2017-2018 Y34 AAPAnnual Action Plan
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Executive Summary
AP-05 Executive Summary - 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b)
1.Introduction
The City of Northampton is pleased to submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development Year 3 of the City's Five Year Consolidated Plan for FY2015-FY2020. For the program year
July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018, the City will receive $613,782. This document outlines how the City will
allocate and spend these, as well as, funds carried over from previous years. The City of Northampton
remains committed to providing high quality services to those most in need in Northampton.
2.Summarize the objectives and outcomes identified in the Plan
This could be a restatement of items or a table listed elsewhere in the plan or a reference to
another location. It may also contain any essential items from the housing and homeless needs
assessment, the housing market analysis or the strategic plan.
The objectives and outcomes are outlined in the Annual Goals and Objectives section of this document.
3.Evaluation of past performance
This is an evaluation of past performance that helped lead the grantee to choose its goals or
projects.
The City of Northampton reviewed the activities, goals and outcomes from the 2015-2020 Consolidated
Plan/Year 2 Action Plan. The two large housing projects carried forward to this program year
commenced after being unexpectedly delayed in the last program year. Other high priority projects
were completed and public service subrecipients provided critical services to Northampton residents
with low and moderate incomes.
Accomplishments for the 2016 Program Year included:
Heating system replacement at the Grove Street Inn, the City's homeless shelter for individuals
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Small Business technical assistance was provided to 13 individuals which included 2 new and 7
existing businesses
Valley CDC administered a homeownership program which provided 3 downpayment/closing
cost assistance grants and referrals to HOME assisted units
The City acquired a parcel of land on Glendale Road which will include the future development
of 4 house lots for affordable homeownership
CDBG funds were used to provide tenant relocation assistance to 31 individuals who needed to
be temporarily housed off site to allow for the demolition of 129 Pleasant Street and new
construction of Live 155 (70 units of mixed income housing and first floor commercial space in a
new 4 story building on a major entrance corridor to the downtown)
CDBG funds were awarded to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to administer a housing
rehab program for the City. As of June 2017, seven income eligible single family homes are
underway.
CDBG funds were utilized to accomplish roof replacement and chimney repairs at 18 Summer
Street/ Gandara Center, a residence for individuals in recovery
CDBG funds were used as a portion of the acquisition cost by the Valley CDC to purchase a
former Lumberyard property on which 55 units of affordable housing with first floor commercial
space will be constructed beginning in the fall of 2017.
Twelve public service agencies provided services to 3,691 residents with low and moderate
incomes. Assistance included housing stabilization services to SRO residents; Adult Basic
Education classes; computer and employment training for immigrants; soup kitchen and food
pantry offerings; legal assistance for residents at risk of losing their housing; nutrition services to
elders as well as outreach and advocacy to Latino residents.
Year end performance results will be detailed in the CAPER.
4.Summary of Citizen Participation Process and consultation process
Summary from citizen participation section of plan.
Citizen input is on-going throughout the year. Monthly meetings of the Northampton Housing
Partnership, the Next Step Collaborative and the Community Preservation Committee are regular
settings for the sharing and exchange of information.
On the regional level, the Individual Services Committee, the Family Services Committee, the Committee
on Unaccompanied Youth and the Veterans Committee meet monthly. These sessions gather service
providers from all four Western Mass. counties through the Network to End Homelessness. The Pioneer
Valley Planning Commission's Regional Housing Plan Implementation and Fair Housing committees meet
quarterly, as does the Network's Leadership Council. The Western Mass. Inter-Agency Council on
Housing and Homelessness also meets quarterly, bringing together representatives of all the State
systems whose work impacts homelessness.
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Preparation for the Action Plan and discussions about priority community needs became a focus at all
local meetings occurring after January 1, 2017 and several Network Committee meetings over the past
six months. Two public hearings, advertised through legal ads in the local newspaper, mailings and on
the City's website, were held for outreach to the broader community. The funds for public service
awards were allocated through a competitive application process during which interviews were
conducted by the AdHoc Public Services Review Committee.
Valuable information about successes, challenges and unmet needs is garnered through the CDBG Public
Services monitoring visits and the application interview sessions. The CDBG Administrator also meets
with program directors throughout the year to identify service delivery gaps and ways to increase
collaborations in the community to address unmet need and enhance service delivery.
As the CDBG office and Northampton Housing Partnership embark on the Fair Housing Assessment
process later this year, focus groups will be identified and sessions held which will reveal much about
the work the City needs to do to create and maintain a socially and economically diverse healthy
community.
5.Summary of public comments
This could be a brief narrative summary or reference an attached document from the Citizen
Participation section of the Con Plan.
All comments made at the public hearings and at other local and regional meetings were taken into
account in the formulation of this plan. See appendix for minutes from the public hearings.
6.Summary of comments or views not accepted and the reasons for not accepting them
There was no public input received by the CDBG Administrator through the City sponsored consultation
process that was not considered.
7.Summary
In 2017-2018, the City of Northampton will receive $613,782 in federal Community Development Block
Grant funds (CDBG). The City encourages public participation and comment in development of the
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Annual Action Plan through public hearings and, if unable to attend by calling or emailing questions,
concerns or comments.
This document details how the City will expend Federal funds to address the challenges faced by
residents in our community with low and moderate incomes.
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PR-05 Lead & Responsible Agencies – 91.200(b)
1.Agency/entity responsible for preparing/administering the Consolidated Plan
Describe the agency/entity responsible for preparing the Consolidated Plan and those responsible for administration of each grant
program and funding source.
Agency Role Name Department/Agency
Lead Agency NORTHAMPTON
Table 1 – Responsible Agencies
Narrative (optional)
Consolidated Plan Public Contact Information
Margaret Keller, CDBG Administrator for the City of Northampton MA 413-587-1288
Cam Leon, Assistant CDBG Administrator for the City of Northampton MA 413-587-1286
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AP-10 Consultation – 91.100, 91.200(b), 91.215(l)
1.Introduction
The City of Northampton's community development program benefits greatly from collaborative local
and regional partnerships. Locally, the Northampton Housing Partnership, the Next Step Collaborative,
Valley CDC Provider meetings, meetings with City departments, the CDBG Public Services Grant
Application interview process and the CDBG Public Hearings all contribute valuable input through the
year about community needs and provide venues to carry out the work to meet objectives and
accomplish goals. Regionally, the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness is a critical
vehicle for coordinating responses to individual, youth, Veterans and family homelessness.
- Western Mass. Network to End Homelessness monthly meetings; Individual Services Committee,
Family Services Committee, Veterans Services Committee, Unaccompanied Youth Committee
- Quarterly meetings of the Leadership Council of the Network/ rotated through the 4 counties to
coordinate overall efforts to end homelessness
- Quarterly meetings of the Western Mass. Inter-agency Council on Housing and Homelessness/ State
agency reps serving Western MA
- Quarterly meetings of Valley CDC and HAPHousing ( now known as Way Finders) with housing support
service providers (i.e. Vets, DMH) to insure housing stabilization for low income tenants in their
properties
- Monthly Next Step meetings with City and local housing and homeless service providers to gauge
shelter capacity and adequacy of available resources/ Presentations vary from month to month to insure
knowledge of, and coordination of all area resources.
Provide a concise summary of the jurisdiction’s activities to enhance coordination between
public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health
and service agencies (91.215(l))
The City's CDBG Administrator takes responsibility for insuring coordination of relevant component
parts/participants functioning in the local service delivery system. Listed below is a sampling of some
activities that occurred this past year that enhanced that coordination in addition to the regularly
scheduled meetings described above:
Served on Amherst Panel on Homelessness 7/14/16; Meeting with Dial Self for Homeless Youth Services
7/18/16; PVPC/HAP Inclusionary Communities Work Group 7/20/16, 3/2/17,6/7/17; United Way Panel
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on Economic Insecurity 8/23/16; Community Action meeting on weatherization/housing rehab 8/25/16;
NHP meeting with Housing Authority 12/6/16; Department of Mental Health/HAP sponsored Housing
Search Workshop for area providers 1/11/17; Network session with DHCD and Fireman Foundation on
statewide goals and programs 2/14/17; Housing Partnership sponsored Landlord Workshop re: fair
housing laws 2/15/17; held strategy session with Casa Latina 2/22/17; Habitat session on
small/affordable homes 5/22/17; Meeting with Planning Office/NHP re: zoning for affordability 6/6/17.
Safe Passage attended Next Step 5/1 to talk to providers about the new Spanish DV support group and
services, Soldier On Women's Program attended on 9/8/16 to discuss their new program/housing;
Commonwealth HealthCare presented on 11/10/16. Cooley Dickinson Hospital conducted a Mental
Health Policy Session with NAMI, Recovery Learning Center and Starlight, the DMH clubhouse, on
5/19/17.
Describe coordination with the Continuum of Care and efforts to address the needs of
homeless persons (particularly chronically homeless individuals and families, families with
children, veterans, and unaccompanied youth) and persons at risk of homelessness.
The City's CDBG Administrator served as the regional COC lead agent for 16 years before administration
was transferred to the Hilltown CDC five years ago. The CoC collects and publishes Point in Time Count
data utilized for Consolidated and Annual Action plan formulation. The CoC (3 counties) interfaces with
the Western Mass. Network to End Homelessness (oversees work in 4 counties). The CoC is working to
facilitate the creation of a coordinated entry system. The two CoC leads in the region participate on the
Network Steering Committee and Leadership Council. The City CDBG Administrator, is also on the
Leadership Council. All systems mesh. Currently, the CoC utilizes the Network's committee system (
Individual Services, Family Services, Unaccompanied Youth, Veterans, Housing Sex Offenders Task Force,
Domestic Violence Committee, Secure Jobs Connect) which yields rich monthly meetings with
participants across western Massachusetts. Locations are rotated for ease of access, as the geography
covered is extensive. The Network Coordinator provides the staff support, meeting minutes, legislative
advocacy and overall coordination for Network efforts and has successfully done so for 8 years.
