Item 2C: Approval of CDBG and HOME Funding Allocations

Home Browse Search

the 20 single-family lots. In addition, the City will receive $55,000 in program income from the sale of the WOW Hall back parking lot to the Community Center for the Performing Arts. This is a portion of the downtown housing land bank site for the WestTown on 8th project. That project will offer 102 low- income units along with nine live-work units. Staff continues to seek site acquisition opportunities on an ongoing basis. If a site is identified in 2006-07, program income can be used towards the acquisition. There are currently five sites in the landbank program for low-income housing: Willow Creek, County Farm Road, Willakenzie, Westmoreland, and Royal-Danebo. The Royal-Danebo site was offered in the recent Request for Proposals and the recommendation for development will be presented to the City Council on June 12, 2006. Housing Rehabilitation - $250,000 in new grant funds will be allocated next year. These funds will be used with program income of $400,000 to provide low-interest loans through the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program for improvements to residences occupied by low-income homeowners and tenants. Emergency repair loans of up to $5,000 will be provided to very low-income homeowners and grants for accessibility improvements will be made for tenants with disabilities. Public Services Operations - $350,000 in new funds will be used to fund services as selected by the intergovernmental Human Services Commission (HSC). Next year is the second year in the HSC’s two- year funding cycle. Public service funding is capped at 15% of new grant funds and program income from the prior fiscal year. The reduction in overall CDBG funding resulted in a $40,000 reduction in this program area. The HSC is seeking other funding sources to replace this loss. Non-profit Capital Projects - $277,978 in new funds combined with $76,708 in program income will be used to rehabilitate five facilities for four local non-profit service providers. The program income was received from the sale of Centro LatinoAmericano’s Los Unidos Men’s Shelter. CDBG funds were used towards the acquisition of the facility (as a deferred loan) and also funded recent improvements to the kitchen (as a grant to be forgiven over ten years). Unfortunately, the facility closed in January 2006 and grant funds were repaid. Projects recommended for next fiscal year include: ? Head Start of Lane County – The agency will receive $53,000 for roof repair and exterior paint at the former Whiteaker School site located at 21 Grand Street. Head Start provides pre-school classes and parent support services for low-income families. In addition to the Head Start functions at the site, the agency leases space to the Early Childhood Coordinating Agency for Referral, Evaluation and Services (EC-CARES) and The Child Center. These agencies will also benefit from the roofing project. All agencies serve eligible CDBG clientele. Head Start served 160 youth at the Whiteaker location last year. ? HIV Alliance - The agency will receive $69,700 to reconfigure client services space in the recently constructed addition at 1966 Garden Avenue. Confidential meeting spaces, a multipurpose room for client support groups, and a medical examination room will be created. The alliance collaborates with community partners and volunteers to assist and support people facing the challenges of HIV and AIDS. HIV Alliance served 116 clients from Eugene in 2005. ? Looking Glass New Roads Program – The agency will receive $134,308 to upgrade the facility at th 941 West 7 Avenue. The facility houses the drop-in center and service areas for runaway and homeless youth. Last year, the agency served 1,486 youth at the center. The improvements will L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060508\S0605082C.doc