HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Annual Action PlanDepartment of Commerce
HOUSING DI~SION
PO, Box200545 * Helena, Montana 59620-0545 * hUp:llc~rnrnercesta~e.ml us
CITY OF LAUREL
Date: September 26, 2002
To: All Parties Interested in the State Consolidated Planning Process
Fm: Leslie J. ~-egcom[~j · .
Consolidated Plan Coordinator
Re: Public Review of the Draft Annual Action Plan, April 1, 2003-March 31, 2004
The Montana Department of Commerce has prepared a draft copy of Montana's Annual
Action Plan for Housing and Community Development. The Annual Action Plan is used to
identify needs and allocate resources to Montana communities and residents for the plan
year from April 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004. The Plan also serves as the annual
application to HUD for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Home
Investment Partnerships (HOME) and the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Programs that
· brought over $13 million to Montana communities last year.
As part of a public participation process, meetings to gather comments, suggestions and
ideas before preparation of the draft plan were held Hamilton on April 16, 2002; Havre on
April 24, 2002; and Miles City on May 7, 2002. Numerous agencies, organizations and
groups have participated in the preparation and presentation of the draft Annual Action
Plan.
The Consolidated Planning process is important for Montana communities. We
encourage your active participation in the review of Montana's draft Annual Action
Plan.
Enclosed is an Executive Summary of the draft Annual Action Plan. The complete draft
Plan and supporting documents will be available after October 1, 2002 on the Montana
Department of Commerce, the Housing Division website at:
http://commerce.state.mt.us/Housing/Hous_Home.html
or the Consolidated Plan website at:
http://commerce.state.mt.us/Housing/Hous_ConsPlan.html
The draft Annual Action Plan will be available after October 1, 2002 and may be
downloaded. Most of Montana's Public Libraries now have Internet access. If you are
unable to access the website, please call (406) 841-2820; TDD (406) 841-2702, and
request a hard copy.
Two on-site I:~blid Review Meetings are scheduled in October 2002, with the public
comment period in'effect until December 18, 2002. A list of times and locations for the
public review meetings is attached. Representatives of State and Local govemment, the
business and nonprofit communities, community advocates, and other concerned citizens
are invited to the meetings.
Persons interested in presenting comments on the Plan may do so by appearing in person
at a public meeting in Billings or Boulder. Written comments can be sent to Leslie
Edgcomb, CP Coordinator, Housing Division, PO Box 200545, Helena, and MT 59620-
0545 through December 16, 2002.
Several~documents were prepared in support of the Annual Action Plan..These documents
are also available on the web sites previously listed. However, if you would like a hard
copy, please call the Housing Division at (406) 841-2820; TDD (406) 841-2702, With a
request. The documents include:
Analysis of Impediments to Fair H0usinq Updated (PDF3
Additional HMDA Analysis of MT Denial Rates, 1993-1998 (PDF~
Economic Benefits of Housinq, Infrastructure & Economic Development
Updated (PDF)
Economic & Demoqraphic Analysis Updated (PDF)
Economic & Demoaraohic Analysis Technical AODendix (PDF')
Housinq Conditions Study, 1999 (PDF~
L:\Consolidated Plan\CP Yr Ending 2004\Public Review Meetings%etter to all interest~d in fi~e CP.doc
PUBLIC INVITATION
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN CITIZEN REVIEW MEETING
Citizens of Montana are invited to attend one of several community meetings being
held October 2002. The purpose of the meeting is to receive comments on the
proposed Annual Action Plan that begins on April 1, 2003. The Action Plan is the
application for access to federal housing funds totaling approximately $13 million
for the Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnerships, and
Emergency Shelter Grants programs.
The Plan sets out a statewide strategy to meet the housing, public facility and
economic development needs of low-income families in Montana. While the Plan
provides statistical information to assist communities in meeting their highest
priority needs, it does not specify highest need at the local level.
Meetings will be held in:
~' Billings Friday 10/11/02
Boulder Tuesday 10/22/02
7:15 - 8:45 a.m.
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Sheraton Billings Hotel
27 North 27th Street
Jefferson High School
312 South Main
For a copy of the draft Annual Action Plan visit our website after October 1, at:
http://commerce.state.mt.us/Housing/Hous_ConsPlan.html
or contact our office at 406-841-2820; TDD 406-841-2702.
Please plan to attend one of the meetings, or mail or fax comments to: Leslie
Edgcomb, Housing Division, Montana Department of Commeme, PO Box 200545,
Helena, MT 59620-0545; FAX 406-841-2821. Written comments are welcome
through December 16, 2002.
Any persons needing reasonable accommodations must notify the Housing
Division at 406-841-2820 before the scheduled meeting to allow for arrangements.
gGUAL HOU~It~G
OPPORTUHIT~
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Each year Montana submits an Action Plan illustrating how community planning and
development resoumes will be utilized to improve communities throughout the State.
The State's goals include: increasing the supply of decent, safe, affordable housing,
especially for Iow- and very Iow*income families and individuals; providing housing for
special needs populations such as the elderly, disabled and homeless; and expanding
economic opportunities in order to improve the living conditions for Iow- and moderate-
income groups. The Action Plan is for the 12-month period beginning April 1,2003. The
Plan, developed with the input of citizens and community groups, serves four major
functions:
It is the State's application for funds available through the three Department of
Housing and Urban Davelopment (HUD) formula grant programs that are
administered by the State of Montana: the Community Development .Block Grant
(CDBG), the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), and the Emergency
Shelter Grant (ESG) programs;
It is the annual planning document, built through public input and participation, for
CDBG, HOME, ESG, and other related Programs;
It lays out the funding resoumes expected, the method of fund distribution and
the actions the State will follow in administering HUD programs; and
It provides accountability to citizens for the use of the funds and allows HUD to
measure program performance.
