FY 2018 Year 35 CAPERCAPER 1
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
CR-05 - Goals and Outcomes
Progress the jurisdiction has made in carrying out its strategic plan and its action plan. 91.520(a)
This could be an overview that includes major initiatives and highlights that were proposed and executed throughout the program year.
The City of Northampton's Community Development Block Grant Program carried out it's 35th year of operation from July 1, 2018 to June 30,
2019. Through a variety of sub-recipient grantee activities, Northampton residents with low and moderate incomes benefited from services that
contributed to their health and well being. Additionally, because the City updated it's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Plan, entitled "
Unlocking Opportunity - An Assessment of Barriers to Fair Housing in Northampton" during this time period, citizen outreach efforts and input
was vastly increased.
Brainstorming sessions with a myriad of community stakeholders, focus groups with people with lived experience, public hearings and meetings
with hard working City boards and committees, were all efforts that contributed to a year full of valuable idea exchanges and dialogue. The
Valley Community Development Corporation opened the doors of the Lumber Yard Apartments, welcoming 55 families to affordable living in
Northampton, during which time they also began renovating the Sergeant House SRO (31 SRO units: 16 new) on Bridge Street. Valley also
partnered with The Community Builders to put forth funding applications for 65 affordable rental units at Village Hill and Dial/Self moved ahead
on the final construction of 4 units for unaccompanied homeless youth (total 8).
Homeowners continued to participate in the City's Housing Rehabilitation Program to remediate code violations. Habitat for Humanity finished
the final home in the Verona/Garfield neighborhood, as well as launching construction of 4 additional Habitat homes on Glendale Road.
Assistance was provided to those seeking small business development skills, and handicap accessibility was enhanced at a former school building
that houses Community Action's Head Start program. Down payment assistance grants were provided to eligible applicants able to find and
purchase homes in the City. 13 public service agencies were supported, including the two emergency shelters for those experiencing
homelessness.
For a small program, it packs a big punch annually, impacting a variety of aspects of community development. The Mayor's Office was honored
to have partnered with so many amazing people and organizations as they worked to accomplish so much this past year and every year.
Comparison of the proposed versus actual outcomes for each outcome measure submitted with the consolidated plan and
CAPER 2
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
explain, if applicable, why progress was not made toward meeting goals and objectives. 91.520(g)
Categories, priority levels, funding sources and amounts, outcomes/objectives, goal outcome indicators, units of measure, targets, actual
outcomes/outputs, and percentage completed for each of the grantee’s program year goals.
Goal Category Source /
Amount
Indicator Unit of
Measure
Expect
ed –
Strateg
ic Plan
Actual
–
Strateg
ic Plan
Percent
Comple
te
Expect
ed –
Progra
m Year
Actual
–
Progra
m Year
Percent
Comple
te
Addressing Basic
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public service
activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 15000 16151 107.67
%
3000 4693 156.43
%
Addressing Basic
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public service
activities for
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Househol
ds
Assisted
0 0
CAPER 3
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Addressing Basic
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homeless Person
Overnight Shelter
Persons
Assisted 0 0
Affordable
Homeownership
for Families
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public service
activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 0 0
Affordable
Homeownership
for Families
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homeowner
Housing Added
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
14 0 0.00%5 0 0.00%
CAPER 4
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Affordable
Homeownership
for Families
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homeowner
Housing
Rehabilitated
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0 0 0
Affordable
Homeownership
for Families
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Direct Financial
Assistance to
Homebuyers
Househol
ds
Assisted
15 11 73.33%5 2 40.00%
Affordable
Homeownership
for Families
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Buildings
Demolished Buildings 0 0 0 0
CAPER 5
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public service
activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 175 1184 676.57
%
700 423 60.43%
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public service
activities for
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Househol
ds
Assisted
0 0
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Facade
treatment/business
building
rehabilitation
Business 0 0 0 0
CAPER 6
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Jobs
created/retained Jobs 25 45 180.00
%
10 10 100.00
%
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
Economic
Development/Inc
ome
Maximization
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Businesses assisted Businesse
s Assisted 50 80 160.00
%
15 23 153.33
%
Elimination of
Slums and Blight
Elimination of
Slums and Blight
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Rental units
constructed
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
CAPER 7
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Elimination of
Slums and Blight
Elimination of
Slums and Blight
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Buildings
Demolished Buildings 1 0 0.00%1 0 0.00%
Homelessness
Prevention
Homeless
Non-Homeless
Special Needs
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public service
activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 0 0
Homelessness
Prevention
Homeless
Non-Homeless
Special Needs
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homelessness
Prevention
Persons
Assisted 550 1018 185.09
%
0 0
CAPER 8
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Homelessness
Prevention
Homeless
Non-Homeless
Special Needs
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
HIV/AIDS Housing
Operations
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
22 22 100.00
%
Housing for At-
Risk and Special
Needs
Populations
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Rental units
constructed
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
17 102 600.00
%
0 0
Housing for At-
Risk and Special
Needs
Populations
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Rental units
rehabilitated
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0 0 0
CAPER 9
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Housing for At-
Risk and Special
Needs
Populations
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homeowner
Housing Added
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0 0 0
Housing for At-
Risk and Special
Needs
Populations
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homeowner
Housing
Rehabilitated
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0 0 0
Housing for At-
Risk and Special
Needs
Populations
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Housing for
Homeless added
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
8 8 100.00
%
8 4 50.00%
CAPER 10
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Housing for At-
Risk and Special
Needs
Populations
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Housing for People
with HIV/AIDS
added
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0 0 0
Housing for At-
Risk and Special
Needs
Populations
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
HIV/AIDS Housing
Operations
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
22 22 100.00
%
22 22 100.00
%
Housing for At-
Risk and Special
Needs
Populations
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Buildings
Demolished Buildings 1 0 0.00%
CAPER 11
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Housing
Rehabilitation
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homeowner
Housing
Rehabilitated
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
20 10 50.00%6 4 66.67%
Housing Support
Services
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/ CPA: $
Public service
activities for
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Househol
ds
Assisted
0 0
Housing Support
Services
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/ CPA: $
Homelessness
Prevention
Persons
Assisted 200 243 121.50
%
45 153 340.00
%
Improvement of
Public Facilities
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public Facility or
Infrastructure
Activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 2040 8312
407.45
%
1500 3075 205.00
%
CAPER 12
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Improvement of
Public
Infrastructure
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public Facility or
Infrastructure
Activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 1500 1500 100.00
%
Improvement of
Public
Infrastructure
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public Facility or
Infrastructure
Activities for
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Househol
ds
Assisted
1400 1400 100.00
%
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Public Facility or
Infrastructure
Activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Public Facility or
Infrastructure
Activities for
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Househol
ds
Assisted
0 0
CAPER 13
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Public service
activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Public service
activities for
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Househol
ds
Assisted
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Facade
treatment/business
building
rehabilitation
