Full Text
www.albanyny.gov City of Albany Department of Community Development Albany Community Development Agency 200 Henry Johnson Boulevard, Second Floor Albany, NY 12205-1522 (Tel) [PHONE REDACTED] (Fax) [PHONE REDACTED] Kathy M. Sheehan Mayor Faye C. Andrews Director Substantial Amendment to The City of Albany’s FY2020 Annual Action Plan CDBG-CV, HOPWA-CV and ESG-CV Funds in order to prepare for, respond to and prevent the COVID-19 Pandemic Need for a Substantial Amendment The City of Albany has been notified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it will be receiving a special allocation of funds to prevent, prepare for and respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This funding was approved through the passing of the CARES Act by U.S. Congress and will be provided to the City of Albany in the following amounts, specifically for the city to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. The city has received instruction that it must incorporate the funds into a City of Albany annual action plan. In order, to respond as quickly and accurately as possible to this urgent situation, amending the FY2019 Annual Action Plan (the most recent annual action plan to have previously been approved) will be amended. Expected New Resources The city received notice from HUD on April 2, 2020 that it will receive funds upon submittal and approval of the annual action plan. The funding includes the following categories that were based on the most recent entitlement formula by HUD: CDBG-CV $2,012,600 ESG-CV $1,011,583 HOPWA-CV $100,873 While there have been some waivers and flexibility with the new funding, HUD will still require much of the same documentation of need, national objective, and eligible activities; while benefiting low- and moderate-income people and neighborhoods. Goals and Outcomes The community is experiencing emerging needs and a need for increased services due to conditions that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a community wide survey, the following activities have been identified as critical for the prevention, preparation, and response to COVID-19. As a result of public input, efforts ---PAGE BREAK--- www.albanyny.gov to include childcare availability, access to healthy foods, access to PPE, access to health education, assistance with rent, and access to technology will be emphasized during the identification of specific activities. Additionally, both the process to identify partners and the offering of services will include outreach to under-represented groups and communities. Activities will be refined as needed to appropriately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Activity CDBG ESG HOPWA Public Service activities other than low to mod income housing (food programs, health education/outreach $400,000 $16,000 Public service activity related to the provision of day care/summer programming $300,000 Assistance to small businesses $1,000,000 Rapid Rehousing $200,607 Emergency overnight shelter $433,371 Homeless prevention/rent assistance $250,000 $224,417 $73,520 Outreach $77,320 Admin and Planning $62,600 $75,868 $11,353 Total $2,012,600 $1,011,583 $100,873 Refining of Activities to be Funded Funding applications will be developed to identify specific activities that are needed to address the needs that are being experienced in the community from COVID-19. This will include working with community partners to tailor projects and programs that specifically meet the needs of our community. Should the City receive additional stimulus funding, the community will be notified and updates will be posted on the ACDA website.