Describe consultation with the Continuum(s) of Care that serves the jurisdiction's area in
determining how to allocate ESG funds, develop performance standards for and evaluate
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outcomes of projects and activities assisted by ESG funds, and develop funding, policies and
procedures for the operation and administration of HMIS
A State line item earmark for the Network was utilized in part this past year to fund technical assistance
for the CoC . TAC was hired for 125 hours from January 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 to help clarify the
governance and committee structure, review the use and management of the HMIS project and
services, provide training for grantees on regulations and compliance, develop goals for each sub-
population to end homelessness and to develop a strategy for implementing a coordinated entry model
with a uniform assessment tool. The results of this effort are guiding activity now. There are no
municipalities in the CoC that are ESG entitlement communities. ESG funding for the CoC is allocated by
the MA Dept. of Housing and Community Development through a competitive process. As part of the
CoC governance structure, the CoC engages in an annual discussion about what the funding priorities
should be and supports applications for funds from appropriate agencies for activities that address
those priorities. Funds in the past few years have been directed to Prevention Services due to the high
number of families in local hotels/motels. The CoC HMIS Data Coordinator is hosting a session in August
to solicit feedback on meeting the data needs of the entitlement communities to insure CoC
coordination with Consolidated and Action Planning functions.
2.Describe Agencies, groups, organizations and others who participated in the process
and describe the jurisdiction’s consultations with housing, social service agencies and other
entities
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Table 2 – Agencies, groups, organizations who participated
1 Agency/Group/Organization CASA LATINA, INC.
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services - Housing
Services-Elderly Persons
Services-Persons with Disabilities
Services-Victims of Domestic Violence
Services-Health
Services-Education
Services-Employment
Service-Fair Housing
Neighborhood Organization
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Anti-poverty Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
CD staff met with Casa Latina during the year to monitor CDBG grant
performance. Agency's priority is to recruit additional board members with
fundraising expertise to increase agency revenue to expand staff capacity. 4 new
members joined this past. Currently, there is 1 staff position and volunteers. The
long time Executive Director left in May 2017. The search for a new Director is
underway. United Way and Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Valley Medical Group
are supporting the Medical Translation Program and operational costs.
2 Agency/Group/Organization CENTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT / SRO OUTREACH PROJECT
Agency/Group/Organization Type Housing
Services - Housing
Services-Children
Services-Persons with Disabilities
Services-homeless
Services-Health
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What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Homeless Needs - Chronically homeless
Homeless Needs - Families with children
Homelessness Needs - Veterans
Homelessness Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
CHD provides staffing for the CDBG funded SRO Outreach Project, Big Brothers
and Big Sisters and works in the region with homeless families and children.
Through the CDBG interview process, updates were given on the SRO Project and
BBBS. City CD staff interface with CHD around the family homelessness issues
through the sub-committees of the Network and the CoC.Updates from the SRO
Outreach Program are provided at every monthly Next Step meeting ( City and
housing providers ) City also works closely with the Community Housing Support
Services Coordinator, an employee of CHD. The CHSSP position was a brain child
of Housing Partnership members in recognition of the need for housing
stabilization and tenancy preservation services for families at risk of eviction in
Housing Court. CHD responded to the Request for Services and was awarded the
three year grant of $195,000. The grant will be presented to the Northampton
Community Preservation Committee, where hopefully it will be awarded renewal
funding. .
3 Agency/Group/Organization Center for New Americans
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-Education
Services-Employment
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Economic Development
Anti-poverty Strategy
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Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Met with agency leadership during CDBG monitoring visit and got updates through
the CDBG public services interview process and at the CDBG Public Hearings.
Agency expanded its legal services for immigrants component and continues to
work with the Dept. of Education(DESE)on English language and career
development offerings. Increased collaboration with homeless and social service
agencies, so referrals can be made for households presenting with other
challenges. Agency workload increased exponentially, after the Presidential
election and resulting ramifications for immigrant populations.
4 Agency/Group/Organization Northampton Department of Public Works
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-Persons with Disabilities
Grantee Department
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Non-Homeless Special Needs
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Implemented a program last year with DPW to install 13 audio signalized
pedestrian buttons at high traffic intersections. Met with DPW staff to describe
CDBG eligible activities for their consideration moving forward. There are no
projects anticipated for next year that could utilize CDBG funding.
5 Agency/Group/Organization Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin Regions, Inc.
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-Children
Services-Education
Services-Employment
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Homelessness Needs - Unaccompanied youth
Anti-poverty Strategy
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Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Regional CAP agency staff come to the public hearings. They are also a public
services grantee so there is regular interaction between their staff and City staff.
Their family and child care programs utilize the James House and Vernon Street
School, both City owned. Their annual community needs assessment is utilized by
City staff for program planning and evaluation. Agency Director is former
Northampton Mayor and active in the CoC and Regional Network to End
Homelessness' Leadership Council. Consultation occurred this past year to
incorporate weatherization and energy resources into the Housing Rehab
Program.
6 Agency/Group/Organization Community Legal Aid, Inc.
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services - Housing
Services-Persons with Disabilities
Services-Victims of Domestic Violence
Services-homeless
Service-Fair Housing
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Public Housing Needs
Homelessness Strategy
Non-Homeless Special Needs
Anti-poverty Strategy
Lead-based Paint Strategy
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Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Community Legal Aid is a CDBG grantee so there is regular interaction between
the organization and City staff. Agency staff attended the needs assessment public
hearing and relayed poignant anecdotes about how the agency assists individuals
and families who are at risk of losing their housing gain stability (i.e. putting in
place rep payees or obtaining mental health services) to maintain their tenancy.
CLA staff attorneys work closely with the Community Housing Support Services
Coordinator, a position funded by the Community Preservation Committee as
applied for by the Northampton Housing Partnership.
7 Agency/Group/Organization Northampton Veterans Services
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services - Housing
Services-homeless
Services-Health
Other government - Local
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Homelessness Needs - Veterans
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Northampton's Veterans Agent, Steve Connor, is a regular participant at the
monthly Next Step Collaborative meetings, head of the Statewide Veterans
Coalition and member of the regional Network Veterans Committee. Mr. Connor
regularly brings updates on local, regional and statewide activity. He works closely
with the Northampton VA and Soldier On, to bring medical resources and health
care, as well as emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supported housing
opportunities to men and women Veterans and their children, at the campus in
Leeds.
8 Agency/Group/Organization PIONEER VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Agency/Group/Organization Type Housing
Regional organization
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What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Anti-poverty Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
CDBG staff meet often with the Director of the local Habitat chapter. Last year the
Planning Director, CDBG Administrator and Habitat Director, Megan McDonough,
toured some possible sites for new Habitat projects. One of those, Glendale Road
came to fruition and after answering an RFP, secured the property. They will
create 4 new homes there in the next few years. There is an additional parcel (
Burts Pit Road ) that may also see some Habitat development, as well as on the
former Housing Authority parcels on Laurel Street and Burts Pit Road. Acquisition
of these parcels will accomplish multiple city goals; open space protection, natural
resource conservation and creation of affordable housing.
9 Agency/Group/Organization Cooley Dickinson Hospital
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-Persons with Disabilities
Services-Persons with HIV/AIDS
Services-Health
Publicly Funded Institution/System of Care
Major Employer
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Homelessness Strategy
Non-Homeless Special Needs
Community physical and mental health issues
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Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Jeff Harness, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital has assisted with the strategy to build
capacity at Casa Latina. The medical interpreter program is important for the
Latino community in accessing medical services. CDH has funded it in the past. Mr.
Harness also met with the Resident Services Coordinator at Meadowbrook the
City's largest affordable apartment complex to address health care access
(connection made by the CDBG Administrator). CDH Social work and Emergency
Dept. staff attend Next Step meetings regularly to stay informed about discharge
planning protocols and placement resources to prevent discharges into
homelessness.
10 Agency/Group/Organization HAP Housing
Agency/Group/Organization Type Housing
Regional organization
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Creating Affordable Housing
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
The City encouraged HAPHousing, rebranded as Way Finders, to undertake the
redevelopment of a 58 unit SRO building downtown. They pursued the project,
secured funding, relocated the existing tenants, demolished the building and
construction is well underway on a new 4 story, mixed use, mixed income
development on the site. Way Finders has always been a trusted regional housing
agency. The results of the collaboration around the Northampton Lodging SRO will
bring 70 new residential units, 48 affordable, with units set aside for clients of the
Department of Mental Health, as well as formerly homeless with fully
handicapped accessible units as well. Way Finders also owns and manages other
affordable housing in Northampton.
11 Agency/Group/Organization Highland Valley Elder Services
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-Elderly Persons
Regional organization
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What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Anti-poverty Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Highland Valley Elder Services (HVES) is a CDBG public services grantee, therefore
there is regular interaction between (HVES) and City staff. CDBG Administrator has
assisted with invitations and networking for community visioning sessions so HVES
can gain a better understanding of homeless services and community needs.
12 Agency/Group/Organization Literacy Project
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-Education
Services-Employment
Regional organization
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Anti-poverty Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
The Literacy Project is a CDBG public services grantee and a tenant at the James
House so there is significant interaction between the agency and the City. As are
many of the City CDBG funded public services, TLP is seen as a form of
homelessness prevention, as educational attainment is economic empowerment.
The component of the program that CDBG funds, is the "mentoring" support that
addresses the student holistically, addressing the multiple challenges that an
individual and family with low incomes may face. Being able to navigate the
employment world, for example, by learning computer and study skills is a solid
approach to stable housing and a secure financial future.
13 Agency/Group/Organization MANNA SOUP KITCHEN, INC.
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-homeless
Food Security Homelessness Prevention
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Homelessness Strategy
Anti-poverty Strategy
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Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
MANNA Soup Kitchen is a CDBG grantee; staff are consulted throughout the
program year. Observations of guests at the MANNA program, relative to numbers
and profiles, provide helpful insight to who is struggling in our community. This
program embodies the true safety net in Northampton and reduces food
insecurity and relieves housing cost pressures.
14 Agency/Group/Organization MASS FAIR HOUSING CENTER
Agency/Group/Organization Type Service-Fair Housing
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Anti-poverty Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
The Mayor's Office works with the Mass Fair Housing Center to provide fair
housing testing and community outreach and education activities in Northampton.
A workshop for local landlords was held 2-11-2016 and addressed medical
marijuana, fair housing laws, service animals and other pertinent topics.
Northampton is considered a "community of opportunity" in a highly segregated
region, so City staff attend meetings where housing choice and mobility strategies
are discussed. The Fair Housing Center is leading that effort.Local workshops for
the LGBT and DV communities are planned for the fall of 2017. The City regularly
attends the annual Fair Housing Conference in Springfield which offers a wide
array of inspirational speakers and informative workshops.