Business 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Brownfield acres
remediated Acre 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Rental units
constructed
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Rental units
rehabilitated
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Homeowner
Housing Added
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
CAPER 14
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Homeowner
Housing
Rehabilitated
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Direct Financial
Assistance to
Homebuyers
Househol
ds
Assisted
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Tenant-based rental
assistance / Rapid
Rehousing
Househol
ds
Assisted
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Homeless Person
Overnight Shelter
Persons
Assisted 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Overnight/Emergenc
y
Shelter/Transitional
Housing Beds added
Beds 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Homelessness
Prevention
Persons
Assisted 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Jobs
created/retained Jobs 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Businesses assisted Businesse
s Assisted 0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Housing for
Homeless added
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
CAPER 15
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Housing for People
with HIV/AIDS
added
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $HIV/AIDS Housing
Operations
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Buildings
Demolished Buildings 1 0 0.00%
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $
Housing Code
Enforcement/Forecl
osed Property Care
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0
Planning and
Administration
Program
Administration CDBG: $Other Other 14500
0 84750 58.45%4200 25757 613.26
%
Preservation of
Existing
Affordable Rental
Stock
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Rental units
rehabilitated
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0 15 0 0.00%
CAPER 16
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Preservation of
Existing
Affordable Rental
Stock
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homelessness
Prevention
Persons
Assisted 1521 1521 100.00
%
Preservation of
Existing
Affordable Rental
Stock
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Other Other 0 0
Rental Housing for
Families
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Rental units
constructed
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
58 58 100.00
%
55 55 100.00
%
CAPER 17
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Rental Housing for
Individuals
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $
Rental units
constructed
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
28 28 100.00
%
86 0 0.00%
Rental Housing for
Individuals
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $
Rental units
rehabilitated
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
0 0 16 0 0.00%
Rental Housing for
Individuals
Affordable
Housing
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $
Housing for
Homeless added
Househol
d
Housing
Unit
22 0 0.00%
Support for
Emergency
Shelter System
Homeless
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Public service
activities other than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 0 298 0 298
CAPER 18
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Support for
Emergency
Shelter System
Homeless
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Homeless Person
Overnight Shelter
Persons
Assisted 1400 911 65.07%300 298 99.33%
Support for
Emergency
Shelter System
Homeless
CDBG: $
/
Continuu
m of
Care: $ /
CPA: $ /
ESG: $ /
HOPWA:
$
Overnight/Emergenc
y
Shelter/Transitional
Housing Beds added
Beds 0 0 0 0
Table 1 - Accomplishments – Program Year & Strategic Plan to Date
Assess how the jurisdiction’s use of funds, particularly CDBG, addresses the priorities and specific objectives identified in the plan,
giving special attention to the highest priority activities identified.
The City's use of CDBG funding continued to address a variety of community development components. Creating affordable housing and
providing housing support services were a focus this past year as the City continued to fund and advocate for those resources. With the recent
completion of LIVE 155, which added 70 units, 48 of which are affordable and the opening of 55 new units at the Lumber Yard Apartments this
spring, 125 new apartments were created in the downtown. The first floor businesses add vibrancy to the entrance corridor and the residents
bring vitality to the commercial district. Dial Self is completing the second phase of their 8 unit development for unaccompanied homeless
CAPER 19
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
youth, Valley CDC is moving ahead with projects that will create more rental units. What we do not have in the inventory is Safe Havens and
Housing First units and city staff is working with the Department of Mental Health to address this high priority need. CDBG funds were used to
support the housing projects, the emergency shelter system, and address basic needs such as food security and housing stabilization services.
CDBG funds were allocated to a cross section of eligible activity areas, timeliness deadlines for expenditures were met and agencies successfully
carried out their scopes of services.
CAPER 20
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
CR-10 - Racial and Ethnic composition of families assisted
Describe the families assisted (including the racial and ethnic status of families assisted).
91.520(a)
CDBG
White 7,045
Black or African American 695
Asian 316
American Indian or American Native 40
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0
Total 8,096
Hispanic 1,509
Not Hispanic 6,587
Table 2 – Table of assistance to racial and ethnic populations by source of funds
Narrative
The above table does not include the following racial and ethnic compositions: American Indian or
Alaskan Native/White; Asian/White; Black African-American/White; American Indian/Alaskan Native/
Black African-American; Asian/Pacific Islander; and other multi-racial categories. These compositions
comprised an additional 769 individuals of whom 178 were of Hispanic ethnicity.
In total, 8,864 people benefitted from services funded in this program year, 1,509 of whom identified as
Hispanic.
The recently completed update to the City's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, entitled "
Unlocking Opportunity - An Assessment of Housing Choice in Northampton" provides extensive data
regarding ethnic and racial demographic information and analysis. Funded by the City, the project was
overseen by the Northampton Housing Partnership with consultant services provided by the Pioneer
Valley Regional Planning Commission. Extensive outreach was undertaken. This analysis will be
compared to the CDBG program participant descriptions and outreach methodologies and program
designs will be examined to insure CDBG resources are reaching those most in need of them.
CAPER 21
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
CR-15 - Resources and Investments 91.520(a)
Identify the resources made available
Source of Funds Source Resources Made
Available
Amount Expended
During Program Year
CDBG public - federal 1,044,312 555,903
Continuum of Care public - federal 334,210 334,210
Other public - federal 225,000 225,000
Table 3 - Resources Made Available
Narrative
The "other" category is composed of Community Preservation Committee funding awards, which are
locally generated tax dollars allocated to projects. Eligible project categories include recreation, historic
preservation, affordable housing and open space. During this last program year, the Dial/Self Teen
Housing Program was awarded $75,000 and the Village Hill Affordable Housing Project was awarded
$150,000.
Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments
Target Area Planned
Percentage of
Allocation
Actual
Percentage of
Allocation
Narrative Description
No geographic
Priorities Designated 100
Programs are delivered city wide or
in specific project locations.
Table 4 – Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments
Narrative
The City has not designated any HUD defined target areas. All public service activities, as well as the
Housing Rehab program, First Time Homebuyer program and Micro-Business assistance programs are
available to all income eligible Northampton residents city-wide.
CAPER 22
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Leveraging
Explain how federal funds leveraged additional resources (private, state and local funds),
including a description of how matching requirements were satisfied, as well as how any
publicly owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that were used to address the
needs identified in the plan.
CDBG allocations for public services are very small amounts, compared to the overall agency
budgets for the participating organizations. Awards range from $3,000 - $11,000. In most cases,
agencies use their CDBG award to indicate City support in order to leverage larger funding
awards from other entities.
The Dial/Self Teen Housing Program leveraged $65,000 of CDBG funding and $275,000 CPC
funding to secure $200,000+ from private foundations and over $500,000 of private donations
raised through a capital campaign. An additional foundation request will be made to get them
over the finish line.
The Valley Community Development Micro-Business Assistance Program received $5,000 from
the Florence Savings Bank, $20,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Growth Capital
Corporation and $5,000 from Cap 1. The $150,000 dollar CDBG commitment for the Sergeant
House SRO renovation and expansion leveraged $6,300,000 comprised of $4,875,525 of Low
Income Housing Tax Credit equity, $200,000 from the MA Affordable Housing Trust fund,
$485,000 from the MA Housing Innovations Fund, $603,235 fromt the MA HIF 1 and HIF 111
Subordinate debt programs, $239,000 from the Consolidated Facilities Fund for the Department
of Mental Health units, $500,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, $350,000 from
the local Community Preservation Committee and $15,000 from a Kuehn Grant.
