City Council Agenda Report
December 3, 2024
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Alex Hamilton, Interim Director of Community Development Bethani Cardenas, Housing Manager
Rosio Medina, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT: ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING CHOICE AS PART OF THE 2025-2030 CONSOLIDATED PLAN PROCESS FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUNDS
Background:
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) are funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To receive and implement these federal grants, the City is required to develop an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) and 5-Year Consolidated Plan (ConPlan) every five years.
The AI is a critical component of the ConPlan and required by HUD regulations. This report identifies barriers to fair housing within Norwalk and outlines actions to address these issues.
The report is used to promote fair housing and equal opportunities in housing and community development programs. The 5-Year ConPlan is a comprehensive planning report that the City must prepare and submit to receive federal funding, such as CDBG and HOME funds. This report outlines the City’s priorities and goals for housing and community development needs over a five-year period.
The purpose of this item is to adopt the AI to comply with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 24 Part 91. The City must certify that they will affirmatively further fair housing and take appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments, as identified in the AI report.
City Council December 3, 2024
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Page No. 2 1 0
7 4
Process and Timeline
The AI and ConPlan process includes community outreach, development of the AI, development of the ConPlan, and then implementation of federal grants through the Annual Action Plan (AAP) and Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER).
The City has conducted intensive outreach through the following strategic methods:
•Community Surveys: from May 1, 2024, and ending October 15, 2024. The survey gathered information from the public about community needs, priorities, and housing discrimination issues. There was a total of 449 responses received. •Community Meetings: on June 6, 2024. Residents were invited to attend in-person meetings to learn about the AI and ConPlan and types of programs that can be funded through federal funds. Residents were asked to identify neighborhood needs and priorities. There were two (2) community meetings held at the Norwalk Senior Center and at the Social Services Center.
•Stakeholder Interviews: from June 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024. These interviews engaged local partnerships who had first-hand experience to gather valuable insight. Seven (7) stakeholders, who had valuable experience and expertise, were interviewed. •Housing Summit: on September 25, 2024. This event addressed key topics, including fair housing law and discrimination, supportive services, and affordable housing developments for agencies involved on a local and county level. •Public Meeting: on November 14, 2024. A public meeting on the AI was held at the City Council Chambers to receive input from the community.
After the adoption of the AI, the City will begin developing the 2025-2030 ConPlan and Annual Action Plan. The 2025 Annual Action Plan Notice of Funding Applications was released November 12, 2024, with a submittal date of December 13, 2024. The Social Services Commission will review and provide recommendations by February 6, 2025. The recommendations will be presented to City Council through a Study Session in mid-February.
The City is required to hold two public hearings in relation to the 2025-2030 ConPlan which will be held in March 2025 and May 2025. The final submittal date for the 2025-2030 ConPlan and Annual Action Plan to HUD is May 15, 2025.
Fiscal Impact:
The CDBG and HOME programs are funded solely by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
City Council December 3, 2024
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Page No. 3 1 0
7 4
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council adopt the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice to be in compliance with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development rule 24 Code of Federal Regulation 91.
Attachments:
1. Draft City of Norwalk Analysis of Impediments 2025-2030
2. Draft Community Engagement Summary