CPWD Update

Federal funds should not ignore access

Neighborhood Stabilization Program and Affordable, Accessible, Integrated Housing.

1/14/2009

By: Steve Gold

Last July, Congress appropriated $4 billion to States and local governments as "emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes." HUD has issued its Guide to Eligible Uses of these funds, which include: purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed homes and the purchase and rehabilitation of homes and residential properties that have been abandoned or foreclosed on, "in order to sell, rent, or redevelop such homes and properties." There are a number of other uses as well.

With regards to "affordable," one requirement for use of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program is that "not less than 25% of these funds are to be used for the purchase and redevelopment of abandoned or foreclosed upon homes or residential properties that will be used to house individuals or families whose incomes do not exceed 50% of area median income." That's a minimum of $1 billion and it could be all $4 billion.

Housing activities include "acquisition, rehabilitation, rental, sale, conversion, and construction of housing units and homeowner assistance."

With regards to "accessible," clearly this is "federal financial assistance" so that the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act apply. At the minimum, 5% of the units should be rehabilitated and/or constructed to be accessible for people with mobility impairments.

Applicants for these funds are the same public recipients of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Each State has such an agency for small cities and rural areas and most relatively large cities and counties are such recipients.

Advocates:

Whether or not your CDBG agency will apply for these funds and whether they will request these funds for the above housing activities depends on your influence! You must be talking with these agencies and making your demands known. You must be telling these agencies that if you needs are not being met, you'll oppose their application for any funds.

Whether the housing is use for "rental" vs "sale" vs other uses depends on what the CDBG agency wants it to be used for. What do the advocates want?

Do you need rental and/or purchase low income accessible units below 50% of the area median income? How far below 50%? Remember that SSI is less than 20% of the area median income, so a CDBG applicant better state this in its application.

Will your local and state agency target any of these funds for people whose incomes are at 20%? Target for rental purposes? For home purchases?

How will you ensure that accessibility is in fact complied with?

You have a choice: sit on the sidelines or be part of the game.

-- Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues http://www.stevegoldada.com

Federal funds should not ignore access
Neighborhood Stabilization Program and Affordable, Accessible, Integrated Housing.
1/14/2009 By: Steve Gold
	Last July, Congress appropriated $4 billion to States and local governments as "emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes." HUD has issued its Guide to Eligible Uses of these funds, which include: purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed homes and the purchase and rehabilitation of homes and residential properties that have been abandoned or foreclosed on, "in order to sell, rent, or redevelop such homes and properties." There are a number of other uses as well. With regards to "affordable," one requirement for use of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program is that "not less than 25% of these funds are to be used for the purchase and redevelopment of abandoned or foreclosed upon homes or residential properties that will be used to house individuals or families whose incomes do not exceed 50% of area median income." That's a minimum of $1 billion and it could be all $4 billion. Housing activities include "acquisition, rehabilitation, rental, sale, conversion, and construction of housing units and homeowner assistance." With regards to "accessible," clearly this is "federal financial assistance" so that the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act apply. At the minimum, 5% of the units should be rehabilitated and/or constructed to be accessible for people with mobility impairments. Applicants for these funds are the same public recipients of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Each State has such an agency for small cities and rural areas and most relatively large cities and counties are such recipients. Advocates: Whether or not your CDBG agency will apply for these funds and whether they will request these funds for the above housing activities depends on your influence! You must be talking with these agencies and making your demands known. You must be telling these agencies that if you needs are not being met, you'll oppose their application for any funds. Whether the housing is use for "rental" vs "sale" vs other uses depends on what the CDBG agency wants it to be used for. What do the advocates want? Do you need rental and/or purchase low income accessible units below 50% of the area median income? How far below 50%? Remember that SSI is less than 20% of the area median income, so a CDBG applicant better state this in its application. Will your local and state agency target any of these funds for people whose incomes are at 20%? Target for rental purposes? For home purchases? How will you ensure that accessibility is in fact complied with? You have a choice: sit on the sidelines or be part of the game.