15 Agency/Group/Organization Northampton Housing Authority
Agency/Group/Organization Type PHA
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Public Housing Needs
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Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
The Housing Authority Director hired in July of 2015 continues to get oriented and
address internal operational issues. There was more of a community presence
this last year. The NHA participated in project basing some Section 8 vouchers for
the VASH program, and opted to relinquish their development role for 2 parcels
they were deed in the disposition of the State Hospital. The City is moving forward
on securing the deeds and will do an RFP to develop the parcels. The land
disposition agreement has been revised by the State legislature to allow the
ownership transfer. The Commonwealth is currently conducting appraisals. The
NHA Director attended a Housing Partnership meeting and all agreed to work
closely to achieve community goals.
16 Agency/Group/Organization Northampton Survival Center
Agency/Group/Organization Type Provision of Food
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Anti-poverty Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
The Northampton Survival Center (NSC) is a CDBG public services grantee so
agency and City staff communicate regularly throughout the program year. City
staff made linkages between the Resident Services Coordinator at Meadowbrook
and the NSC for nutrition and cooking educational workshops and to sponsor
children's meals programming during the summer at the apartment complex.
17 Agency/Group/Organization SAFE PASSAGE
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-Victims of Domestic Violence
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Homeless Needs - Families with children
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Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Safe Passage is represented monthly at the Next Step Collaborative meetings.
They also participate on a committee on Domestic Violence Issues within the W.
Mass. Network to End Homelessness. The CDBG Administrator met with the
Director of Safe Passage on 10/7/16 to identify possible collaborative projects,
particularly the need for transitional housing.
18 Agency/Group/Organization ServiceNet, Inc.
Agency/Group/Organization Type Services-homeless
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Homeless Needs - Chronically homeless
Homelessness Needs - Unaccompanied youth
Homelessness Strategy
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
ServiceNet Inc. is a CDBG public services grantee and a large mental health agency
in Western Mass. The Shelter and Housing Division oversees most homeless beds
for individuals that are non-Veteran specific in the region. In Northampton, they
operate the Interfaith Winter shelter and the Grove Street Inn year round shelter,
both for individuals. Program directors attend the Next Step Collaborative
monthly meetings regularly and report on shelter capacity, resource development
and service coordination. They also attend the Network's Individual Services
Committee monthly meetings regularly. ServiceNet also administers McKinney
Shelter Plus Care and Permanent Supported housing beds in Northampton, but no
beds for families. The CDBG Administrator participates on the Cot Management
Committee that oversees the winter shelter with ServiceNet and the Friends of
the Homeless cadre of 400 volunteers that supply evening meals and overnight
back up coverage to staff. The CDBG Administrator also does a monthly overnight
at the shelter, so the City is in close partnership with ServiceNet in the provision of
services to the homeless.
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19 Agency/Group/Organization Valley Community Development Corporation (CDC)
Agency/Group/Organization Type Housing
Services-Employment
What section of the Plan was addressed by
Consultation?
Housing Need Assessment
Homeless Needs - Families with children
Non-Homeless Special Needs
Economic Development
Briefly describe how the Agency/Group/Organization
was consulted. What are the anticipated outcomes of
the consultation or areas for improved coordination?
Valley CDC is a CDBG grantee for the first time home buyer/down payment
assistance program as well as our community partner for affordable housing
development. They also administer a CDBG funded small business assistance
program. The City has expended $150,000 in CDBG dollars and $300,000 in
Community Preservation funds this past year for the development of 55 units of
affordable housing at 256 Pleasant and will make an investment in the renovation
and expansion of an existing SRO building at 82 Bridge Street this coming year.
The CDBG Administrator attends quarterly meetings hosted by Valley which brings
service providers together for coordinated case management. Valley works hard
to preserve tenancies rather than evict people.
Identify any Agency Types not consulted and provide rationale for not consulting
More expansive consultation occurred when the 5 Year Consolidated Plan was compiled. The agencies listed above were the ones that City staff
worked most closely with this past year. The CDBG Administrator also reaches out at least once annually to the municipal counterparts in
Amherst and Easthampton to get project updates and discuss trends and challenges. There was also a meeting held on May 16, 2017 with the
Housing Partnerships from Northampton, Amherst and Easthampton to discuss affordable housing projects and planning efforts.
The CDBG Administrator also serves on the Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission's Housing Plan Implementation Committee, as well as
the Inclusive Communities Advisory group, both with regional representation. The ICAG focuses on fair housing issues, with Northampton being
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identified as a "community of opportunity" . Regional efforts are being undertaken to encourage movement of people out of the areas in
Hampden county, Holyoke and Springfield where poverty is heavily concentrated, to other communities. The Mass Fair Housing Center is leading
that effort with a Mobility Program. Discussions with Hampshire County landlords are occuring to facilitate that movement.
Other local/regional/state/federal planning efforts considered when preparing the Plan
Name of Plan Lead Organization How do the goals of your Strategic Plan overlap with the goals of each plan?
Continuum of Care Hilltown Community
Development Corp.
Creation of permanent supported housing units, homelessness prevention, housing
stabilization supports in existing housing, increased focus on substance abuse and creation
of new housing and support services for unaccompanied youth.
Western Massachusetts
Opening Doors
W.Mass. Network to
End Homelessness
Plan created in June of 2015 offers a framework for implementation and accountability to
make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring by retooling the crisis response system to
one of housing focused, data driven and outcome oriented. Municipal work is driven by
collective impact framework presented in the report.
Federal Opening Doors
Plan U.S.Department of HUD
Western Mass. Network aligned regional activity with goals in Federal Plan, to insure
progress and accountability in one overall framework. The 10 objectives articulated in the
Federal plan are pursued at the regional and local level.
Housing Needs
Assessment and
Strategic Housing Pla
Northampton Housing
Partnership
Mayor's Office, CDBG Administrator/Housing Planner work through the Housing
Partnership to implement the goals and objectives in the plan. Updates are provided
monthly at the Partnership meetings to monitor progress. This plan is more generic than
the homelessness plans, but goals align.
Action Plan -
Governor's Opioid
Working Group
Governor's Office/
Hampshire HOPE
High degree of substance abuse in homeless shelters. Hampshire HOPE - Heroin/Opioid
Prevention and Education task force has interfaced with the Next Step Collaborative, and
has formed a multi pronged local coalition. Goals of creating public awareness to reframe
addiction as a medical disease, foster public private partnerships to leverage resources,
community education are overlapping goals. Interface led HOPE to include a housing
provider/ liaison to the Regional Network to End Homelessness on the task force.
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Name of Plan Lead Organization How do the goals of your Strategic Plan overlap with the goals of each plan?
Pioneer Valley Planning
Commission PVPC
Identification of Communities of opportunity that commit to creating affordable housing to
facilitate movement from areas of minority and poverty concentration/ from Hampden
County to Hampshire County. Overlapping goal of being able to increase utilization of
Section 8 vouchers in strong real estate markets.
All Roads Lead Home
Three County CoC 10 Yr.
Plan to End
Homelessness 2008
Build community support for ending homelessness, are goals of the City and the CoC and
Network. Coordination and funding for prevention, rapid rehousing, creation of permanent
supportive housing units, increase educational opportunities, employment and individual
life skills and assets.
Special Report on
Unaccompanied Youth
Executive Office of the
Governor
Commonwealth created a Special Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth and
issued a report in June of 2015. Goal of Commission,which aligns with regional and local
planning efforts is to ensure a comprehensive and effective response to the unique needs
of homeless youth. Funding for data collection, housing and support services has followed
the report, some of which has been secured by both CoC's in the region, now being
implemented.
Table 3 – Other local / regional / federal planning efforts
Narrative (optional)
A new program was added to the local service delivery system this spring. Safe Passage, the local domestic violence organization hired a Latina
outreach worker who is offering support groups and case management to Spanish speaking Hispanic residents. This is an exciting opportunity to
reach those who may be marginalized by not only their domestic situation but also by language barriers.
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AP-12 Participation – 91.105, 91.200(c)
1.Summary of citizen participation process/Efforts made to broaden citizen participation
Summarize citizen participation process and how it impacted goal-setting
Preparation for the Action Plan and discussions on priority community needs took place at all local meetings and several Network Committee
meetings. Two public hearings, advertised through legal ads in the local newspaper, mailings and on the City's website, and open to everyone,
were held for outreach to the broader community. The Draft Plan was also published on the City's website and a hardcopy was made available in
the CDBG office. Input and suggestions were taken into consideration when identifying priorites to be addressed.
Citizen Participation Outreach
Sort Order Mode of Outreach Target of Outreach Summary of
response/attendance
Summary of
comments received
Summary of comments
not accepted
and reasons
URL (If
applicable)
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Sort Order Mode of Outreach Target of Outreach Summary of
response/attendance
Summary of
comments received
Summary of comments
not accepted
and reasons
URL (If
applicable)
1 Public Hearing
Minorities
Non-English
Speaking - Specify
other language: all
non-English
speaking residents
Persons with
disabilities
Non-
targeted/broad
community
Residents of Public
and Assisted
Housing
Public Hearing on
Housing, Community
and Economic
Development
Priorities on February
14,2017 and March
29, 2017. 15 people
attended in total.
Two public hearings
for Action Plan
amendments were
also advertised, June
14, 2016 and
September 26, 2016.
0 attended.
See minutes of
meetings in
Appendix.
All comments were
accepted.
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Sort Order Mode of Outreach Target of Outreach Summary of
response/attendance
Summary of
comments received
Summary of comments
not accepted
and reasons
URL (If
applicable)
3 Public Meeting
Housing and
Homeless Service
Providers
Next Step
Collaborative. Meets
monthly with 10-15
attendees. Housing
and homeless service
providers work
directly with City staff
to identify service
delivery system gaps,
work to insure
resources are fully
utilized and not
duplicated, and
coordination and
collaboration occurs
to the greatest extent
possible.
Regular networking
venue identifies
service gaps,
shelter capacity
issues, program
coordination. Work
is on-going.
All comments were
accepted
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Sort Order Mode of Outreach Target of Outreach Summary of
response/attendance
Summary of
comments received
Summary of comments
not accepted
and reasons
URL (If
applicable)
4 Public Meeting
Housing
Partnership
members
Northampton
Housing Partnership.
Meets monthly. 9-11
members attend
regularly.
Regular meetings
address short and
long term housing
needs, community
education, zoning
work, creation and
preservation of
affordable units.
Work is on-going.
Follow work plan in
Housing Needs
Assessment and
Strategic Plan of
2011.
All comments were
accepted.