Both LIVE 155 and the Lumber Yard Apartments were twenty million dollar projects that utilized
a variety of State funding sources as well as the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Smith
College also made a contribution to the Lumber Yard project, as part of a development
agreement made years ago when Smith removed market rate affordable housing from the
community for campus expansion.
The land that Habitat for Humanity just completed their 5th home on in the Verona Garfield
neighborhood, was land donated by the City, as is the current project under construction on
Glendale Road. The City has successfully partnered with Habitat on several limited development
projects over the years. There are plans to continue to do so in the future, on Laurel Street and
Burts Pit Road, if the City can secure ownership of these two parcels from the State.
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CR-20 - Affordable Housing 91.520(b)
Evaluation of the jurisdiction's progress in providing affordable housing, including the
number and types of families served, the number of extremely low-income, low-income,
moderate-income, and middle-income persons served.
One-Year Goal Actual
Number of Homeless households to be
provided affordable housing units 14 14
Number of Non-Homeless households to be
provided affordable housing units 115 115
Number of Special-Needs households to be
provided affordable housing units 20 20
Total 149 149
Table 11 – Number of Households
One-Year Goal Actual
Number of households supported through
Rental Assistance 1,780 1,780
Number of households supported through
The Production of New Units 146 130
Number of households supported through
Rehab of Existing Units 18 3
Number of households supported through
Acquisition of Existing Units 8 4
Total 1,952 1,917
Table 12 – Number of Households Supported
Discuss the difference between goals and outcomes and problems encountered in meeting
these goals.
This category continues to be confusing. The chart asks for the number of households to be supported,
however, when it prints out, it asks for number of households to be provided affordable housing. These
are two completely different tabulations.The chart has been been filled out to show the number of
housing units provided, not the numbers served. The number 14 indicates the 5 units at LIVE 155 and
the 5 units at the Lumber Yard apartments set aside for homeless and the first 4 units at Dial/Self's
Northampton Teen Housing Project. The number of non-homeless households (115) is the total of the
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70 units at Live 155, minus the 5 setaside for formerly homess (65) added to the 55 units at the Lumber
Yard Apartments minus the 5 units setaside for formerly homeless (50).
Data on housing placements for the 17 emergency shelter beds operated by Soldier On, at the Veterans
Administration campus, is not available. The number of households with special needs is an estimate, as
the State does not release information on residential programming through either the Department of
Development Services, or the Department of Mental Health.
The number of households being supported with rental assistance is the total number of Housing Choice
Vouchers, Mass Rental Vouchers and VASH vouchers administered by the Northampton Housing
Authority. The production of new units number includes the 70 units at LIVE 155, the 55 units at the
Lumber Yard Apartments, the 4 Dial/Self units and one home completed by Habitat for Humanity at the
Verona Garfield Site. The difference between the 146 and the 130 number reflects the 16 units at the
Sergeant House/ 82 Bridge Street SRO not being completed yet (spring 2020).
The rehab of existing units goal reflected the 15 units in the existing SRO at 82 Bridge, and 3 housing
rehab program participants. The number for units to be acquired are the 4 newly constructed Dial /Self
units, which will not be complete until late fall 2019, and the 4 home sites Habitat is creating at Glendale
Road, none of which were brought on line during this time period, although all aquisition activities have
been completed.
Discuss how these outcomes will impact future annual action plans.
All projects included in this year's Action Plan have been completed or are fully underway. Valley CDC
continued to provide downpayment assistance grants to eligible households, the remaining tenants
living at 82 Bridge Street were successfully relocated prior to the construction launch, the Village Hill
North project proponents submitted their applications for State funding, the Housing Rehabilitation
Program continued to serve single family homeowners with remediation of code violations and lead
paint abatement, the Vernon Street School accessibility project was brought to successful completion,
small business assistance and workshops were provided to entrepreneurs with low incomes and 13
social service agencies provided a myriad of programming to hundreds of residents facing challenges in
our community.
A comprehensive work plan scope that will impact future annual action plans has been articulated in the
Impediments to Fair Housing update that has just completed. This work plan will greatly inform the 5
Year Consolidated Planning process that will be undertaken in this next program year (2020-2025).
Current projects will come to fruition and others will be added to the pipeline. There will be a strong
emphasis, however, on increasing housing and support services for women, and creating true Housing
First housing units and Safe Havens residences, to serve those unable to access more mainstream
affordable housing.
Include the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income persons
served by each activity where information on income by family size is required to determine
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the eligibility of the activity.
Number of Households Served CDBG Actual HOME Actual
Extremely Low-income 3,682 0
Low-income 4,572 0
Moderate-income 462 0
Total 8,716 0
Table 13 – Number of Households Served
Narrative Information
The number above indicates income levels for all races but does not include 48 households that were
counted as not being households with low/moderate incomes. In total 8,864 households benefitted
from CDBG project funding this past year.
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CR-25 - Homeless and Other Special Needs 91.220(d, e); 91.320(d, e); 91.520(c)
Evaluate the jurisdiction’s progress in meeting its specific objectives for reducing and ending homelessness through:
Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their individual needs
The City continued to work closely with Eliot Homeless Services. The Eliot Street Outreach Clinician, Brendan Plante attended monthly meetings
of the Next Step Collaborative and reported regularly on the number and needs of people living outside (10-30 people at any given time). The
City implemented a new protocol for addressing encampments which worked smoothly through the spring and summer. As people were
identified, either through agencies, private parties or other City departments, the Outreach Team was notified and dispatched. Depending on
the description of the folks camping, Dial/Self or ServiceNet, or Tapestry Health would join the outreach effort. People were connected with
services where possible, and given ample warning if they needed to relocate, to avoid loss of personal items.
Dial/Self staff, serving unaccompanied homeless youth, visited meal sites and shelters and were actively engaged in locating youth and young
adults to become the first residents of the Northampton Teen Housing Program. When the first four rehabilitated units came on line, the units
were filled and celebrated greatly as a needed addition to our local service delivery system.
The numbers of people living outside remained relatively stable this year. A Mayor's Report on Serving Populations at Risk, notes successful
models operating in other parts of the country, where Outreach workers are able to immediately house those they engage, in units! Street
outreach is hugely successful when units are immediately available. The City will work towards creating a system that allows that kind of
movement after engagement, although it will be difficult to identify funders and developers. Most folks living outside are often couples who
don't want to be separated in shelter, or people with pets that shelters won't accommodate, or are actively using substances and/or suffering
with mental health challenges, so we are aware not everyone will engage or seek services simply because we want them to. The City will focus
on creating low threshold housing and low barrier shelter wherever possible. Those operational paradigm shifts were introduced directly to
Pioneer Valley housing and shelter providers through a training offered by the Western Mass Network to End Homelessness, conducted by
OrgCode and Ian Dejong. ServiceNet staff are actively examining this approach for inclusion into their shelter program operations.
