NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Availability of the Draft 2020 Annual Action Plan; Public Hearing
[50 Pa.B. 1395]
[Saturday, March 7, 2020]The Department of Community and Economic Development (Department) announces the availability of the Commonwealth's draft Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Action Plan (Plan). The Plan is submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the annual application for Federal funds administered by the Commonwealth. The HUD funding programs covered by the Plan and administered by the Department are the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs, Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Also covered by the Plan is the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program which the Department administers and the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) which is administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).
This summary is designed to provide an opportunity for citizens, local governmental officials and interested organizations of this Commonwealth to comment about the Plan prior to its submission to HUD. Comments may be electronically submitted to the Department by e-mail to RA-DCEDcdbghomequestions@pa.gov. Written comments should be submitted to Megan L. Snyder, Center for Community and Housing Development, Department of Community and Economic Development, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. Electronic and written comments must be received by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, to be included as testimony in the Plan.
Purpose
The Plan takes the strategy developed in the Consolidated Plan of 2019—2023 and applies it to the administration of the CDBG, HOME, ESG, CDBG-DR, NSP, HOPWA and HTF programs for 2020. HUD must approve the Plan for the Commonwealth to receive funding under the identified HUD programs.
Content
The Plan will include the Methods of Distribution for all Federal programs, as well as the goals and outcomes expected during the 2020 calendar year. Besides the Department's web site http://dced.pa.gov, the approved Plan will be able to be viewed on HUD's web site at https://www.hudexchange.info/consolidated-plan/con-plans-aaps-capers/.
Major changes in the method of distribution for 2020 by program
CDBG—
Entitlement—No changes
Competitive—No changes
CDBG-DR—No changes
HOME—
1. Maximum funding availability varies by HOME eligible activity.
a. Applicants seeking Existing Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation and Homebuyer activities funding will be limited to a maximum of $500,000 as a town, borough or township. Cities and county applicants are limited to $750,000.
b. Applicants seeking rental housing and homebuyer—new construction activities will be limited to a maximum funding request of the per unit subsidy limits for the Metropolitan Statistical Area for the proposed activity.
2. All rental housing applicants must demonstrate matching contributions equal to 25% or greater for all HOME rental projects. Eligible match contributions may include cash contributions from non-Federal sources, value of donated property, forbearance of fees, cost of onsite infrastructure improvements directly required for the HOME-assisted project and other eligible sources more specifically detailed in 24 CFR 92.220 (relating to form of matching contribution).
3. Rental housing developments funded by the Department competitive process will be limited to projects consisting of less than 10 total units. All other rental housing activities, for 10 units and above, may be submitted to the PHFA and following the PHFA's Penn HOMES application process.
4. A Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) can receive up to 50% of its annual operating budget or $50,000, whichever is greater as CHDO operating funds. (Note: The Department's HOME Program has capped all CHDO operating assistance at $100,000 per CHDO Set-Aside project per current round.)
ESG—
1. The Department will limit the percent of funds allocated to emergency shelter activities to 20% of the allocation less Homeless Management Information System and administration.
2. Each applicant must demonstrate coordination of their efforts with the local Continuum of Care priorities.
3. Regional activities must benefit service areas greater than one county.
4. Funding target—housing locator services
Housing locator services focus on services or activities necessary to assist program participants in locating, obtaining and retaining suitable permanent housing and increasing housing stability and self-sufficiency. Services should include: assessment, arranging, coordinating, and housing stability plan development, with an emphasis on acting as a liaison to secure and maintain housing; employment; a connection to mainstream resources and services; coordination with other providers; monitoring of progress; and advocating on behalf of the client. Services should also focus on building a set of supports that can help prevent the recurrence of a housing crisis.
5. The Department will grant award amounts based on the evaluations until all grant funds are awarded. Applicants who have previously returned funds will receive a reduction of 25 points on their application.
6. ESG funds may become available for reallocation as a result of poor grantee performance, voluntary returns, funds returned at the end of the contract period, repayment of ineligible expenses or HUD approved reallocation of expired funds. The Department will utilize its Reallocation Policy to allocate available funds.
HOPWA—No changes
HTF—To Be Determined—Allocations for 2020 have not been released. An amendment to the Plan will be made once that happens and any changes in the method of distribution will be discussed.
Public Review
The Plan is available on the Internet or in hard copy for public comment from March 9, 2020, through April 8, 2020. CD copies of the Plan can be obtained by calling (717) 720-7404.
Written Comments
Comments may be electronically submitted to the Department by e-mail to RA-DCEDcdbghomequestions@pa.gov. Written comments should be submitted to Megan L. Snyder, Center for Community and Housing Development, Department of Community and Economic Development, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. Written comments must be received by 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2020, to be included as testimony in the Plan.
Public Hearing
The public hearing for the Plan will be conducted electronically, by means of the Internet/conference call on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The public hearing by means of the Internet/conference call will be held at 1:30 p.m. and will last as long as there are comments to be received. This more widely available computer access/conference call will replace the onsite public hearing. The format will be more accessible than an in-person meeting because those who wish to make comments or discuss policy may participate directly from their electronic device, telephone or from a computer located at their public library. Interested parties may also attend the public hearing in person at the Department of Community and Economic Development, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA.
Any individual or organization may give testimony or comments by means of the Internet, telephone or hard copy. Comments will be accepted on the content of the Commonwealth's Plan including the various changes to the method of distribution already previously outlined, and the process by which the public input is gathered. The Commonwealth encourages public participation in this process.
There is no registration, but individuals may join the meeting directly using the following methods:
Second Citizen's Public Hearing for the 2020 Annual Action Plan
Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Time: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: The Department's Harrisburg offices or by means of Skype or conference callIndividuals can join the public hearing by going to https://meet.lync.com/pagov/jmichael/TNUMR9VM.
Individuals can join the public hearing by phone at +1 (267) 332-8737. The dial-in number is 834384945#. The conference ID is 834384945.
The hearing will be shortened if there is no one to testify or there is minimal response.
Persons with a disability or limited English proficiency who wish to participate in the public hearing should contact Megan L. Snyder, Department of Community and Economic Development, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225, (717) 720-7404 or TDD at (717) 346-0308 to discuss how the Department can accommodate their needs.
DENNIS M. DAVIN,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 20-336. Filed for public inspection March 6, 2020, 9:00 a.m.]
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