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Sort Order Mode of Outreach Target of Outreach Summary of
response/attendance
Summary of
comments received
Summary of comments
not accepted
and reasons
URL (If
applicable)
5 Public Meeting Housing service
provider meeting
Valley CDC holds
quarterly meetings
with housing and
homeless service
providers that focus
on housing
stabilization for
existing tenants. 10-
15 attend regularly.
Tenants facing
challenges are case
managed in order
to stabilize the
tenancy and
prevent
homelessness.
Work is on-going.
City attends to stay
informed of
support service
gaps, housing
inventory capacity
and where shelter
referrals can be
made.
All comments were
accepted. HAP has now
joined the group to
plan for the residents
at Northampton
Lodging. Relocation of
48 residents during
demolition and new
construction requires
an overall community
effort.
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Sort Order Mode of Outreach Target of Outreach Summary of
response/attendance
Summary of
comments received
Summary of comments
not accepted
and reasons
URL (If
applicable)
6 Public Meeting Regional Homeless
Service Providers
The Western Mass.
Network to End
Homelessness holds
several monthly
meetings attended by
City staff. Individual
Services, Family
Services, Veteran's
Services, Housing Sex
Offenders, Domestic
Violence Committee,
Unaccompanied
Youth. Providers
from 4 counties come
together to work on
such issues as
uniform intake,
coordinated entry,
legislative advocacy,
systems change,
grant writing, etc. 10-
30 attend every
Committee regularly.
Network work is
on-going. Data
Collection is
advancing in ways
that permit tracking
of local and
regional progress
towards ending
homelessness.
Table 4 – Citizen Participation Outreach
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Expected Resources
AP-15 Expected Resources – 91.220(c)(1,2)
Introduction
The City of Northampton will use its new program year entitlement and carry over funds to implement projects as prioritized in the 2015-2020
Consolidated Plan. City departments, housing developers and public service agencies utilize many other funding sources to operate programs
and bring projects to fruition.
Anticipated Resources
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Program Source Uses of Funds Expected Amount Available Year 1 Expected Narrative Description
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of
Funds
Annual
Allocation:
$
Program
Income:
$
Prior Year
Resources:
$
Total:
$
Amount
Available
Remainder
CDBG public -
federal
Acquisition
Admin and
Planning
Economic
Development
Housing
Public
Improvements
Public Services 613,782 20,000 538,260 1,172,042 1,227,564
CDBG funds will be used for housing
programs/projects; economic
development; public facilities; demolition;
public service programs; planning
activities; and administration of the grant.
Expected remaining amount is based on
level funding over the remaining three
years, $10,000 per year program income
and annual carry-over of $250,000
Continuum
of Care
public -
federal
Housing
334,210 0 0 334,210 668,420
Permanent Supportive Housing and
Shelter Plus Care Programs. Expected
remaining amount based on level funding
over the next two years. The annual
amount is prorated on programs
operating in Northampton. Overall award
for Franklin, Hampshire and Berkshire
counties is $1,602,351
Other public -
federal
Housing
0 0 0 0 0
Other public -
federal
Housing
Public Services
131,335 0 0 131,335 260,000
Funding for A Positive Place. Expected
remaining amount based on level funding
administered by the City of Springfield for
the region, over the next two years.
Other public -
local
Acquisition
Housing
Public
Improvements 800,000 0 0 800,000 1,600,000
This is an estimate because the amount of
the State match fluctuates, as does the
amount of local revenue generated.
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Table 1 - Expected Resources – Priority Table
Explain how federal funds will leverage those additional resources (private, state and local funds), including a description of how
matching requirements will be satisfied
All City of Northampton CDBG funded projects require other funding sources in order to achieve full implementation. Public facilities projects
often utilize Capital Improvement Program funds and private fundraising dollars. Public infrastructure projects generally utilize State Chapter 90
funding and other grant sources. Public service grants use a variety of other funding sources, such as United Way and private fundraising from
foundations and individuals. CDBG funds are often used for affordable housing applications to State and Federal funding sources that require
evidence of a local match. Local affordable housing projects also apply to the Community Preservation Committee for CPA Act funding. Smith
College has an Affordable Housing Trust fund that is also available to support local development when Smith removes units from the community
inventory for their expansion purposes.
The Commonwealth's Department of Housing and Community Development is the primary funding source for affordable housing development,
through the One Stop application process. For example, $150,000 of CDBG funds for the 256 Pleasant Street Lumber Yard Apartment project is
leveraging 19 million+ dollars of State funding, similar to the 155 Live HAP project, both 20 million dollar projects. The amounts of the public
services grants are so small ( $3-10,000) that the grantees report the biggest value they have is to indicate City support to leverage other more
significant funding amounts from other sources.
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If appropriate, describe publically owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that
may be used to address the needs identified in the plan
The City's Office of Planning and Sustainability continues to be aggressive in the pursuit of land
acquisition for limited development projects. This past year, the OPS negotiated, with CDBG funding, the
purchase of a defunct sub-division project that abuts a conservation/wildlife corridor. The parcel was
purchased, and a 23 lot plan was reconfigured for open space protection and four affordable house lots.
Habitat responded to the Request for Proposals and will begin construction next year. The OPS also
purchased a parcel where an RFP will be created for energy efficient affordable homes on Burt's Pit
Road. They are conducting a design competition for the house designs which future owners will be
required to utilize. The competition challenge is to show how to build small, affordable, energy efficient
homes. Also, when the City receives the deeds for the 2 remaining undeveloped Housing Authority
parcels on Laurel Street and Burt's Pit Rd (different site from the OPS parcel ) an RFP will be
disseminated for the development of affordable housing. If Habitat ends up with the responsibility for all
these projects ( Glendale Road, Burts Pit (1 and 2) and Laurel Street) and they most likely will, as they
have the strongest ability to develop smaller projects, they will have a long pipe line of affordable home
ownership creation in Northampton. This is exciting, considering how the State is not putting funding
into affordable home ownership development. Habitat will depend on CDBG, Community Preservation
funding, and other non-traditional sources. The City of Northampton continues to think creatively about
the production of new units, despite the lack of available land and high development costs.
Discussion
With the Northampton real estate market continuing to be strong, very few properties become available
through tax takings or foreclosures. Municipal land available for development is minimal. The
Northampton Housing Partnership is examining tax abatement programs and zoning proposals that may
result in the inclusion of affordable units in new developments or subsidies for residents in existing
units. The City is watching HUD closely to monitor implementation of a program that will allow for Fair
Market Rent rates to be adjusted in high income, strong real estate markets such as Northampton's.
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Annual Goals and Objectives
AP-20 Annual Goals and Objectives
Goals Summary Information
Sort
Order
Goal Name Start
Year
End
Year
Category Geographic
Area
Needs Addressed Funding Goal Outcome Indicator
1 Homelessness
Prevention
2015 2019 Homeless
Non-Homeless Special
Needs
Homelessness
Prevention
CDBG:
$16,500
Continuum
of Care:
$423,076
CPA:
$65,000
HOPWA:
$131,335
Homelessness Prevention:
367 Persons Assisted
2 Support for Emergency
Shelter System
2015 2019 Homeless Support for
Emergency Shelter
CDBG:
$20,000
Homeless Person
Overnight Shelter: 300
Persons Assisted
3 Rental Housing for
Families
2015 2019 Affordable Housing Rental Housing for
Families
Housing for At -
Risk & Special
Needs Populations
Housing Support
Services
CDBG: $0
Continuum
of Care:
$139,875
Rental units constructed:
70 Household Housing
Unit
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Sort
Order
Goal Name Start
Year
End
Year
Category Geographic
Area
Needs Addressed Funding Goal Outcome Indicator
4 Rental Housing for
Individuals
2015 2019 Affordable Housing Rental Housing for
Individuals
Housing for At -
Risk & Special
Needs Populations
Housing Support
Services
CDBG:
$215,000
Continuum
of Care:
$184,355
CPA:
$325,000
HOPWA:
$131,335
Rental units constructed:
56 Household Housing
Unit
5 Preservation of Existing
Affordable Rental Stock
2015 2019 Affordable Housing Preservation of
Existing Affordable
Rental Stock
CDBG:
$150,000
Rental units rehabilitated:
15 Household Housing
Unit
6 Housing Rehabilitation 2015 2019 Affordable Housing Housing
Rehabilitation
Resources
CDBG:
$330,000
Homeowner Housing
Rehabilitated: 7
Household Housing Unit
7 Affordable
Homeownership for
Families
2015 2019 Affordable Housing Affordable
Homeownership
for Families
CDBG:
$81,000
Homeowner Housing
Added: 3 Household
Housing Unit
Direct Financial Assistance
to Homebuyers: 4
Households Assisted
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Sort
Order
Goal Name Start
Year
End
Year
Category Geographic
Area
Needs Addressed Funding Goal Outcome Indicator
8 Housing for At-Risk and
Special Needs
Populations
2015 2019 Affordable Housing Housing for At -
Risk & Special
Needs Populations
CDBG:
$65,000
Continuum
of Care:
$334,210
Housing for Homeless
added: 24 Household
Housing Unit
Housing for People with
HIV/AIDS added: 0
Household Housing Unit
HIV/AIDS Housing
Operations: 22 Household
Housing Unit
9 Economic
Development/Income
Maximization
2015 2019 Economic
Development/Income
Maximization
Economic
Development
CDBG:
$16,500
Public service activities
other than Low/Moderate
Income Housing Benefit:
75 Persons Assisted
Jobs created/retained: 10
Jobs
Businesses assisted: 15
Businesses Assisted
10 Housing Support
Services
2015 2019 Affordable Housing Housing Support
Services
CDBG:
$16,500
CPA:
$65,000
Homelessness Prevention:
345 Persons Assisted
11 Addressing Basic Needs 2015 2019 Non-Housing
Community
Development
Addressing Basic
Needs
CDBG:
$64,857
Public service activities
other than Low/Moderate
Income Housing Benefit:
2950 Persons Assisted
12 Elimination of Slums
and Blight
2015 2016 Elimination of Slums
and Blight
Elimination of
Slums and Blight
CDBG:
$45,000
Buildings Demolished: 1
Buildings
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Sort
Order
Goal Name Start
Year
End
Year
Category Geographic
Area
Needs Addressed Funding Goal Outcome Indicator
13 Improvement of Public
Facilities
2015 2016 Non-Housing
Community
Development
Public Facilities CDBG:
$58,000
Public Facility or
Infrastructure Activities
other than Low/Moderate
Income Housing Benefit:
1600 Persons Assisted
14 Improvement of Public
Infrastructure
2015 2019 Non-Housing
Community
Development
Public
Infrastructure
CDBG: $0
15 Planning and
Administration
2015 2019 Program Administration CDBG:
$122,748
Other: 29000 Other
Table 2 – Goals Summary
Goal Descriptions
1 Goal Name Homelessness Prevention
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Goal
Description
The City will allocate CDBG funds to Community Legal Aid ($6,500) and the SRO Outreach Project ($10,000) to work with
low and moderate income residents at risk of homelessness to stabilize their housing. The HOPWA award of $131,335 to A
Positive Place will work to prevent homelessness for residents living with HIV/AIDS and the ServiceNet Shelter Plus Care
award of $184,355 will provide supports as well as subsidies to stabilize chronically homeless individuals in their current
housing. The City is committed to the goal of the Regional Network to End Homelessness which is - if homelessness occurs,
that it be rare, brief and non-recurring.
