In February, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law. The County of San Luis Obispo is anticipating receiving $855,184 in Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program funds and an additional $559,246 in Community Development Block Grant Funds. HUD's website provides more information about Recovery Act programs. The funds will be awarded to grantees through a public process. Details will be provided when more information becomes available.
Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)
On March 19, 2009, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the notice for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). The notice describes eligible grantees, eligible activities, reporting requirements, and other information for grantees and subgrantees. HUD also created a Q & A document at the Homeless Resource Exchange (HRE) website.
A public hearing was held May 12, 2009 at the Board of Supervisors. The Board approved the substantial amendment to the 2008 Action Plan including the HPRP grant funds. A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued in early summer for non-profits to apply for specific projects.
A copy of the staff report and notice can be found here:
Questions regarding the HPRP funds may be directed to Morgan Torell, Planner III at mtorell@co.slo.ca.us or (805) 781-5113.
Additional CDBG Funds (CDBG-Recovery Act Funds)
On February 17, 2009 the U.S. Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). As a result, on May 6, 2009 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Community Development Block Grant Recovery Act (CDBG-R) Stimulus fund program notice requirements. Under the ARRA, the Urban County of San Luis Obispo will receive a one-time allocation of CDBG-R funds in the amount of $559,246, which will be divided amongst the participating jurisdictions of the Urban County as follows:
Arroyo Grande: $28,255
Atascadero: $49,955
Grover Beach: $32,888
Paso Robles: $74,160
San Luis Obispo: $168,435
County (unincorporated): $205,552
Projects funded with this money must meet all the standard requirements for CDBG, as well as Recovery Act requirements. However, not all CDBG eligible projects may meet the ARRA requirements. Please go to the following HUD webpage for the CDBG-R Notice requirements: http://www.hud.gov/utilities/intercept.cfm?/recovery/cdbg-r-notice.pdf
As the grantee, the County of San Luis Obispo must submit a substantial amendment to the 2009 Action Plan to HUD no later than June 5, 2009 or the County forfeits the award. Due to the urgency to award and spend Recovery Act funds, HUD eliminated the normal funding announcement and significantly reduced local public review and comments periods to 7 days. The County Department of Planning and Building will consider the 2009 CDBG applications or other potential projects that meet the criteria for allocation and expenditure as specified by the Recovery Act and eligibility notice for a funding recommendation. Under these circumstances, the above-mentioned participating cities of the Urban County may elect to receive plan approval from their respective city council, if time allows, or have their city manager submit a funding plan for Board approval. The Substantial Amendment to the 2008 Action Plan will be presented at the June 2, 2009 County Board of Supervisors hearing (click here for a copy of the English hearing notice , en espanol nota de audicion publica ). The draft recommendations will also be presented at the June 2nd hearing (las recomendaciones de financiacion del Plan sera presentado el 2 de junio durante la audicion de los Supervisores del Condado de San Luis Obispo). Copies are available between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday – Friday at the County Department of Planning and Building, 976 Osos Street, Room 300, San Luis Obispo or by calling Tony Navarro, Planner III, (805) 781-5787, tnavarro@co.slo.ca.us .
Purpose of grant funds
Congress intends the CDBG-R funds be primarily invested in economic development, housing, infrastructure and other public facilities activities that will quickly spur further economic investment, increased energy efficiency and job creation or retention. While all activities must be eligible for CDBG, some activities normally eligible for CDBG are unlikely to meet the Recovery Act requirements.
HUD strongly urges grantees to use CDBG-R funds for hard development costs associated with infrastructure activities that provide basic services to residents or activities that promote energy and conservation through rehabilitation or retrofitting of existing buildings. Priority will be given to projects that can award contracts within 120 calendar days of funding availability.
HUD will review each grantee’s submission for completeness and consistency with the National Affordable Housing Act, the Recovery Act and its other requirements and will disapprove incomplete or inconsistent action plan amendments if it determines that the description of activities does not adequately describe how an activity will address the Recovery Act.