The Hampshire County Resource Center continued to provide case managment services, laundry and shower facilities, emergency food, health
care through Health Care for the Homeless and benefits assistance, throughout the year.
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Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons
The 3 County Continuum of Care Collaborative Applicant role transitioned from the Hilltown CDC to Community Action of Pioneer Valley. The
Community Action Executive Director, Clare Higgins, was the Mayor of Northampton for 12 of the 16 years the City served as the CoC lead. The 3
County CoC is comprised of Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire Counties and is primarily rural in nature. The Coordinated Entry system,
mandated by HUD to serve the most vulnerable of the chronically homeless was not completely operational this past year, due to inadequacies
in the data collection system. Intake and rankings occurred, but formulating the actual list was done manually. Community Action is researching
data warehouses and companies to create a more user friendly system. Moving the most vulnerable through a system, however, only works
when housing exists to refer people to, so the City will focus on creating Housing First units moving forward. With 400+ applications for Live 155
and the Lumber Yard Apartments respectively and with the majority being for the 30% and below area median income units, we have a lot of
ground to cover, locally, regionally and nationally to make up for the production gaps that have created this crisis.
REACH meetings have morphed into Coordinated Entry meetings, and the relevant service providers met weekly throughout the year to identify
the most vulnerable of their clients and worked hard to find housing placements for them.
The City continued to support both shelters for individuals with CDBG funding. The CDBG Director is a long standing member of the Cot
Management Committee that oversaw the volunteer components of the Inter-Faith Shelter operation and collected personal hygiene supplies
for the shelters throughout the year. She facilitated the Next Step Collaborative, a monthly gathering of housing and shelter service providers
that has been meeting since 1994 to identify and address gaps in the local service delivery system, and served as a Co-Chair of the Western Mass
Network to End Homelessness, which she helped create a decade ago.
There was a fear that the Amherst Winter Shelter - Craig's Doors would not open this fall which would have had a huge impact on our local
system, but the Board of Directors there secured a funding line with the help of the Western Mass. state legislators, will be hiring staff and the
Program is scheduled to open on time - November 1. The two programs coordinated efforts this past year, with sending guests back and forth as
bed capacity dictated. The Annex in Easthampton, which provided 6 overflow beds nightly from the Northampton Inter-Faith Shelter operated
smoothly with a dedicated team of volunteers in that community. Many of the same folks spend time in Amherst and Northampton, so Eliot
Homeless Services Outreach staff work very closely together as well.
HUD funding is focused on permanent supportive housing. As a result, shelters have a difficult time identifying sufficient resources to support
more than minimal staffing coverage, or property improvements or amenities. Multiple funding applications, soliciting private donations and
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securing volunteer support are the necessary operational components; which take inordinate amounts of staff time to produce and coordinate.
Tapestry Health Systems, Eliot Homeless Services, ServiceNet, Inc. the Northampton Police Department, Forbes Library, Friends of Hampshire
County Homeless, MANNA, together with others, all worked diligently together this past year to identify, engage and serve those people most at
risk in Northampton, to the best of our abilities.
A focus group held at the Hampshire County Resource Center with currently homeless people, helped inform the recommendations in the
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing update.
Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely low-income individuals and families
and those who are: likely to become homeless after being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care (such
as health care facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities, and corrections programs and institutions);
and, receiving assistance from public or private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment, education, or
youth needs
Soldier On continued to pick up and transport Veteran's being discharged from the Hampshire County House of Corrections who chose to go and
did not have other housing options. The Jail continued their monthly round table sessions with local law enforcement and service providers to
identify paths for people prior to release. Social workers from the local hospital attend Next Step Collaborative meetings to network with
housing and shelter providers in order to avoid discharging patients into homelessness. The Department of Mental Health began discussions
about creating Safe Havens Models in the community in order to house those not able to navigate traditional housing placements. DMH staff
facilitate quarterly meetings with the Northampton Police Department to implement Jail Diversion Intervention strategies and identify clients at
risk on the streets or living outside. ServiceNet's Hampshire County Resource Center continued to operate daily, providing office space for the
Benefits Analyst, a medical exam room for Health Care for the Homeless doctors and nurses and case management staff to link people with
housing and services.
Efforts continued to have Way Finders staff located locally to take RAFT applications, so clients don't have to travel to Springfield. Local
Community Preservation Committee funds continued to support the administration of the Community Housing Support Services Program to
preserve tenancies for households facing eviction.
Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their
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families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the
period of time that individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals and families to
affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again
The Hampshire County Resource Center, located at 43 Center Street, continued to serve as the entry portal for people finding themselves
homeless to access case management. Our street outreach team, as well as the Police Department and other providers regularly refer people
there for assistance. With showers, laundry, food and health care available, it is hoped people will opt to engage with a case worker and plot a
path towards improving their quality of life. The Resource Center has a small staff and no true dedicated funding source, but through a
combination of grant sources, ServiceNet is able to sustain the program. The staff works hard to "meet people where they are" and link folks to
resources wherever possible.
There is no family emergency shelter in Northampton, but the Center for Human Development operates Jessie's House in Amherst where
families are served. Soldier On has case management and a comprehensive service delivery system to serve men and women Veterans. They
operate emergency shelter beds, transitional housing, permanent supported housing and home ownership opportunities, as well as accessing
mental health and general health care from the Veteran's Administration Medical Campus, where the housing is located. Soldier On has
programs throughout Western Mass (Agawam, Chicopee, Pittsfield) and New York and provides technical assistance across the country to other
organizations striving to develop similar systems of care. Dial/Self serves unaccompanied homeless youth in the Franklin/Hampshire county
region. The new units of supported housing for youth in Northampton provide the first units for youth in Hampshire County. Serving this
population fulfills a long term goal of the City, and addresses a high priority need, as assistance for this age group (18-24) is imperative in order
to reduce episodes of adult homelessness. Shortening lengths of stay in shelter is totally dependent on the availability of housing units for
people to access. The City moved the discussion forward regarding creating Housing First units and Safe Havens units in the community. More
work will occur in the coming year to introduce low threshold housing.
The City continued to support the Community Legal Aid Homelessness Prevention Program, the Community Housing Support Services Program
and the SRO Outreach Project, to keep people sustainably housed.
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Homelessness prevention is a high priority activity area for the City. Once a household loses a rental subsidy, it is very difficult for them to re-
secure housing stability. Impacting homelessness "upstream" is a goal of the Continuum of Care, as well as the overall Western Mass Network to
End Homelessness. The State's RAFT program and Rapid Re-Housing funds are critical for keeping people housed, or getting them rehoused as
quickly as possible. The Hampshire County Resource Center housed 6 chronically homeless individuals during the early spring when Rapid Re-
housing dollars were available. The availability of those funds, with as much flexible utilization as possible, are key to moving people out of
shelter and keeping people housed.