The Community Preservation Committee funding award of $65,000 per year ( 3 year grant) for the Community Housing
Support Services Program will continue to operate through 2018. At that time, the Northampton Housing Partnership will
put forward a renewal application to the CPC. This program, now operating for three years, works with court involved
families to prevent evictions and stabilize tenancies. With a case load of 54, only 3 evictions have taken place, all for
extenuating circumstances. The Coordinator works with families on financial literacy, income maximization and life skills
enhancement. This is a hugely successful program that works one on one with families experiencing signigicant challenges.
The COC funding for the region also focuses on supports for those in permanent housing, to prevent homelessness. The
primary funding recipient is ServiceNet, Inc. who operates and manages permanent housing units and Shelter Plus Care
units in Franklin and Hampshire and now Berkshire County.
2 Goal Name Support for Emergency Shelter System
Goal
Description
Funds will be allocated to the Grove Street Inn homeless shelter for individuals ($10,000) and to the Hampshire County
Inter-Faith Winter Shelter ($10,000). The ownership of the Grove Street Inn will be transferring from the City to ServiceNet,
Inc. the long time program operator. The State legislature agreed to the deed transfer under the proviso that it remain in
use as a homeless shelter. ServiceNet will proceed to make property improvements utilizing volunteer labor and private
donations, which was difficult to do under City ownership. ServiceNet will continue to administer both shelter programs for
the City. No CDBG allocations for public facility improvements are planned for this new program year.
3 Goal Name Rental Housing for Families
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Goal
Description
The City allocated $200,000 in CDBG funds to the Valley CDC for the Lumberyard Project which will provide 55 units ranging
from one bedroom to three bedroom units for families. A CDBG allocation of $150,000 for Relocation Assistance was made
to HAPHousing for the 129 Pleasant Street Lodging development which will create 70 units of rental housing, in studios and
one bedroom units of which 48 will be affordable. Both of these committments were made in prior years but securing the
other State funding sources delayed the CDBG fund draws for both. Both projects are now underway. HAP ( now
WayFinders) is drawing the funds gradually, as they are paying for tenant relocation assistance during the demolition of the
existing building and the construction of the new building. The building is expected to be occupied in the spring of 2018.The
CoC will garner McKinney funding for Paradise Pond Apartments and A Positive Place, both rental programs for families.
The City awarded $200,000 to Valley CDC to acquire a former lumber yard parcel located at 256 Pleasant Street. Those
funds were drawn during the last program year. Site work is now occurring, with occupancy expected for the fall of 2018.
Valley CDC and The Community Builders have been awarded development authority for the large remaining parcel at the
former Northampton State hospital. Now known as Village Hill, TCB was the original developer of the affordable housing
currently on site. MassDevelopment issued an RFP for this last parcel, after a plan for large lot single family development
fell apart. The proposal is for a 19 million dollar 65 unit mixed income, mixed use rental development. 8 units will have deep
subsidies and 27 will be targetted to low to middle income earners, and 30 units will be work force housing resulting in a
broad range of incomes. That project will be seeking CDBG funds for the following program year and will be an additional
undertaking in the City to create a range of additional housing opportunities.
4 Goal Name Rental Housing for Individuals
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Goal
Description
The CDBG allocation listed in Rental Housing for Families, is repeated here in part. 14 of the 55 units at the LumberYard
project are one bedroom units (could serve individuals or couples). It is possible that of the 70 total units (48 affordable) at
129 Pleasant Street, now known as Live 155, those might all be households composed of individuals, as the total inventory
will be studio and one bedroom units.
The CoC also has permanent supported housing units across the three counties, 21 are based in Hampshire County. A
Positive Place has 22 existing housing placements in the region through HOPWA and the McKinney Program. Typically 2-4
may be located in Northampton.
Additionally this year, a CDBG allocation is being made to Dial Self for a new program providing housing and support
services to unaccompanied homeless youth. The organization is purchasing a site with an existing residence in Northampton
which will provide 4 apartments and a new building will be constructed on an adjacent commonly owned parcel for an
additional 4 units. Office and community space will be designed to accommodate on site support services in the new
building.The existing building is currently being renovated and will be ready to house occupants in the fall of 2017. The new
building will be constructed in the spring of 2018. This project is very exciting as providing services to youth has been a gap
in our local service delivery system for many years.
Valley CDC has been awarded CDBG funding in this new program year ($150,000 for pre-development costs) to renovate
and expand an existing SRO building they have owned and managed for years at 82 Bridge Street. The building, sorely in
need of updating contains 15 units and the addition will create 16 new units. All will be enhanced SRO units. The income
mix will include 8 units at 30% of area median income and below, 8 units at 50% ami and 15 units at 80% and below. This 7
million dollar project will result in a huge improvement in the quality of life of the existing tenants, provide additional
affordable housing opportunities for 16 more individuals and enhance the visual appeal of the property which is on a major
entrance corridor to the downtown.
In summary, new construction will produce 14 (LumberYard) + 48 (Live 155) + 8 (Dial Self) + 16 (Bridge Street)= 86 new
units of affordable rental housing for individuals in the next 2-3 years. The Live 155 units (48) and the Dial Self units (8) are
expected to come on line in this program year/ 56. The 22 market rate units in Live 155 will be affordable to moderate
income households, a boost to the market rate affordable rental inventory in the downtown.
5 Goal Name Preservation of Existing Affordable Rental Stock
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Goal
Description
Preservation of affordable housing is a high priority in the community development strategy. Now that new construction of
affordable housing units is in the $300,000 per unit cost range, preserving existing units is highly cost effective. The CDBG
allocation for the 82 Bridge Street SRO project ($150,000) in this new year will preserve and improve 15 existing SRO units
and add an additional 16. Last year's CDBG investment in the recently completed roof repair at 18 Summer Street (Gandara
Center Housing for Individuals in Recovery) also helped to preserve existing affordable rental stock in the City.
CDBG program administration staff regularly monitor the 1,521 units on the Subsidized Housing Inventory to insure none
are lost. Efforts are being made currently to identify project based Section 8 units to preserve affordability at the Leeds
Village Apartments, a property whose use restrictions expire in 2018.
The newly implemented Housing Rehabilitation Program currently targets owner occupied single family homes, but could
move to include invester owned/rental property in the future.
6 Goal Name Housing Rehabilitation
Goal
Description
The City is contracting with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to administer a housing rehabilitation program. With
funding in the current program year of $160,000 (July 1, 2015- June 30, 2016) and an additional $240,000 added this past
year, the program became fully operational this past year.
An informational session was held, the program was advertised and now 7 households are in process. Five additional
applications are pending. We are successfully reaching the target population, which is owner occupied single family home
owners. PVPC is handling the environmental reviews, the Massachusetts Historical Commission and local Historic
Commission sign-offs, the estimating and bidding processes and client communication. The jobs to date are ranging from
$20,000 to $35,000. The CDBG Administrators are assisting with outreach since we are more connected to local networking
paths.
7 Goal Name Affordable Homeownership for Families
Annual Action Plan
2017
42
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Goal
Description
The City will provide direct financial assistance to four first time homebuyers in the program year ($16,000). The CDC's First
Time Homebuyer workshops and counseling services ($20,000) will be focused on identifying and qualifying households that
are eligible to utilize the direct financial assistance.
Additionally, the City's Office Of Planning and Sustainability's limited development project at Glendale Road, utilizing last
year's $220,000 CDBG contribution, issued a Request for Proposals to create 4 affordable homes on 4 lots. Habitat for
Humanity was awarded the project and will begin construction during 2018. Habitat will also contruct a house in the
Garfield /Verona development. This originally was to be a market rate lot in a small subdivision where 4 other Habitat
homes were constructed over the past 10 years. The purchaser of the market rate lot opted not to move forward and
donated the lot to Habitat.
The City is still in the process of securing the deeds from the State's Capital and Asset Management division to transfer
ownership from the Northampton Housing Authority. The parcels were deeded to the NHA during the disposition of the
state hospital. There were 4 parcels transferred and 2 have been developed. The NHA opted not to develop the final two
and agreed to transfer them to the City. CDBG has paid for an appraisal, and there have been funds set aside in the past 3
years in Annual Action Plans to demolish an existing farmhouse on the Burts Pit Road parcel. The City will move ahead with
the demolition ($45,000) and issue a Request for Proposals for affordable housing development as soon as site control is
achieved. The demolition and the RFP issuance will occur during this program year.
8 Goal Name Housing for At-Risk and Special Needs Populations
Annual Action Plan
2017
43
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Goal
Description
The allocations to the new Valley CDC and HAPHousing projects on Pleasant Street are counted within this goal too, as the
units being created will be available to homeless, formerly homeless and special needs populations. Live 155 (formerly
Northampton Lodging) will contain 8 apartments reserved for homeless households earning less than 30% AMI, and five
apartments will be reserved for clients of the Department of Mental Health. Four apartments will be fully handicapped-
accessible and two apartments will be equipped for the visual and/or hearing impaired. Support services through an on site
Resident Coordinator and community agencies will be available to building residents.
The LumberYard Apartments will contain 2 two bedroom Community Based Housing units, units intended as alternatives to
institutional living units that are handicapped accessible; 3 additional handicapped accessible units ( 1 one bedroom and 1
two bedroom and 1 three bedroom) are planned; 2 units adapted for persons with sensory impairments and 6 units will
have preferences for households experiencing homelessness.
The CoC will continue to provide funding to house formerly homeless families and individuals and those with HIV/AIDS, as
will A Positive Place.
