2021-2022 Annual Action Plan Substantial
Amendment 2021-01
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Community Planning and Development Programs
Planning and Development Department
Housing and Community Development Division
2600 Fresno Street, Room 3065
Fresno, CA 93721
559-621-8300
[email protected]
April 21, 2022
2021-2022 Annual Action Substantial Amendment 2021-01
April 21, 2022 Page 2 of 8
Summary
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) of 2021 into law allocating $1.9 trillion in relief to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, public health, State and local governments, individuals, and businesses. Congress appropriated $5 billion in ARP funds through the HOME Investment Partnership program to perform four activities that must primarily benefit qualifying individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in other vulnerable populations. The City of Fresno (City) is eligible for nearly $12 million in HOME-ARP funds.
As a federal entitlement community that receives annual allocations of federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City is required to prepare an Annual Action Plan detailing the uses of entitlement funds to meet its affordable housing and community development goals as outlined in its Consolidated Plan. For program year 2021-2022, the City is proposing to make a substantial amendment to its submitted plan. The purpose of the substantial amendment is to accept and program HOME-ARP funds to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 among Fresno residents who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of experiencing homelessness, or in other vulnerable populations.
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by the President on March 27, 2020, HUD has issued guidance modifying citizen participation requirements for supplemental coronavirus relief funds (CV funds) for substantial amendments during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The City modified its Citizen Participation Plan on February 18, 2021 through Substantial Amendment 2019-06 to reduce the minimum public comment period to 5 days for all COVID-19 Substantial Amendments or Substantial Amendments made during a declared COVID-19 State of Emergency.
On April 21, 2022, the City published Substantial Amendment 2021-01 to the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan for 15-day public comment period to conclude on May 6, 2022
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This is a draft document that has been made available for public review and comment.
The Public Comment Period will begin April 21, 2022 and conclude on May 6, 2022. Residents are encouraged to submit comments by one of the following methods:
Submit Comments by Mail:
City of Fresno
Planning and Development Department
Attn: Housing and Community Development Division
2600 Fresno Street Room 3065
Fresno CA 93721
Submit Comments by Email:
[email protected]
Please include “2021-01 Substantial Amendment” in the subject line Submit Comments by Phone:
559-621-8300
Submit Comments by TTY:
559-621-8721
Submit Comments by Fax:
559-457-1579
Submit Comments by Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BT3NMPX
Residents may also submit comments during a May 26, 2022, Public Hearing at approximately 10:00 A.M., prior to City Council consideration of the Plan. For participation instructions, visit https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and select the agenda for the May 26, 2022 meeting. For additional accommodations, please contact the office of the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650 or [email protected] at least three business days prior to the meeting.
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Sources of Funds
Table 1 - Source of Funds
Entitlement
Grant
Program
Year Activity Name Source Funding
HOME-ARP 2021 Activities to benefit qualifying populations impacted by COVID-19 $11,922,873
Total Sources to Be Programmed $11,922,873
Eligible Activities
Development and Support of Affordable Housing
HOME-ARP funds may be used to acquire, rehabilitate, or construct affordable rental housing primarily for occupancy by households of individuals and families that meet the definition of qualifying households. Unlike the regular HOME Program, which targets HOME-assisted rental units based on tenant income, 70 percent of all HOME-ARP units will admit households based only upon their status as qualifying households.
Eligible HOME-ARP rental housing includes, but is not limited to, manufactured housing, single room occupancy (SRO) units, and permanent supportive housing. Emergency shelters, hotels, and motels (including those currently operating as non-congregate shelter), facilities such as nursing homes, residential treatment facilities, correctional facilities, halfway houses, and housing for students or dormitories do not constitute housing in the HOME-ARP program. However, HOME-ARP funds may be used to acquire and rehabilitate such structures into HOME-ARP rental housing.
Providing Supportive Services
Funds may be used to provide a broad range of supportive services to qualifying individuals or families as a separate activity or in combination with other HOME-ARP activities. Supportive services may include:
1. The costs of child care for program participants, including providing meals and snacks, and comprehensive and coordinated developmental activities.
2. The costs of improving knowledge and basic educational skills.
3. The costs of establishing and/or operating employment assistance and job training programs, including classroom, online and/or computer instruction, on-the-job instruction, services that assist individuals in securing employment, acquiring learning skills, and/or increasing earning potential. The cost of providing reasonable stipends to program participants in employment assistance and job training programs.
4. The cost of providing meals or groceries to program participants.
5. Costs of assisting eligible program participants to locate, obtain, and retain suitable housing.
6. Fees charged by licensed attorneys and by person(s) under the supervision of licensed attorneys, for advice and representation in matters that interfere with a qualifying individual or family's ability to obtain and retain housing.
7. The costs of teaching critical life management skills that may never have been learned or have been lost during the course of physical or mental illness, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, substance abuse, and homelessness. These services must be necessary to assist the program participant to function independently in the community.
8. Direct outpatient treatment of mental health conditions that are provided by licensed professionals.
9. Direct outpatient treatment of medical conditions when provided by licensed medical professionals.
10. The costs of activities to engage qualified populations for the purpose of providing immediate support and intervention, as well as identifying potential program participants. 2021-2022 Annual Action Substantial Amendment 2021-01
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11. Substance abuse treatment services designed to prevent, reduce, eliminate, or deter relapse of substance abuse or addictive behaviors and are provided by licensed or certified professionals.