The Montana Department of Commerce (MDOC) administers the Community
Development Block Grant program, the Home Investment Partnerships program and the
Consolidated Plan. The Department of Health and Human Services administers the
Emergency Shelter Grant Pmgrem.
The State supports the Annual Action Plan with additional documents including the
Montana Economic and Demographic Analysis, updated in Fall 2002. This document
and other studies, 6valuations, and previous Consolidated Plan reports, help
individuals, communities and organizations meet the basic goals of the CDBG, HOME,
and ESG programs, and provide useful information for the public and legislature.
The Annual Action Plan provides details to citizens, public agencies, and other
interested parties on the amount of assistance Montana expects to receive, the range of
activities that may be undertaken, and the general program activities that may be
planned in addressing the priority needs.
CONSOLIDATED PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Updating the Consolidated Plan for housing and community development is an on-going
process. Throughout this process, the State strives to improve the delivery of assistance
to the people of Montana. The State supports policies and programs that support
Montana Department of Commerce DRAFT Annual Action Plan April 2003
i
decent, safe, affordable housing, services for the homeless and other non-housing
community development activities, such as infrastructure enhancement and economic
development. The update process consists of several distinct steps, including:
Advisory and policy formation functions;
Interagency cooperation and coordinatiOn
Consultation and outreach with concerned citizens and organizations;
Public awareness of the citizen involvement process; and
Delivery of Program services.
Advisory and Policy Formation Functions
Throughout the Yea~, MDoc has interacted with °thor agencies and organiZations with
a commitment to better develop housing strategies. MDOC has maintained its
commitment to inform others of their responsibility to participate in the Consolidated
Plan process and to promote affordable housing, infrastructure, and economic
development in local communities. The MDOC supports a broad-based "team"
approach to address affordable housing issues through the formation of the CP Steering
Committee, Housing Coordinating Team, and Housing Working Group. The MDOC has
been a long-standing member of the Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Action
Coordinating Team (W2ASACT), which was formed in 1982 to address infrastructure
issues. These committees and groups continue to provide direction and input to the
Consolidated Plan.
Interagency Cooperation and Coordination
Members of the Consolidated Plan Steering Committee, with representatives from the
HOME, CDBG, ESG and MBOH programs, A.W.A.R.E., Inc., and Fannie Mae's
Montana Partnership Office met repeatedly throughout the plan development process to
review the status of the Action Plan development. In addition, other agencies, such as
the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Montana Department of
Natural Resources and COnservation (DNRC), the Montana Department of P~blic
Health and Human Services (DPHHS) - Intergovernmental Human Services Bureau,
the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DOLl) - Human Rights Bureau were
solicited for input on specific topics contained in the Action Plan and supporting studies.
Consultation and Outreach with Citizens and Organizations
As part of the plan update, numerous outside agencies and individuals were contacted.
Organizations and individuals are encouraged to provide statistics, data, and other
information to aid in preparing the Action Plan and related studies.
Montana Department of Commerce DRAFT Annual Action Plan April 2003
ii
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS IN SUPPORT OF THE PLAN
Development of the Action Plan for Plan:Year beginning April 1, 2003 is based in part,
on current and past reseamh studies and analysis of housing, infrastructure and
economic development needs. An analysis conducted during the current planning cycle
is the Economic and Demographic Analysis of Montana, the Economic and
Demographic Data Book, and the Economic Benefits of MDOC Housing Programs.
Contact the Montana Department of Commeme, Housing Division, 301 South Park
Avenue, P.O. Box 200545, Helena, MT 59620 for information on this and other
publications. Visit the. Housing Division website at:
http://commeme.state.mt.us/Housing/Hous_Home.html
or the Consolidated Plan website at:
http://commeme.state.mt.us/Housing/Hous_ConsPlan.html
FEDERAL RESOURCES EXPECTED
Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
The Community Development Division and the Business Resources Division of the
Montana Department of Commeme administer the CDBG program. For Plan Year
beginning April 1, 2003, the State will receive an estimated $7,858,000* in federal
CDBG funds for award to local governments. Of these dollars, approximately
$2,500,000 will be allocated for economic development projects, which are administered
by the Business Resources Division. Another portion will be allocated for public facility
projects and housing projects, which are administered bythe Community Development
Division.
The CDBG program also anticipates that an undeterminable amount of program income
will be generated. Grantee communities that have an approved CDBG program income
plan are allowed to retain the funds for further CDBG-eligible activities. All program
income is reported to the CDBG program annually. '
Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
The HOME Program, administered by the Housing Division, expects estimated funds of
$4,618,000* for Plan Year beginning April 1, 2003. Funds will be used for developing
affordable housing for persons of Iow- and very-low income.
In addition, the HOME Pregram anticipates that an undeterminable amount of program
income will be generated. Grantees that have a Program Income Plan approved by the
HOME Program are allowed to retain the funds for further HOME eligible activities. All
program income is reported to the HOME Program annually.
Actual funding amounts were not available at the time of publication.
Montana Department of Commerce DRAFT Annual Action Plan April 2003
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Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG)
The Intergovernmental Human Services Bureau of the Montana Department of Public
Health and Human Services (DPHHS) anticipates that $370,000' will be made available
for the ESG program.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC)
The Montana Board of Housing administers the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
Program. The Board receives authority to allocate the tax credit through the Intemal
Revenue Code, Annual estimated authority is $2 million,
· Actual funding amounts were not available at the time of publication.
Montana Department of Commerce DRAFT Annual Action Plan April 2003
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