This years allocation of $65,000 to Dial Self for their new housing and support services program will accommodate 8 at risk
homeless youth. Because the program is not yet operational, the number that will be served annually can not be projected,
as we do not yet know how long the average length of stay will be.
9 Goal Name Economic Development/Income Maximization
Goal
Description
Funds will be allocated to the Valley CDC's Small Business Assistance Program ($10,000) and Community Action's Youth
Employment Readiness Program ($6,500).
10 Goal Name Housing Support Services
Goal
Description
The City will allocate funds to the SRO Outreach Project ($10,000) for housing stabilization activities to support SRO
residents and to Community Legal Aid ($6,500) to assist residents at risk of eviction. The City's Community Preservation
Committee three year grant award to the Community Housing Support Services Program is in its third year of operation
($65,000) The Coordinator works with court involved families around housing stabilization and eviction prevention.
11 Goal Name Addressing Basic Needs
Annual Action Plan
2017
44
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Goal
Description
Funds will be allocated to MANNA Soup Kitchen ($3,357); the Northampton Survival Center ($10,000); the two emergency
shelters ($20,000); the Literacy Project ($9,000); Casa Latina ($10,000); The Center for New Americans ($8,500); and
Highland Valley Elder Services ($4,000) to address shelter, education, food and other basic needs for households with low
and moderate incomes.
12 Goal Name Elimination of Slums and Blight
Goal
Description
The farmhouse on Burts Pit Road on a parcel deeded to the Northampton Housing Authority through disposition of State
Hospital property will be demolished to allow for future affordable housing development. The project was designed and
permitted to accommodate 10 clients of the Department of Developmental Services, but no State funding has been
allocated to date. The Northampton Housing Authority has opted not to move forward on developing the Laurel Street or
Burt's Pit road parcels. The City accomplished a revision of the Land Disposition Agreement from the State which deeded
the parcels to the NHA and is working with the Department of Capital Asset Management to transfer ownership of the
parcels to the City. The parcels are being appraised. Once the City has site control, the farmhouse will be demolished and a
Request for Proposals for the development of affordable housing will be issued.
13 Goal Name Improvement of Public Facilities
Goal
Description
The City has allocated $58,000 of CDBG funds for handicap accessibility improvements at 33 Hawley Street. The sub-
recipient is the Northampton Community Arts Trust and the existing building will be the new home of the Center for the
Arts. The multi year renovation project is being completed in phases. It is hoped the building will be open for some activities
in the fall of 2017. The CDBG funded portion is currently out to bid with the work to be completed this summer.
14 Goal Name Improvement of Public Infrastructure
Goal
Description
There are no CDBG funded public infrastructure improvement projects planned for this program year. The City did secure a
State MassWorks grant (after several applications) which will accomplish a variety of improvements to the Pleasant Street
corridor. The grant, now underway includes, removal and relocation of a storm drain channel that traverses the property
that Valley CDC will be constructing the Lumber Yard apartments on, as well as traffic calming islands and streetscape
improvements that will benefit the Live 155 project, the Lumber Yard project and the existing neighborhood.
15 Goal Name Planning and Administration
Annual Action Plan
2017
45
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Goal
Description
Funds will be used for affordable housing planning, homeless services coordination, community and economic development
project formulation and implementation, for the conduct of fair housing activities, in addition to administration of the
Community Development Block Grant Program.
Annual Action Plan
2017
46
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Projects
AP-35 Projects – 91.220(d)
Introduction
For the program year July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018, the City of Northampton will receive Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
in the amount of $613,782. Unexpended funds from previous program years will be reallocated and
applied to projects moving forward. Oldest funds will be committed first as contracts are executed and
activities are entered into IDIS.
The Annual Action Plan details how CDBG funds will be spent on priorities identified in the City's 5-Year
Consolidated Plan as reviewed and updated for the new program year.
Projects
#Project Name
1 Valley CDC Down Payment Assistance (2017-2018)
2 Valley CDC Down-Payment Assistance Program (2016-2017)
3 82 Bridge Street Pre-Development
4 Housing Rehabilitation Program
5 Dial-Self Homeless Youth Program Acquisition
6 Burts Pit Road Farmhouse Demo / Laurel St Project Delivery Costs
7 Vernon Street School Handicap Accessibility
8 Northampton Community Arts Trust Accessibility Project
9 Micro-Business Assistance Program
10 Puentes: Bridges for Latinos
11 Education and Services for Immigrant Economic Independence
12 Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program
13 Community Housing Support Services
14 Youth Employment Readiness Initiative
15 CLA Tenancy Preservation Project
16 Northampton Nutrition Program
17 Pathways to Success
18 Manna Soup Kitchen
19 Grove Street Shelter
20 Interfaith Winter Shelter
21 Emergency Food Pantry
22 Senior Services EARN Program
Annual Action Plan
2017
47
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
#Project Name
23 Administration and Planning
Table 3 - Project Information
Describe the reasons for allocation priorities and any obstacles to addressing underserved
needs
Northampton has a critical need for an increased supply of deeply subsidized affordable housing,
preservation and improvement of existing units, services to address basic needs,an increased supply of
jobs that pay a living wage and public infrastructure improvements. Coupled with that is a 30% decrease
in CDBG funds over the past several years. Fortunately, the City's adoption of the Community
Preservation Act has allowed the CDBG funds to be augmented for affordable housing unit creation and
housing support services. The Community and Economic Development Office, in conjunction with the
Mayor strives to allocate funds over a variety of categories for a broader community impact and to
address multiple City goals.
With such a rich and valuable social service community providing a range of programming, it has been
the City's goal to fund as many organizations as possible. With the past years of CDBG funding reduction,
that has translated into very small funding awards. Those amounts require the agencies to have to look
to multiple sources to fully fund programs. The Public Services Review Committee struggles with this
annually and tries to not go below the $3,000 level. Agencies say that below that amount, the data
collection requirements become too burdensome.
Additionally, one of the primary service agencies for underserved populations is experiencing diminished
staff capacity and organization strength. The Committee faced the challenge of finding the balance
between being supportive and holding them accountable to performance measurement goals.
It is the City's hope to work closely in the new program year with the Northampton Housing Authority to
institute family self sufficiency programming, so households can move up and out into the community,
facilitating movement on the Section 8 waiting lists and the public housing waiting lists.
Annual Action Plan
2017
48
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
AP-38 Project Summary
Project Summary Information
Annual Action Plan
2017
49
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
1 Project Name Valley CDC Down Payment Assistance (2017-2018)
Target Area
Goals Supported Affordable Homeownership for Families
Needs Addressed Affordable Homeownership for Families
Funding CDBG: $36,000
Description The Valley CDC will work to identify and assist income eligible households
looking to buy their first home in Northampton. Efforts will be made to
link people to HOME funded units and down payment assistance. CDBG
funds will be used to provide grants in the amount of $4,000 each to four
first time buyers for down payment assistance.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
4 down payment/closing cost assistance grants.
Location Description Valley Community Development Corporation, 30 Market Street,
Northampton
Planned Activities 4 first time homebuyer grants in the amount of $4,000 each to eligible
residents; referrals to HOME funded homeownership opportunities. The
program will address the increasing challenges many LMI households
face such as, student loan debt and high rental costs that affect their
ability to attain homeownership. Services will focus on individual
household financial literacy, financial planning and advocacy as needed
to sustain affordable homeownership. Counseling is targetted to
identifying households that can utilize the down payment assistance
grants.
2 Project Name Valley CDC Down-Payment Assistance Program (2016-2017)
Target Area
Goals Supported Affordable Homeownership for Families
Needs Addressed Affordable Homeownership for Families
Funding CDBG: $6,000
Annual Action Plan
2017
50
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Description The Valley CDC will work with low and moderate income households to
qualify for down payment assistance grants, as well as make referrals to
HOME funded opportunities. Down payment/closing cost grants will be
in the amount of $3,000. This project is carried over from the previous
program year (HUD #0844) and will utilize prior year funds.
Target Date
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
2 down payment/closing cost assistance grants
Location Description Valley Community Development Corporation, 30 Market Street,
Northampton, MA
Planned Activities 2 income eligible first time homebuyers will be awarded down
payment/closing cost assistance grants in the amount of $3,000 each
3 Project Name 82 Bridge Street Pre-Development
Target Area
Goals Supported Housing for At-Risk and Special Needs Populations
Needs Addressed Homelessness Prevention
Rental Housing for Individuals
Preservation of Existing Affordable Rental Stock
Housing for At - Risk & Special Needs Populations
Funding CDBG: $150,000
Description Pre-development costs for rehabilitation and expansion of an existing
SRO building at 82 Bridge Street, Northampton. The project will serve
several income tiers, including 30% of the area median income, 50% AMI,
and 60% AMI. Eight units (25%) will have a preference for homeless
individuals and two units will be reserved for clients of the Department
of Mental Health; at least two units will be handicap accessible.
Rehabilitation will expand the property from 15 to 31 units and will
convert the units from single bedrooms to small efficiencies (about 250
sf) containing a kitchenette and bathroom. The site is located on a bus
route and is .4 miles from the train station.
Target Date
Annual Action Plan
2017
51
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
31 individuals with low and moderate incomes
Location Description 82 Bridge Street, Northampton, MA
Planned Activities Pre-development costs for substantial rehab and expansion of one of the
City's SRO buildings.
4 Project Name Housing Rehabilitation Program
Target Area
Goals Supported Housing Rehabilitation
Needs Addressed Housing Rehabilitation Resources
Funding CDBG: $375,214
Description Through an administrative contract with the City, the Pioneer Valley
Planning Commission will provide assistance for income eligible owner
occupied single family home owners focusing on remediation of code
violations and lead paint abatement. This project is carried over from the
previous program year. New activities will be set up in IDIS using prior
year funds as projects are identified. The following activity numbers are
currently in process and being carried over to this program year: HUD
#0845 (admin); HUD #0850; HUD #0851; HUD #0852; HUD #0853
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
8 - 10 homeowners with low and moderate incomes
Location Description City wide
Planned Activities Repairs to heating, plumbing, electrical, roof and structural systems to
remediate code violations. Lead paint abatement will be given high
priority if costs allow. Up to $45,000 will be available per unit in the form
of 15 year deferred payment loans. The average cost per home is
approximately $20,000- 30,000.