The City continued to support prevention activities by providing CDBG funding to the Community Legal Aid Program and the Single Room
Occupancy Outreach Project. CLA provides free legal assistance to families and individuals with low incomes, who are facing eviction in Housing
Court. With mediation efforts, the majority of tenancies are preserved. With more than half of the households presenting in Court already
residing in rent assisted units, the issues revolve around life skills, financial literacy and
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CR-30 - Public Housing 91.220(h); 91.320(j)
Actions taken to address the needs of public housing
The Northampton Housing Authority accomplished much during this program year. A Resident Services Coordinator was hired who will oversee
both family developments. This is a wonderful achievement and has been a request of City staff for several years. There had been a Coordinator
for the Federal developments, but having one person work with both family complexes will bode well for organizing activities at both sites.
Hampshire Heights tenants were actively engaging Healthy Hampshire and GrowFood Northampton to bring fresh produce to the site and
implemented a grant that installed raised community garden beds for the residents to grow their own food. The informal tenant organizer, a
former resident, is a member of the Northampton Housing Partnership and he worked tirelessly to gain formal recognition of the Tenants
Association and bring resident concerns to the forefront. The Housing Partnership plans on pursuing grant sources to create play space. CDBG
and Community Preservation funds will be examined to accomplish this in the current program year (2019-2020).
There were some changes in the composition of the Northampton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners this past year. New members are
working on defining and instituting clearer roles and responsibilities for Board members and staff. Capital improvements planned for this year
were addressed.
The NHA applied, along with the Franklin County Regional Housing Authority, the Greenfield Housing Authority and the Amherst Housing
Authority to HUD for 811 Mainstream Vouchers, which can be used by non-elderly disabled people, which include chronically homeless people.
This effort was orchestrated by the Western Mass Network to End Homelessness and followed up on by the Three County Continuum of Care.
We look forward to the award announcements. If all Housing Authorities receive the vouchers, that will be 45 additional vouchers to be used to
help folks leave the emergency shelter system. The Housing Authorities will utilize the Coordinated Entry list and preference will be given to
those highest on the list.
Actions taken to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and participate in homeownership
The Northampton Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners has always had tenant representation. Typicallly, they have been male residents
of one of the complexes located downtown. During this past year, a female single parent residing in Hampshire Heights (one of the two family
housing developments, and not located downtown) joined the Board. She is working closely with another member ( a retired Legal Aid attorney)
to frame policies and by-laws for the Board. This is an exciting mentoring opportunity that all are embracing. With an engaged Resident Services
Coordinator, additional programming and events will most assuredly create offerings at the sites to enhance financial literacy and income
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maximization that could lead to homeownership opportunities.
Actions taken to provide assistance to troubled PHAs
The Northampton Housing Authority is not designated as troubled. However, the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing did conclude that the
Housing Authority's local preference (for tenant selection) is a deterrent to housing mobility from other parts of the region into Northampton.
This, and other notations, such as no information available on line (no web-site) will be subjects of discussion moving forward. However, the
NHA has taken great strides towards becoming a more collaborative community partner in this last program year, and will be implementing
handicap accessibility improvements with City CDBG funding at three of their properties during 2019-2020.
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CR-35 - Other Actions 91.220(j)-(k); 91.320(i)-(j)
Actions taken to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers to affordable housing such as
land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies
affecting the return on residential investment. 91.220 (j); 91.320 (i)
The Impediments to Fair Housing Report noted that when analyzing Northampton's current zoning with respect to best practices nationwide to
promote mixed use, affordable housing and housing choice, the city is doing everything it should. The City is: encouraging higher density
development by promoting infill, using Transfer of Development Rights, permitting small lot residential development, encouraging mixed use
developments by allowing housing in all districts and some industrial districts, permitting live/work units, and is working to increase housing
diversity and affordability by allowing accessory dwelling units in all zones and providing density incentives for affordability. The City has
established two Smart Growth Overlay or 40R districts, which require an affordability component. Following recommendations made in earlier
AI's the City now permits up to 6 units by right with site plan review, allows two family structures by right, has simple standards for larger multi-
family structures, requires no traffic mitigation or parking for residential construction downtown, allows mixed use housing by right with site
plan review and doubled and in some cases tripled the density allowed in some zones within the urban core. By reducing lot size throughout the
City, to better reflect existing development patterns, possibilities for 2-3 unit dwellings is increased.
Much attention has been given, by the City's Office of Planning and Sustainability and Habitat Humanity, to the design of smaller homes. Design
competitions by the City, and a community engagement process undertaken by Habitat, entitled Just Big Enough, have spurred design solutions
for the limited development projects initiated by the City. Northampton also instituted a Senior Citizen and Veteran Tax Work Off Program to
increase the chances that participants can afford to remain in their homes.
Actions taken to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
The recently completed Impediments to Fair Housing Analysis provides a scope of work that will stretch several years to address. A copy is
attached. During the past year in order to solicit citizen participation to form the work scope, the City Housing Partnership and it's consultants
from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission met with 38 different stakeholders representing different groups, conducted 4 additional focus
groups with people with lived experience and held a public forum attended by 65 interested citizens. The list of stakeholder and focus group
participants is included as an attachment behind the Analysis of Impediments Action Plan.
In addition to the extensive public outreach to better understand the needs of underserved people experiencing challenges in our community, as
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well as examining current demographic trends, the City continued to participate in the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness,
attended Network Committee meetings addressing individual homelessness, family homelessness, and the committee on unaccompanied
homeless youth, attended Three County Continuum of Care meetings, provided staff support to the Northampton Housing Partnership and the
Next Step Collaborative. The CDBG Director also worked with the Mayor's Work Group on compiling a research report on serving populations at
risk in Northampton. This effort comprised extensive survey work to better understand perceptions of downtown activity by the general public,
as well as people engaged in street activity, such as panhandling, in the downtown. The report will be released in early October (2019).
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, in addition to the Mayor's Work group report both contain many recommendations that will
inform the City's work moving forward to address challenges people face that are within our control to ameliorate. HUD program
representatives, as well as interested citizens, are encouraged to reference these documents for more detail on the City's activities.
Actions taken to reduce lead-based paint hazards. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
The City's Housing Rehabilitation Program conducted lead paint testing at every home that participated in the program, regardless of the current
household composition. A single family homeowner can participate in a 15 year deferred payment 0% interest loan program in which lead paint
can be abated if necessary. The upward project cost limit of $45,000 was set high to permit abatement activities if needed. The Northampton
Board of Health continued to keep up the data base of units that have been abated and so certified as such. Lead Paint issues are typically topics
of discussion at the annual Landlord Workshop sponsored by the Housing Partnership.
The Valley CDC's Homeownership Center continued to refer people to the State's Get the Lead Out Program, when funds were available.
The rates of lead paint poisoning among children remain low locally, but we know it is a silent discriminator when landlords refuse to rent to
families with young children because they are unwilling or financially unable to abate their units. With the age of the housing stock in
Northampton, the presence of lead paint can be assumed. Abatement information will be disseminated at the Landlord workshop to be held this
fall.
