The Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) requests approval to submit a local action plan to the Texas General Land Office (GLO). This plan will be incorporated into the State of Texas Plan for Disaster Recovery: Hurricane Harvey – Round 1 as a substantial amendment and will serve as the City of Houston’s application for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding.
The GLO has designated the City of Houston to receive a direct allocation of CDBG-DR in the amount of $1,155,119,250.00 to be used for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts primarily related to housing. This direct allocation is based on the unmet needs methodology that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) used to determine the $5,024,215,000.00 allocation to the State of Texas for Hurricane Harvey.
As a result of the direct allocation, the City of Houston is required to develop a local action plan. This local action plan is prescribed by the GLO and includes a local needs assessment, budget, program descriptions, and expenditure timelines for the City’s expected allocation of CDBG-DR funds.
Once the City submits its local action plan to the GLO, the GLO will amend the State of Texas Plan for Disaster Recovery: Hurricane Harvey – Round 1, publish the amendment for public comment, review and incorporate public comments, and submit the amendment to HUD. Once approved by HUD, the City of Houston will execute an agreement with the GLO for the CDBG-DR funds.
HCDD recommends that the City’s estimated allocation of $1,155,119,250.00 in CDBG-DR funds be distributed among the following categories:
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Homeowner Assistance Program
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$385,028,859.00
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Single Family Development Program
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$200,000,000.00
|
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Multifamily Rental Program
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$314,979,000.00
|
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Small Rental Program
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$60,005,000.00
|
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Homebuyer Assistance Program
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$21,315,000.00
|
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Buyout Program
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$40,000,000.00
|
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Housing Administration
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$20,426,557.00
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Public Services
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$60,000,000.00
|
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Economic Revitalization Program
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$30,264,834.00
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Planning
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$23,100,000.00
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Total
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$1,155,119,250.00
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During May and June 2018, HCDD solicited public input in the development of the local action plan through various methods including community meetings, focus group discussions, and a survey. HCDD partnered with a variety of community groups to carry out these community meetings where residents receive information about recovery programs and give input about their disaster recovery related needs and priorities for CDBG-DR funding. Public input for this funding is ongoing and anticipated to continue throughout the summer as program guidelines are developed.
A draft local action plan was posted to allow residents the opportunity to comment before City Council approval. The review period was June 7, 2018 through June 24, 2018.
The Housing and Community Affairs Committee reviewed this item on June 19, 2018.
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Tom McCasland, Director