5 Project Name Dial-Self Homeless Youth Program Acquisition
Target Area
Goals Supported Housing for At-Risk and Special Needs Populations
Annual Action Plan
2017
52
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Needs Addressed Homelessness Prevention
Rental Housing for Individuals
Housing for At - Risk & Special Needs Populations
Funding CDBG: $65,000
Description Dial-Self will acquire property at 11 Hatfield Street in Florence to provide
affordable rental housing and support services for 18-24 year old at-risk
young adults. The property is located on a bus route, close to the bike
trail, across the street from an urgent care facility and within walking
distance to two high schools and a college.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
8 homeless or at risk of homeless youth and young adults age 18-24
Location Description 11 Hatfield Street, Florence
Planned Activities CDBG assistance with acquisition costs. The property currently has a low-
income restriction in place through CPA funds and a matching Affordable
Housing Deed Restriction will be put in place upon acquisition. Rents will
be the most recent HUD FMR regional rates and will include utility costs.
Case management and supportive services will also be provided.
6 Project Name Burts Pit Road Farmhouse Demo / Laurel St Project Delivery Costs
Target Area
Goals Supported Elimination of Slums and Blight
Needs Addressed Elimination of Slums and Blight
Funding CDBG: $37,100
Description Demolition of a vacant and deteriorating residential structure and
detached garage on Burts Pit Road. Parcel was formerly owned by the
Northampton Housing Authority but they no longer wish to develop it.
The parcel was associated with the former Northampton State Hospital
and has been abandoned for more than 20 years. Plans are to transfer
the deed to the City to develop affordable housing. Two parcels, this one
and the one on Laurel Street, are involved in this ownership transfer.
The Burt's Pit demo project is carried over from the previous year (HUD
#0856); prior year funds will be used for these activities.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Annual Action Plan
2017
53
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
Under the Northampton Housing Authority, years ago, the Burts Pit
parcel was designed and permitted to construct new housing to serve 10
clients of the Department of Developmental Services. The funding never
came from the State and the time period given to the Housing Authority
in the State Hospital Land Disposition Agreement to develop the parcel (
as well as the one on Laurel Street) has expired. The NHA agreed to
transfer the parcels to the City for development. CDBG paid for an
appraisal of the sites in the prior program year, as requested by the
Commonwealth' Department of Capital and Asset Management. Once
the deeds are secured, the City will issue a Request for Proposals to
locate an affordable housing developer, therefore, the nature, scale and
end user is undetermined at this time.
Location Description 278 Burts Pit Road, Northampton
23 Laurel Street, Northampton
Planned Activities Demolition of vacant residential structure and detached garage on Burts
Pit Road and issuance of RFP for Burt's Pit Road and Laurel Street for
future affordable housing development at both sites.
7 Project Name Vernon Street School Handicap Accessibility
Target Area
Goals Supported Improvement of Public Facilities
Needs Addressed Public Facilities
Funding CDBG: $100,000
Description Plans are being made to re-construct a handicap ramp on the exterior of
the building and retrofit the entrance vestibule to comply with the
Americans with Disabilities Act. The building is used by the Community
Action Head Start Program. It is a City owned building, leased to the
region's anti-poverty agency for children's programming.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
100-200 children use the facility in the course of the year.
Location Description Vernon Street School, 56 Vernon Street, Northampton
Planned Activities
Project Name Northampton Community Arts Trust Accessibility Project
Annual Action Plan
2017
54
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
8 Target Area
Goals Supported Improvement of Public Facilities
Needs Addressed Public Facilities
Funding CDBG: $58,000
Description Accessibility improvements ensuring access for those with disabilities at a
community art center where artists create, rehearse, exhibit, perform,
and otherwise practice their art. Prior year funds will be used for this
activity.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
1,600 individuals with mobility difficulties identified by Census data, in
the City.
Location Description 33 Hawley Street, Northampton
Planned Activities Installation of exterior metal stairs at the north and south ends of the
building at street level that will provide an area of refuge/assisted rescue.
Also, ramp assemblies with rails will be installed at the lower level and
handicap ramp rails will be installed at the main entrance.
9 Project Name Micro-Business Assistance Program
Target Area
Goals Supported Economic Development/Income Maximization
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Funding CDBG: $10,000
Description The Valley Community Development Corporation (CDC) will provide
technical assistance to income eligible residents to plan and launch new
businesses and assist existing micro businesses with five or fewer
employees to improve the revenue and profitability of their businesses.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
15 individuals and/or micro-businesses will be served.
Location Description Valley CDC provides services at 30 Market Street, Northampton and
conducts workshops in the community at various locations.
Annual Action Plan
2017
55
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Planned Activities The program includes individual counseling, assistance with developing
business plans and financial projections and conducts workshops.
10 Project Name Puentes: Bridges for Latinos
Target Area
Goals Supported Addressing Basic Needs
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Housing Support Services
Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $10,000
Description Casa Latina, Inc. will provide information, referrals and individualized
case management to Latino residents with low and moderate incomes.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
125 Latino residents with low and moderate incomes will be served.
Location Description 140 Pine Street, Florence
Planned Activities Translation of applications and medical interpretation;, referrals and
information to access MassHealth, SNAP benefits and other local
resources, such as, the Northampton Survival Center and English as a
Second Language classes; advocacy for Latino elders and persons with
disabilities; outreach to new residents; and individualized case
management to increase life skills and ecomomic empowerment.
11 Project Name Education and Services for Immigrant Economic Independence
Target Area
Goals Supported Addressing Basic Needs
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $8,500
Description The Center for New Americans will provide education and resources to
immigrant adults in Northampton to facilitate their goals of attaining
economic stability and self-sufficiency.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Annual Action Plan
2017
56
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
40 immigrant individuals with low and moderate incomes will be served.
Location Description James House Community Learning Center, 42 Gothic Street,
Northampton
Planned Activities ESOL classes, computer instruction, career pathways classes and advising,
immigration legal services, and referrals to area support services.
12 Project Name Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program
Target Area
Goals Supported Addressing Basic Needs
Needs Addressed Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $5,000
Description The Center for Human Development (CHD) Big Brothers Big Sisters
program will create mentoring relationships for children in families with
low and moderate incomes facing multiple challenges, in Northampton.
Children are referred from school personnel and other agencies.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
30 at-risk youth and their families will be served.
Location Description The program's target population will be children residing at Florence
Heights and Hampshire Heights (both Northampton Housing Authority
public housing properties) and Meadowbrook Apartments in Florence.
Planned Activities Mentoring relationships using a community or site-based model. For
both, volunteer mentors make an initial commitment to get together
with their mentees for at least one year.
With the community based model, the pair get together on weekends or
after school. The amount of their time together may vary from week to
week.
The site-based model is the Kids to Campus program where the mentees
are matched with Smith College students. The program provides
transportation for youth to weekly get togethers on the Smith College
campus.
Annual Action Plan
2017
57
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
13 Project Name Community Housing Support Services
Target Area
Goals Supported Homelessness Prevention
Needs Addressed Homelessness Prevention
Housing Support Services
Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $10,000
Description The Center for Human Development's Community Housing Support
Services Program will integrate the work of two separate program - the
Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Outreach Project (previously funded by
CDBG) and a Community Preservation Committee funded eviction
prevention initiative - into a single coordinated effort to prevent
homelessness, provide access to critical needs, and deliver case
management and resource referral to at-risk households in Northampton
with low and moderate incomes.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
300 individuals from households in subsidzed housing and tenants in SRO
units in Northampton and Florence; and 20 families that are currently
court involved facing eviction.
Location Description The program is located at 129 Main Street, Northampton. SRO locations
are:
Go West, 1-3 North Main Street, Florence
The Maples, 16 North Maple Street, Florence
Earle Street Apartments, 180-182 Earle Street, Northampton
King Street SRO, 96-98 King Street, Northampton
The Lorraine, 96 Pleasant Street, Northampton
Bridge Street SRO, 82 Bridge Street, Northampton
Annual Action Plan
2017
58
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Planned Activities Case Manager will provide services to SRO tenants to adress housing
stabilization; access to medical and mental health care; food security;
provide transportation to and from appointments; assist with linkages to
other community resources; provide support for relocation of tenants
during renovation of LIVE 155 (previously Northampton Lodging).
Coordination between the two Case Managers will increase capacity to
prevent evictions with both advocating regularly with Housing Court,
property managers, and legal counsel for subsidized housing programs.
14 Project Name Youth Employment Readiness Initiative
Target Area
Goals Supported Addressing Basic Needs
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $6,500
Description Community Action will provide individual assessment and support; Signal
Success curriculum training; Career Pathways education and paid work-
based learning experiences in their field of interest to at-risk
Northampton youth ages 14-24.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
75 at-risk Northampton youth
Location Description The program located at 17 New South Street works closely with the
Northampton High School Guidance Department to identify at-risk youth
in need of employment readiness instruction.
Planned Activities Individual assessments for youth to set and achieve their training and
employment goals; youth complete the 20-hour Signal Success
curriculum developed by Commonweath Corporation and participate
in Career Pathways Education which focuses on green jobs, allied health,
manufacturing, information technology and human services and; are
provided the opportunity to participate in a paid internship in a field of
their interest.
15 Project Name CLA Tenancy Preservation Project
Target Area
Goals Supported Homelessness Prevention
Annual Action Plan
2017
59
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Needs Addressed Homelessness Prevention
Housing Support Services
Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $6,500
Description Community Legal Aid (CLA) will provide free legal services to
Northampton tenants at risk of eviction. Clients are participants in rent
subsidy programs (such as Section 8). Goals are to preserve the tenancy
or secure alternate housing in order to avoid termination from the
Section 8 program.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
20 households with low incomes at risk of losing their housing and rental
subsidy will be served.
Location Description 20 Hampton Avenue, Northampton
Planned Activities Working closely with area agencies, CLA will provide individualized legal
services to eligible households; including advice and counseling;
preparation of court pleadings and other legal documents;
representation in mediation, trials and administrative hearings; and
linkages to agencies who provide supportive services.
16 Project Name Northampton Nutrition Program
Target Area
Goals Supported Addressing Basic Needs
Needs Addressed Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $4,000
Description Highland Valley Elder Services will provide noon-time meals to income
eligible home-bound elders in Northampton.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
4 income eligible home bound elders will be served.
Location Description City wide
Planned Activities Delivery of hot, nutritionally balanced noon-time meals to home bound
elders Monday - Friday.
Annual Action Plan
2017
60
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
17 Project Name Pathways to Success
Target Area
Goals Supported Addressing Basic Needs
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $9,000
Description The Literacy Project will provide Adult Basic Education (ABE) services to
adults and out-of-school youth age 16 and over to develop college and
career readiness as pathways to economic opportunity and security.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
30 Northampton residents with low and moderate incomes will be
served.