Actions taken to reduce the number of poverty-level families. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
The City continued to fund the Northampton Survival Center, the MANNA Soup Kitchen and the SRO Food Pantry this past year. The provision of
healthy food and community meals helps people avoid the choice they sometimes have to make between eating and paying housing or other
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costs. The Valley CDC Micro-Business Assistance program provided technical and moral support to people thinking of starting or are already
operating a small business for job creation, retention and income maximization.
The Literacy Project, the Center for New Americans, Casa Latina and Community Action's Youth Employment Readiness Program assisted
individuals and families with gaining education and employment skills to increase economic empowerment and self-sufficiency. The City's Senior
Services Center assisted elders with gaining employment to supplement their retirement incomes through the EARN Program (Employment After
Retirement Network). These programs are all CDBG sub-recipients.
Discussions began with the Northampton Housing Authority with regard to participation in HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rent program. This
would increase the ability of people with low incomes to use HUD Housing Choice Vouchers in Northampton. Because Northampton is included
in the Springfield SMSA, fair market rent rates have been much lower than market rate rents for decades. The NHA is analyzing what converting
to this program would mean, assuming the lack of additional funding to accompany such a shift, means less people would be served over all.
The Mayor and City Council continued to support local businesses that paid living wages, and acknowledged them in an annual event.
Community Action of Pioneer Valley continued to administer the HeadStart and Early Learning Programs, Home Energy Assistance, the WIC
Program, Family Support Services Programs, Youth Programs, and worked with Harmon Personnel Services. Harmon is an alternate staffing
organization that is a division of Community Action that offers high quality commercial staffing services with the social mission of helping people
with low incomes move out of poverty.
Actions taken to develop institutional structure. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
With involvement in the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness, the Rural 3 County Continuum of Care, the Next Step
Collaborative, Valley CDC's Housing Stabilization Provider meetings, the Cot Management Committee, the Northampton Housing Partnership
and the Mayor's Work Group on Panhandling combined with the extensive outreach conducted to update the Analysis of Impediments, the
Mayor's Office was constantly engaged with the local and regional service delivery system. At the municipal level, operational feedback and
system gap input that informed the work was provided by the CDBG Director, the Economic Development Coordinator, the Community
Preservation Committee, the Office of Planning and Sustainability, the Human Rights Commission, the Committee on Disabilities, the Police
Department, the Health Department, the Building Department, the Public Works Department, all of whom worked together to identify and
address community issues.
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The Mayor, the Mayor's Chief of Staff, the CDBG Director/Housing Planner, the Planning Director and the Economic Development Coordinator
met monthly to insure a coordinated community development strategy. All City Boards and Commissions subject to the Open Meeting law
posted their meeting notices and minutes on the City's website.
The municipal structure that exists is collaborative and effective. The Action Plans that have been formulated by the Analysis of Impediments
Update and the Mayor's Work Group both call for collaboration between the various entities that will be responsible for implementing a myriad
of recommendations, to insure our community is welcoming and accessible to all. The CDBG Director gathered the CDBG program sub-recipients
together for an evening session to celebrate program successes. This helps everyone doing this often challenging work to feel supported and
acknowledges the role they play in a larger network of people working towards similar goals of empowerment.
Actions taken to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
The Next Step Collaborative meetings (City sponsored gathering of local housing and homeless service providers, meeting monthly since 1994)
were attended this past year by people living outside, living in emergency shelters, people serving Veterans, people living with HIV/Aids, people
in recovery, people living in subsidized housing, people managing subsidized housing, and people providing housing stabilization support
services. This group identified the need for and held the session with area housing developers about how to create Housing First units in the
community. This meeting was attended by 30 people and a smaller work group came out of it that continues to pursue this goal. Housing
providers, managers and developers heard from service providers about the need for low threshold housing units, which traditional non-profit
affordable housing developers declared they are unlikely to produce. Other partners, possibly in the health care system are being examined for
partnering. Cooley Dickinson Hospital, through the Accountable Care Organization developments, may have future funding for housing and
support service activities. The disappearance of the old style rooming houses where people can live despite having less than stellar credit and
landlord references has made housing access to newly created affordable housing units next to impossible for many.
Also articulated in several meetings this past year, is the stress on support services that HUD is placing on the mandate to house chronically
homeless people first. Putting the most vulnerable into housing without sufficient support services is a formula for disaster. The State has finally
set aside funds available in a fall NOFA, for Supportive Housing for Vulnerable Populations, which awards $1,500 per each Mass Rental Voucher
or Project Based Voucher in a development. This provides some ability to support people in new projects, but there remains a dearth of funding
sources to support general housing stabilization/support services staffing for existing housing.
Valley CDC and Way Finders continued to hold quarterly meetings with representatives from entities who are providing support services for their
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tenants. Tenancies at risk were identified and participants brainstormed ways to help the resident remain in the unit. With successful tenancies
the goal of resident and property owner and management alike, stayed evictions save money and stress for all. Way Finders continued to try to
locate additional resources to provide more staff capacity to take RAFT applications locally, so our service providers don't have to drive clients to
Holyoke or Springfield.
Identify actions taken to overcome the effects of any impediments identified in the jurisdictions analysis of impediments to fair
housing choice. 91.520(a)
The newly completed Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, entitled " Unlocking Opportunity - An Assessment of Barriers to Housing Choice
in Northampton",will be available in full on the City's website in mid October. This past year was spent examining the recommendations that
have been implemented since the last Analysis and soliciting public input to inform the next several years of work, to be overseen by the
Northampton Housing Partnership and the Office of the Mayor. The Action Plan included in the full document is attached to this CAPER as an
attachment.
During this past year, the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center processed complaints from Northampton residents who experienced
discrimination. Staff capacity limits the number of cases they can open and pursue. An assessment of the number and nature of complaints is
contained in the Analysis of Impediments. The trend over the years continued this past year, with the primary area of discrimination occuring in
the area of reasonable accommodation. Information about this area of law is disseminated at the annual landlord workshops sponsored by the
Housing Partnership, and will be included in the one planned for the fall.
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CR-40 - Monitoring 91.220 and 91.230
Describe the standards and procedures used to monitor activities carried out in furtherance of the plan and used to ensure long-
term compliance with requirements of the programs involved, including minority business outreach and the comprehensive
planning requirements
Quarterly reports are required from all sub-recipients. The data in those reports is used for IDIS entry and is closely reviewed for progress and
compliance. Performance outcomes are outlined in the Scope of Services in each CDBG Agreement or Contract. When applicable, contracts also
include requirements for submissions of other HUD reports such as Section 3 and FFATA information, as well as Department of Labor MBE/WBE
reports and Davis Bacon wage rate compliance certifications and payroll records.
Public service applicants are interviewed during a competitive application cycle by a Review Committee comprised of community members and
city councilors. Organizational capacity and past performance are evaluated. Along with quarterly reports, on-site monitoring occurs on a
rotating basis. Each public service sub-recipient is visited at least once in every 2 year period.
Contractors are informed about the above mentioned reports, along with affirmative action hiring goals during meetings and in the contract
document. Most smaller projects, such as housing rehab, are completed by sole owner businesses. Larger project sub-recipients, while able to
do outreach, often do not need to expand their workforce to complete a project. Solicitation for contractors, as for the housing rehab program,
include the statements that women and/or minority owned businesses or Section 3 businesses, are encouraged to apply.
