Under the guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), notice is hereby given that the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will hold a series of public hearings as it develops its new Five Year Consolidated Plan.
The Consolidated Plan is a five-year planning document required by HUD that sets out overall Statewide goals and priorities for housing, community development, and economic development activities. Special emphasis is given under the Plan to provide assistance for extremely low-, low, and moderate-income persons.
The Consolidated Plan also makes it possible for DHCD, public housing authorities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, community action agencies and others to apply for funding under HUD's competitive grant programs. Local public housing authority Plans must be consistent with the State's Consolidated Plan, and USDA Farmer's Home housing programs and Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits are also coordinated with the Plan. Lastly, while not directly covered by the Consolidated Plan, HUD funding allocations for the Section 8 Certificate and Voucher programs may be made in a way that enables jurisdictions to carry out their Consolidated Plan.
In addition to being a planning document, the Consolidated Plan also serves as the State's application to HUD for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG), Housing Opportunity With AIDS (HOPWA) and National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) funds. At this time, it is unknown how much DHCD expects to receive in CDBG funds, HOME funds, ESG funds HOPWA funds for the State's Rural Program; HOPWA funds on behalf of Montgomery and Frederick Counties or HTF funds. These funds are used primarily in the State's rural areas, as many communities, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties, as well as the Cities of Annapolis, Baltimore, Bowie, Cumberland, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Hagerstown and Salisbury prepare their own Consolidated Plans and receive their own funding directly from HUD.
In developing its previous Consolidated Plan, the State determined it would focus its resources on four main priorities Revitalizing Communities, Expanding the Supply of Decent Affordable Housing, Providing Homeownership Opportunities and Reducing Homelessness. It is to this purpose that we are holding public hearings; staff from the above-mentioned programs will be present to hear your thoughts - to develop new goals, change, retain and/or modify the State's previous goals, or develop other policies and procedures affecting housing and community development activities. The State will also be updating its Analysis of Impediments (AI) as part of the Consolidated Plan process.
At this point, nothing has been written for the draft Consolidated Plan. These hearings are to gather initial input from the public about what should be in the new Five-Year Plan. DHCD will then write a draft Plan, which will be released for 30 days of public comment (including written comment) at the beginning of April. After the public has had several weeks to review the draft Consolidated Plan, a second set of hearings will be held in April. Additional comments and suggestions will be received at this time, with the final version of the Plan submitted to HUD on or around May 15, 2020.
The first set of hearings on the development of the new Consolidated Plan will be held at the following dates, times, and places:
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Towson Library
320 York Road
Wilson Room
Towson, Maryland 21204
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 11:30 AM
Caroline County Central Library
100 Market Street
Small Meeting Room
Denton, Maryland 21629
Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 10:30 AM
Fairview Branch Library
Small Meeting Room
Rt. 4 and Chaneyville Road
Owings, Maryland 20736
Friday, January 31 at 1:30 PM
Allegany County Office Complex
701 Kelly Road
Potomac Room
Cumberland, Maryland 21502
All of the hearing rooms are accessible to persons with disabilities. Persons requiring a translator should request one at least three days prior to the hearing they plan to attend. Any questions or comments should be directed to me at the address, phone numbers, or e-mail listed below:
Mrs. Ja'Nai Streat
Senior Housing Policy Analyst
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
7800 Harkins Road
Lamham, Maryland 20706
(301) 429-7445 or Maryland Relay for the Deaf at 1 (800) 735-2258
janai.streat@maryland.gov
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