NOTICE OF FUND AVAILABILTY – FY11 ESG SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT
The City of Bridgeport intends to substantially amend its Consolidated Plan for Housing & Community Development (2008-2013) in order to receive the second allocation of funds from HUD for the FY 2011 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program.
The City of Bridgeport has received an additional $82,194 in funding. These funds are to be disbursed locally in accordance with the City’s Citizen Participation Plan as articulated in the Consolidated Plan. Under 24 CFR 576.100, the total amount of the recipient’s grant that may be used for street outreach and emergency shelter activities cannot exceed sixty percent (60%) of the recipient’s fiscal year grant. Forty percent (40%) of the grant must be used for homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services. Additionally, seven and a half percent (7.5%) may be used for administrative activities. HUD has strongly encouraged each entitlement community to focus as much of its new ESG funding as possible on rapidly re-housing individuals and families living on the streets or in emergency shelters.
Completed applications must be delivered to the Department of Central Grants & Community Development at the address identified above before 3:00 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. There are no exceptions to the deadline. Facsimiles will not be accepted as applications received by the Department of Central Grants & Community Development.
Please submit 1 original and 3 copies of completed applications and required documentation to: City of Bridgeport Department of Central Grants and Community Development Attention: Kelly McDermott, Senior Manager for Central Grants &Community Development City Hall Annex, 999 Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 576-8144
CG&CD will host the following application Technical Assistance Session City Hall Annex, 1st Floor Conference Room A & B: Friday, March 2, 2012 from 10AM-12PM.
Comments concerning this substantial amendment should be forwarded in writing to the Department of Central Grants and Community Development. The City of Bridgeport will make accommodations for any person who has a disability, language barrier or any other condition that would prohibit you from applying for this grant or giving comment. Please direct all written comments to: Kelly McDermott, Senior Manager, Central Grants & Community Development, City Hall Annex, 999 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604.
PROGRAM YEAR 38
Central Grants and Community Development is no longer accepting Program Year 38 applications. The deadline for submission was February 10, 2012. The application for Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), Homeless Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA) and HOME Partnership Program applications can be downloaded at the links below:
PY38 CDBG APPLICATION
PY38 HOPWA APPLICATION
PY38 HESG APPLICATION
PY38 HOME PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION
Please call the office 203-576-8144, if you are having trouble downloading the applications.
PROGRAM OVERVIEWS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is authorized under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and was enacted in 1974 under the Housing and Community Development Act or HCDA. The primary objective of Title I of HCDA is the development of viable urban communities. These viable communities are achieved by providing the following, principally for persons of low and moderate income:
• Decent Housing,
• Asuitable living environment, and
• Expanded economic opportunities
To achieve these goals, the CDBG regulations set forth eligible activities and the national objective that each activity must meet. As recipients of CDBG funds, grantees are charged with ensuring these requirments are met.
HOMELESS EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM
The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program is authorized by subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 113711378). The program authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants to States, units of government and territories for rehabilitation or conversion of buildings for use as emergency shelter for the homeless, for the payment of certain expenses related to operating emergency shelters, for essential services related to emergency shelters and street outreach for the homeless and for homeless prevention and rapid re-housing assistance.
In May 2009, President Obama signed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009. The HEARTH Act amends and reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act with substantial changes, including:
• A consolidation of HUD’s competitive grant programs;
• A change in HUD’s definition of homelessness and chronic homelessness;
• An increase in prevention resources; and,
• An increase in the emphasis on performance.
Additionally, on January 4, 2012, the following Program Rules was issued as it relates to the Emergency Shelter Grant Program, establishing new requirements and renaming the program to the Emergency Solutions Grant program (HESG): HOMELESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RAPID TRANSITION TO HOUSING: EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM AND CONSOLIDATED PLAN CONFORMING AMMENDMENTS (24-CFR Parts 91 and 576)
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS
The HOPWA grant is a federally funded program designed to provide States and localities with resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for housing assistance and services for low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The program provides formula-based grants to eligible metropolitan areas and States based on the number of reported cases of AIDS in the area. HOPWA funds may be used to assist all forms of housing designed to prevent homelessness for persons living with HIV/AIDS, including emergency housing, shared housing arrangements, apartments, single room occupancy (SRO) dwellings, and community residences. Appropriate supportive services must be provided as part of any HOPWA assisted housing.
HOME PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
HOME is authorized under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, as amended. Program regulations are at 24 CFR Part 92. HOME is the largest Federal block grant to State and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. Each year it allocates approximately $2 billion among the States and hundreds of localities nationwide.