Citizen Participation Plan 91.105(d); 91.115(d)
Describe the efforts to provide citizens with reasonable notice and an opportunity to comment on performance reports.
Legal ads were published in the local newspaper for all public hearings and publication of the Draft Plan, Action Plan and CAPER documents
giving the dates of meetings and times available for review in the office. All documents were also uploaded to the City's website. Residents were
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encouraged to come in, call or email with comments. Center for New Americans has in-house translators to convey information to minority
populations and assist them should they wish to comment.
The CDBG Director discussed program goals, objectives and outcomes with the Next Step Collaborative participants monthly and provided notice
to an extensive email listserv about all public hearings, publication of documents and applicable comment periods.
The discussions at the various public hearings and meetings yielded valuable input. No other comments on the CAPER were received from the
general public. The participant list for the stakeholder and focus group sessions held to solicit input for the Analysis of Impediments to Fair
Housing Update is included herein as an attachment. Linkages were made during Impediments Analysis update public sessions about work plans
being incorporated into CDBG Action Plans and CAPER reports and the opportunities to comment throughout the year.
CR-45 - CDBG 91.520(c)
Specify the nature of, and reasons for, any changes in the jurisdiction’s program objectives and indications of how the jurisdiction
would change its programs as a result of its experiences.
The majority of activities outlined in the Action Plan for the Program Year now being reported on proceeded without any issues. Due to ongoing
issues, however, the funds for the demolition of a farmhouse on Burt's Pit Road were reallocated to the Housing Rehabilitation Program. The
demolition project continued to be held up by the State Department of Community Assets Management, who continued to be unwilling to
transfer the parcels to the City without a significant purchase price. DCAM required the City to pay for an appraisal, which was done, but due to
the delay in being able to secure site control and issue a Request for Proposals to develop the parcels ( Burts Pit as well as one on Laurel Street )
for affordable housing, we were unable to make progress. Despite the fact that the parcels were originally deeded to the Northampton Housing
Authority for free during the disposition of the Northampton State Hospital, DCAM is requiring that the City purchase these parcels. We have
sought the assistance of our legislative delegation to assist with the transfer of these parcels.
The CDBG allocation for the Village Hill Affordable Housing project is going to be reallocated. Because the 65 unit housing project did not receive
the State funding needed to proceed, (projects are rarely funded by the State with their first submission) the expenditure will not be able to be
made in the near future. In order to avoid a timeliness issue with HUD for CDBG expenditures, the funding will be reallocated. A public hearing
and posting will be held to re-allocate the $150,000 to the Hampshire Heights playground project and the Village Hill affordable housing project
will be considered for a new CDBG allocation in the next program year.
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Does this Jurisdiction have any open Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) grants?
No
[BEDI grantees] Describe accomplishments and program outcomes during the last year.
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CR-45 - CDBG 91.520(c)
Specify the nature of, and reasons for, any changes in the jurisdiction’s program objectives and indications of how the jurisdiction
would change its programs as a result of its experiences.
The majority of activities outlined in the Action Plan for the Program Year now being reported on proceeded without any issues. Due to ongoing
issues, however, the funds for the demolition of a farmhouse on Burt's Pit Road were reallocated to the Housing Rehabilitation Program. The
demolition project continued to be held up by the State Department of Community Assets Management, who continued to be unwilling to
transfer the parcels to the City without a significant purchase price. DCAM required the City to pay for an appraisal, which was done, but due to
the delay in being able to secure site control and issue a Request for Proposals to develop the parcels ( Burts Pit as well as one on Laurel Street )
for affordable housing, we were unable to make progress. Despite the fact that the parcels were originally deeded to the Northampton Housing
Authority for free during the disposition of the Northampton State Hospital, DCAM is requiring that the City purchase these parcels. We have
sought the assistance of our legislative delegation to assist with the transfer of these parcels.
The CDBG allocation for the Village Hill Affordable Housing project is going to be reallocated. Because the 65 unit housing project did not receive
the State funding needed to proceed, (projects are rarely funded by the State with their first submission) the expenditure will not be able to be
made in the near future. In order to avoid a timeliness issue with HUD for CDBG expenditures, the funding will be reallocated. A public hearing
and posting will be held to re-allocate the $150,000 to the Hampshire Heights playground project and the Village Hill affordable housing project
will be considered for a new CDBG allocation in the next program year.
Does this Jurisdiction have any open Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) grants?
No
[BEDI grantees] Describe accomplishments and program outcomes during the last year.
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Attachment
CAPER PR26 - 2018-2019
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AI Action Plan
Action Timeline Responsible Party
Identify funding sources to
continue Community Housing
Support Services Program
Short Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Center for Human Development, Community Legal Aid,
Northampton Housing Authority
Conduct Landlord and Property
Management Training on
Reasonable Accommodation
Short Northampton Housing Partnership, Community Legal Aid, Stavros Center for Independent
Living, Northampton Housing Authority, Mass Fair Housing Center
Host a Social Service
Presentation for Landlords
Encourage “Conditional”
Tenancies
Short Mayor’s Office/ Housing and CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, community social
service providers
Host a Meet and Greet
Landlord/ Tenant Day
Encourage “Conditional”
Tenancies
Short Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Landlord community,
Hampshire County Resource Center, Hampshire County House of Corrections,
Northampton Veteran’s Services Office, other housing search organizations
Ensure Service Providers are
Aware of CHAMP/ Common
Housing Application for
Massachusetts Public Housing
Short Mayor’s Office/ Housing and CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Northampton
Housing Authority, Western Mass Network to End Homelessness
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Encourage Trauma Informed
Property Management/ Identify
Trainers, Conduct Sessions
Short Mayor’s Office/ Housing and CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, area property
managers and housing providers
Create Northampton Housing
Authority Website
With Language Options
Short Northampton Housing Authority
Translate Housing Authority
Documents into Multiple
Languages & Provide Access on
Web-Site and @ Office locations
Short Northampton Housing Authority
Investigate Adoption of Small
Area FMR’s at Northampton
Housing Authority
Short Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Northampton Housing
Authority
Identify Procedure for Utilizing
Air B and B Community Impact
fees for affordable housing
Short Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership
Participate in SNO Housing
Mobility Pilot Program/
Include Language Access
Component
Short Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Way Finders, Center
for New Americans, International Language Institute
Encourage Housing Developers
to Work with Stavros when
accessible units are created
Short Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG , Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability,
Stavros Center for Independent Living, Northampton Disability Commission
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Support Legislation:
No Fault Eviction for Older