12. Transportation costs.
13. The costs of assessing, arranging, coordinating, and monitoring the delivery of individualized services to meet the needs of the program participant(s).
14. Mediation between the program participant and the owner or person(s) with whom the program participant is living, provided that the mediation is necessary to prevent the program participant from losing permanent housing in which the program participant currently resides.
15. Credit counseling and other services necessary to assist program participants with critical skills related to household budgeting, managing money, accessing a free personal credit report, and resolving personal credit problems.
16. Costs of liaison services between property managers/owners and program participants.
17. Services for special populations, such as victim services. The term victim services means services that assist program participants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking including services offered by rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters, and other organizations with a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking
18. Payment to housing owners, utility companies, and other third parties for rental application fees, security deposits, utility deposits, utility payments, moving costs, first and last month’s rent, and/or payment of rental arrears.
19. Short-term (up to 3 months) or medium-term (3 to 24 months) financial assistance for rent, provided that the total financial assistance provided, including any pre-payment of first and last month’s rent as described above, does not exceed 24 months of rental payments over any 3-year period.
Acquisition and Development of Non-Congregate Shelter Units A non-congregate shelter (NCS) is one or more buildings that provide private units or rooms as temporary shelter to individuals and families and does not require occupants to sign a lease or occupancy agreement.
HOME-ARP funds may be used to acquire and develop HOME-ARP NCS for individuals and families in qualifying populations. This activity may include but is not limited to the acquisition of land and construction of HOME-ARP NCS or acquisition and/or rehabilitation of existing structures such as motels, hotels, or other facilities to be used for HOME-ARP NCS. HOME-ARP funds may not be used to pay the operating costs of HOMEARP NCS. Consequently, the City must consider the availability of ongoing operating funds for the HOME-ARP NCS so that the HOME-ARP NCS can remain viable through the restricted use period.
Administration and Planning
The City may expend, for payment of reasonable administrative and planning costs, up to 15 percent of its HOME-ARP allocation. Reasonable costs include costs related to program management, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the program; staff overhead costs of the City directly related to carrying out a HOME-ARP project; providing information and other resources to residents and citizen organizations participating in the planning, implementation, or assessment of projects being assisted with HOME-ARP funds; activities to affirmatively further fair housing; indirect costs under a cost allocation plan; preparation of the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan; costs of complying with the applicable Federal requirements.
Funds available under the HOME-ARP appropriation for administration and planning may not be used to pay costs attributable to the regular HOME Program.
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Uses of Funds
The City is proposing to program HOME-ARP funding for the development of affordable rental housing, supportive services, the acquisition and development of non-congregate shelter, and administration and planning.
Table 2 - Uses of Funds to Be Programmed
Entitlement
Grant
Program
Year
Action
Plan
Project
IDIS
Activity
ID
Number
Activity Name Proposed Funding
HOME-ARP 2021 TBD TBD Development of Affordable Rental Housing $5,011,481 HOME-ARP 2021 TBD TBD Supportive Services $3,111,481
HOME-ARP 2021 TBD TBD Acquisition and Development of Non- Congregate Shelter $2,011,481
HOME-ARP 2021 TBD TBD Administration and Planning $1,788,430 Total Uses of Programmed Funds $11,922,873
Integrated Data and Information System (IDIS) Project Information Table 3 - IDIS Project Information
IDIS Field IDIS Entry
Program Year 2021
Project ID No. 19
Project Name Development and Support of Affordable Housing Target Area Citywide
Goals Supported Safe and Affordable Housing
Needs Addressed Affordable Housing
Funding HOME-ARP: $5,011,481
Description Funds will be loaned to local affordable housing developers to support the development of affordable rental housing projects for qualifying populations.
Target Date December 31, 2025
Goal Rental Units constructed: 60
Location Description To Be Determined
Planned Activity Development of Affordable Rental Housing
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IDIS Field IDIS Entry
Program Year 2021
Project ID No. 20
Project Name Supportive Services
Target Area Citywide
Goals Supported Homeless and Homelessness Prevention
Needs Addressed Homelessness
Funding HOME-ARP: $3,111,481
Description Funds will be used to provide supportive services to qualifying populations.
Target Date September 30, 2030
Goal People assisted: TBD
Location Description Citywide
Planned Activity Supportive Services
IDIS Field IDIS Entry
Program Year 2021
Project ID No. 21
Project Name Acquisition and Development of Non-Congregate Shelter Target Area Citywide
Goals Supported Homeless and Homelessness Prevention
Needs Addressed Homelessness
Funding HOME-ARP: $2,011,481
Description Funds will be used for the acquisition and/or development of non-congregate shelter units for qualifying populations.
Target Date 12/2024
Goal 700 persons assisted
Location Description Citywide
Planned Activity Acquisition and Development of Non-Congregate Shelter
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IDIS Field IDIS Entry
Program Year 2021
Project ID No. 22
Project Name HOME-ARP Administration and Compliance
Target Area Citywide
Goals Supported Compliance
Needs Addressed Programmatic Compliance
Funding HOME-ARP: $1,788,430
Description Grant administration to plan, implement, and assess projects; monitor programs and projects; and comply with all applicable regulations.
Target Date September 30, 2030
Goal Not applicable.
Location Description 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721 Planned Activity Program Administration and Compliance