have no immediate fiscal impact for the approval of the AI.