Adults, Rent Arrearage
Programs, Tenants' Right to
Counsel, Increased Community
Preservation Act Funding, Local
Option Transfer Fee to Fund
Affordable Housing, Regional
Ballot Initiatives
Short
On-going
Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Western Mass
Network to End Homelessness, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, State Legislative
Delegation
Address Barrier Created for
Tenants by Rental Agency
Finder’s Fee Requirement
Short Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Rent NOHO
Examine CDBG set aside fund for
landlords to cover unit damage /
Incentive to accept Section 8
vouchers
Medium Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Landlord community
Consider tax abatement for
private landlords to accept
tenants with Rental Vouchers
Medium Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Assessor’s Office, Northampton Housing Partnership
Consider CDBG set aside in
Housing Rehab Program for
Landlords to Accomplish
Reasonable Accommodation
Medium Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Pioneer Valley
Planning Commission, Northampton Disability Commission, Stavros
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Support Creation of Full Time
ADA Coordinator Position /
locally or regionally based
Medium Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton Disability Commission
Schedule and Participate in Anti-
Racism or Undoing Racism
Trainings/Workshop
Medium Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, City Departments, Northampton Housing Partnership,
Northampton Human Rights Commission, Northampton Housing Authority, community
partners
Create a Housing Navigator
Position
Medium Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, community partners
Provide Resources to Help
Repair/Improve Credit
Medium Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership Way Finders, Valley
CDC, Community Action Pioneer Valley, area banking institutions
Increase Career Center Presence
in Northampton & Remove
Language barriers
Medium Mayor’s Office, MassHire
Implement an Award Program
for Businesses that hire local
Medium Mayor’s Office, Northampton Chamber of Commerce
Support Creation of Landlord
Association/Listserv for
Information Dissemination
Medium Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton, Housing Partnership, Way Finders,
Northampton Chamber of Commerce
Implement a Visitability
Ordinance
Medium Northampton Planning and Sustainability/Housing, Northampton Housing Partnership,
Stavros, Local American Institute of Architects Chapter
List Inventory of Local Handicap
Accessible Units and Vacancies
on Line
Medium Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Housing Partnership, Northampton Housing Authority,
Stavros, Northampton Disability Commission, Affordable Housing Providers
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Encourage Housing Providers to
use Mass Access Registry
Support On-going Housing
Mobility Programming
Medium Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Mass Fair Housing
Center, Way Finders - Supporting Neighborhood Opportunity Project (SNO)
Identify & Adopt Regulatory
Land Use Improvements to
Facilitate Family Housing
Medium Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Northampton Office
of Planning and Sustainability, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Increase Housing Resources for
Post- Incarcerated Individuals
(Returning Citizens)
Medium Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Hampshire County
House of Corrections
Provide Lead Paint Remediation
Programming
Medium Mayor’s Office/Housing and CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Pioneer Valley
Planning Commission/Northampton Housing Rehabilitation Program, City Health
Department
Research Refugee Placement
Circles of Care model to
mentor/assist people
Medium Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Next Step
Collaborative, Catholic Charities
Examine (Re)Creation of
Community Land Trust
Medium/Long Northampton Housing Partnership, Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Valley CDC,
Massachusetts Housing Partnership
Continue Production of Low
Threshold Affordable Housing
-Housing First Units
-Services for Women
Short/Medium/Long Mayor’ Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Planning and Sustainability Pioneer Valley
Habitat for Humanity, Way Finders, Valley CDC, Friends of Hampshire County Homeless
Individuals, Safe Passage, State Department of Housing and Community Development,
Dept. of Mental Health, Home City Housing and other housing developers
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Encourage Regional Participation
in Regional Housing Production
On-going Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Pioneer Valley
Planning Commission, Western Mass Network to End Homelessness, Three County
Continuum of Care/Community Action of Pioneer Valley
Continue to Assist Households in
Becoming Homeowners
On-going Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Valley Community Development Corporation, Pioneer
Valley Habitat for Humanity Community Action Pioneer Valley,
Encourage On Site Workshops
on Financial Literacy, Eviction
Prevention, Orientations to
Promote Successful Tenancies
for tenants where they live
On-going Mayor’s Office/Housing & CDBG, Community Housing Support Services Program,
Community Legal Aid, area housing property managers
Require On Site Resident Service
Coordinators/ Support Services
for all new affordable housing
developments and advocate for
funding to ensure
On-going Mayor’s Office/ Housing & CDBG, Northampton Housing Partnership, Affordable Housing
Developers
Increase Transportation Options Ongoing PVTA, Northampton Planning and Sustainability, ValleyBike, PVPC, MassDOT, FTA, USDOT,
State and federal elected officials
Short = within one year
Medium = Between 1-3 years
Long = 3+ years
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AI Stakeholder Sessions List
Unlocking Opportunity: An Assessment of Barriers to Fair Housing Choice in
Northampton
Stakeholder/Focus Group Participation
Organizational
Grouping
Organization Representative(s)
Social Service Provider/
Housing Search Worker
Center for New Americans Laurie Millman, Director
Community Legal Aid Jen Dieringer, Managing
Attorney & Mandy Winalski,
Staff Attorney
Catholic Charities Kathryn Buckley Brawner,
Director
Pioneer Valley Workers Center Gabriella della Croce Lead
Organizer
Community Action Janna Tetreault
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Department of Mental Health Kate Shapiro, Chris Zabik
Eliot Homeless Services Jay Levy, Charlyn Arnell
ServiceNet Resource Center Katie Miernecki
Mike Trembley
A Positive Place Laura Hudson
Carmen Burgos
Property Management HMR Properties Liz Reno, Robbie Brooks
ServiceNet, Inc.Alex Spear
The Community Builders Yvette Tanguay
Julia Scannell
Hathaway Farms Jon Devins
Mt. Holyoke Management Julia Clinton
Appleton Corporation Donna Coyle
Georgette Gigliano
Housing Authorities Northampton Jack Redman
Amherst Pamela Rogers
Franklin Regional Hank Abrashkin
Holyoke Matt Mainville
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Nick Ottomaniello
Donna Wagner
Disability Community
Advocates
Northampton ADA
Coordinator
Marie Westberg
Director
Stavros Center for Ind. Living Jim Wolejko , Iheme
Onyekaba, Joe Tringali
Surrounding Towns/ City
Officials
Springfield Gerry McCafferty, Housing
Director
Amherst Julie Federman, Health
Director
Easthampton Hayley Wood, COA
Greenfield MJ Adams, CD Director
Affordable Housing Providers Valley CDC Laura Baker, Real Estate
Project Manager
Way Finders Peter Serafino, Project Dev.
Habitat for Humanity Megan McDonough, Director
The Community Builders Rachana Crowley,
Project Manager
Realtors Maple and Main Julie Held
5 Colleges Alyx Akers
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Murphy’s Real Estate David Murphy
Goggins Real Estate Rachel Simpson
Local Government Officials Mayor David Narkewicz, Mayor
Office of Planning and
Sustainability
Wayne Feiden, Director
Senior Services Marie Westberg, Cynthia
Langley, Michele Dihlmann
Public Schools Kelley Knight, Social Worker
Housing Partnership Jim Reis, Gordon Shaw, Rev.
Todd Weir
Focus Groups Affiliation Number Participating
Northampton Recovery Center 6 participants
Hampshire County House of
Corrections Pre-Release
Program
10 participants
Hampshire County Resource
Center / Homeless
5 participants
Safe Passages/ Shelter and
Services for Victims of DV
2 participants
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CAPER 2018-19 Project Addendum
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CAPER Checklist 2018-19
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