That the Community Services Commission approve funding recommendations for CDBG funds for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.  The Committee’s funding recommendations will be forwarded to City Council along with staff’s recommendations for review during the Public Hearing.

The City of La Habra’s Community Development Department accepted proposals/applications for the use of the 2023-2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The interested agencies submitted written proposals/applications for the implementation of programs that comply with Federal regulations relative to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended that meet one of the three National objectives:

1. To benefit very low, low, and moderate-income persons in La Habra
2. To aid in the prevention or elimination of slum and/or blight
3. To meet community development needs having a particular urgency (i.e. health and safety issues, natural disasters)
On January 11, 2023 applicants were invited to give a three-minute presentation on their request for CDBG funding before the Commission.

The City Council will conduct a public hearing on April 17, 2023 on the draft 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan. The actions of the City Council will be forwarded to HUD.

Applications

The following applications were submitted for FY 2023-2024:

Public Service Activities (Limited to a 15% cap) 

Project Name:                         Graffiti Removal
Amount Requested:               $75,000
Amount Recommended:       $62,000

The program is intended to provide La Habra residents and businesses a graffiti free environment and a positive community image. The program removes graffiti from public property to discourage further graffiti, maintain property standards and prevent neighborhood degradation.

Project Name:                       La Habra Community Employment Program
Amount Requested:             $15,000
Amount Recommended:     $10,000

The Employment and Training Division of the Community Services Department provides a service to connect La Habra residents to training and greater employment opportunities as well as La Habra businesses to qualified, pre-screened applicants.

Project Name:                        Children’s Museum Sponsorship Program (new request)
Amount Requested:             $ 4,000
Amount Recommended:     $ 4,000

Program will provide memberships to low-and-moderate income La Habra families. It will enhance educational outcomes for the underserved of the Child Development program and the community.  The program will provide parents with tools to use at home to help the at-risk children learn and thrive in their early years of education.  

Project Name:                       Fair Housing Foundation  
Amount Requested:             $9,000
Amount Recommended:     $9,000

Fair Housing is mandatory for jurisdictions receiving CDBG funds. There are regulations and requirements of fair housing and equal opportunity laws applicable to CDBG projects.  To comply, the grantee (City of La Habra) must adhere to all the tenets of fair housing and equal opportunity regulations. Fair housing and equal opportunity laws are like an umbrella, intended to protect individuals from discrimination in housing, employment, through business opportunities such as contracting, or through other benefits created by CDBG projects.


Project Name:                       Mercy House
Amount Requested:             $10,000
Amount Recommended:     $ 9,500

Homelessness has become a continuous issue in our community.  Mercy House has been successful the past four (4) FY’s in providing emergency shelter and services to homeless individuals from La Habra.

The City received five (5) program requests from three (3) agencies/departments for use of CDBG Public Services funds totaling $113,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024.  Staff is recommending the funding of five (5) projects. The CDBG proposals include activities and projects such as: Fair Housing services (mandatory for jurisdictions that receive CDBG funds), graffiti, homeless services and an employment program.  HUD regulations mandate expenditure limits to a 15% cap of the entitlement for Public Services. The CDBG program year 2023-2024 expenditure cap for Public Services is $94,500.  These are anticipated total estimates and project amounts may be adjusted up or down, once HUD releases final numbers.  Due to limited funding, not all requests can be accommodated (see attached Summary with staff’s recommendations for Public Services). 

No fiscal impact the General Fund. The City of La Habra’s CDBG Public Services (limited to 15% cap) amount for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 will be approximately $94,500.