Location Description James House Learning Center, 42 Gothic Street, Northampton
Planned Activities Career Pathways activities integrated into ABE classes offered at three
levels (basic, intermediate and High School Equivalency preparation) with
intensive individualized counseling to overcome barriers to college and
career readiness.
18 Project Name Manna Soup Kitchen
Target Area
Goals Supported Addressing Basic Needs
Needs Addressed Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $3,357
Description The MANNA Soup Kitchen, Inc. will provide three free meals per week to
residents with low and moderate incomes. Special Thanksgiving and
Christmas meals are also provided.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
450 Northampton residents with low and moderate incomes will be
served.
Annual Action Plan
2017
61
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 06/30/2018)
Location Description Meals are provided at two locations: St. John's Episcopal Church located
at 48 Elm Street, Northampton and Edwards Church located at 297 Main
Street, Northampton.
Planned Activities Free meals every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with a special meal
on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. CDBG funds will cover a small
portion of salary for part time staff, food and overhead costs. Volunteers
work on a rotational basis to support the program.
19 Project Name Grove Street Shelter
Target Area
Goals Supported Support for Emergency Shelter System
Needs Addressed Support for Emergency Shelter
Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $10,000
Description Service Net operates Grove Street Inn, a 22-bed emergency shelter for
homeless individuals. Guests may stay up to 90 days. The Grove Street
Inn is open 5:00 pm-9:00 am Monday-Friday and 24 hours per day on
Saturday and Sunday with hours expanded as needed for weather
emergencies.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
100 homeless individuals will be served in this year round emergency
shelter.
Location Description 91 Grove Street, Northampton; case management is provided through
the Resource Center, 43 Center Street, Northampton.
Planned Activities Over night shelter for up to 90 days with intensive case management
focused on rehabilitation, participant involvement and accountability.
20 Project Name Interfaith Winter Shelter
Target Area
Goals Supported Support for Emergency Shelter System
Needs Addressed Support for Emergency Shelter
Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $10,000
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Description Service Net, in collaboration with the Friends of Hampshire County
Homeless Individuals will provide a 20-bed overnight winter emergency
shelter for homeless individuals from November 1-April 30 from 6:00 pm
-7:00 am. Breakfast and dinner are also provided. Evening meals and
volunteer overnight coverage ( in addition to paid ServiceNet staff ) are
provided by a volunteer cadre of 400+ community residents.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
200 homeless individuals will be served.
Location Description 43 Center Street, Northampton. During the day, ServiceNet operates the
Resource Center which provides case management to sheltered and
unsheltered residents. Health Care for the Homeless medical personnel,
as well as a Benefits Analyst are also on site.
Planned Activities Overnight winter shelter with showers, laundry facilities, an evening and
morning meal, as well as, once weekly visits from a Nurse Practitioner, a
Licensed Social Worker and once a month visits from a Physician. Case
management is provided through the Resource Center at the same
address.
21 Project Name Emergency Food Pantry
Target Area
Goals Supported Addressing Basic Needs
Needs Addressed Addressing Basic Needs
Funding CDBG: $10,000
Description The Northampton Survival Center will provide free, nutritious food to
residents of Northampton with low and moderate incomes. Clients can
access the food pantry once per month for a 7-day supply of food for
each member of the household and may return on a weekly basis for
fresh produce and day old breads and bakery items.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
2,000 residents of Northampton with low and moderate incomes will be
served.
Location Description 265 Prospect Street, Northampton
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Planned Activities Free monthly food packages which are nutritionally balanced and
customized to individuals' dietary needs, as well as, weekly access to
fresh produce and day-old breads and bakery items.
For ten weeks in the summer, the Survival Center the Kids' Summer Food
Program will provide extra groceries to families with youth who rely on
the schools' free and reduced meal programs for their children's
nutritional needs.
22 Project Name Senior Services EARN Program
Target Area
Goals Supported Economic Development/Income Maximization
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Funding CDBG: $4,000
Description The Northampton Senior Services' new Employment After Retirement
Network (EARN) will provide services to connect skilled retirees who wish
to work after retirement to local employers.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
200 Northampton retirees with low and moderate incomes will be
served.
Location Description Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street, Northampton
Planned Activities Community outreach and marketing to seniors seeking employment and
local employers; trainings to update job search, computer and other
necessary job skills; an employment fair for seniors featuring local
employers seeking skilled, experienced workers; creation of an in-house
senior job bank and resource database; and identification of
collaborative community partners. Funds will be used to hire a part-time
EARN Coordinator to work with the Steering Committee to accomplish
the proposed goals.
23 Project Name Administration and Planning
Target Area
Goals Supported Planning and Administration
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Needs Addressed Homelessness Prevention
Support for Emergency Shelter
Rental Housing for Individuals
Rental Housing for Families
Preservation of Existing Affordable Rental Stock
Housing Rehabilitation Resources
Affordable Homeownership for Families
Housing for At - Risk & Special Needs Populations
Economic Development
Housing Support Services
Addressing Basic Needs
Elimination of Slums and Blight
Public Facilities
Public Infrastructure
Funding CDBG: $122,756
Description Administration of the CDBG Grant Program, housing, community and
economic development activities.
Target Date 6/30/2018
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
5,000 residents with low and moderate incomes is the number assigned
to this category, although it is difficult to determine with any certainty.
Location Description City wide
Planned Activities Community and economic development planning activities and
administration of the CDBG program
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AP-50 Geographic Distribution – 91.220(f)
Description of the geographic areas of the entitlement (including areas of low-income and
minority concentration) where assistance will be directed
Funds were allocated to priorities as identified from citizen participation and public input during the five
year consolidated planning process and the current year action plan process. Census tracts with more
than 20% minority population are defined as areas of minority concentration. Using OneCPD and
extensive examination of census tract and block group information by the CDBG Administrator and GIS
Coordinator in the Office of Planning and Sustainability did not reveal areas of concentration beyond the
public housing family developments and larger affordable apartment complexes. Outreach by Casa
Latina will be focused on Hampshire Heights, and Florence Heights which contain concentrations of
Spanish speaking residents. Meadowbrook Apartments (254 units) and Hathaway Farms (207) also
contain diverse resident populations and the CDBG Administrator works closely with the Resident
Services Coordinators there. River Run (216) is a condo complex but many of the units are rented by
households with low and moderate incomes. Targeting services at those locations is prioritized when
possible.
As the success of the housing rehabilitation program continues, there may be a time when program
participants are chosen from neighborhood revitalization areas where other activities are occuring, such
as the Pleasant Street corridor.
Geographic Distribution
Target Area Percentage of Funds
No geographic Priorities Designated 100
Table 4 - Geographic Distribution
Rationale for the priorities for allocating investments geographically
Public services are delivered City wide. Outreach to sub-populations that the individual public service
agencies target, however, is done in specific locations. The Housing Partnership and Office of Planning
and Sustainability sponsored forums for private and non-profit housing developers to stimulate housing
development in the downtown. There is also a neighborhood citizen participation process to revitalize
the Pleasant Street corridor, a primary gateway into the downtown. Both proposed mixed use
affordable housing projects are on Pleasant Street and include vibrant first floor commercial spaces that
will make them major contributors to the revitalization strategy.
Northampton is a small city. There are properties in need of rehabilitation scattered throughout but no
concentrations of deteriorated structures. Projects are evaluated on a case by case basis. The Fair
Housing Assessment Tool may identify areas in need of additional services. If the Office of Planning and
Sustainability identifies entranceway corridor improvements, the Housing Rehab Program might do
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specific outreach to homes in those areas.
Discussion
Block group level data will be reviewed further to determine additional target areas and locations for
housing rehabilitation and public infrastructure projects. As the City moves through the Fair Housing
Assessment analysis later this year, deeper data will be revealed that may indicate new community
outreach and activity target areas.
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Affordable Housing
AP-55 Affordable Housing – 91.220(g)
Introduction
One Year Goals for the Number of Households to be Supported
Homeless 300
Non-Homeless 3,390
Special-Needs 60
Total 3,750
Table 6 - One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Requirement
One Year Goals for the Number of Households Supported Through
Rental Assistance 1,777
The Production of New Units 68
Rehab of Existing Units 27
Acquisition of Existing Units 8
Total 1,880
Table 7 - One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Type
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Discussion
It is difficult to get unduplicated counts of numbers to be served as individuals often utilize multiple
services. For example, individuals counted as participating in MANNA's program could also be in an
emergency shelter. Individuals participating in Casa Latina's services could also be attending classes at
The Center for New Americans and obtaining food from the Survival Center.
The number of homeless people to be supported is the total served last year at the Hampshire Interfaith
Shelter (200) and the Grove Street Inn Homeless Shelter (100). The number to be supported in the non-
homeless category (3,690 - 300) is the total of all served by the public service grantees, minus the two
shelters (3,390).
The rental assistance number is the number of VASH Vouchers administered by the Northampton
Housing Authority (285) which is misleading because not all participants find housing in Northampton,
and the 874 Housing Choice Vouchers which is also misleading because not all units are in Northampton.
A breakdown of Northampton specific units was not available. The Special Needs number is an estimate
of the younger disabled residents in Housing Authority properties.
The production of new units number (68) includes the affordable units that will come on line at Live 155
(48) next spring, the 16 new SRO units being created in the expansion of 82 Bridge Street, and the 4 new
units that will be built at 11 Hatfield Street by Dial -Self. It is likely the Bridge Street units will not be
created in this program year, depending on the State funding application cycle outcome.
The rehab of existing units number (27) includes the 15 existing units at 82 Bridge Street , the
renovation of the 4 existing units at 11 Hatfield Street ( Dial Self ) and an estimate of 8 homeownership
units being improved via the Housing Rehabilitation Program.
The acquisition of existing units total (8) includes the four in the existing home being purchased by Dial
Self and the 4 units now owned by Habitat for Humanity through the CDBG funded acquisition of the
Glendale Road parcel in last year's program.
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AP-60 Public Housing – 91.220(h)
Introduction
The City of Northampton has an established working relationship with the Northampton Housing
Authority (NHA). CDBG funds have been utilized for improvements to a variety of Housing Authority
properties over the past several years. The NHA has collaborated with the City to house tenants being
relocated from the Northampton Lodging SRO during construction of a new building. The Community
Housing Support Services Program Coordinator works with the NHA Attorney to provide stabilization
services that prevent evictions. The new NHA Director has made strides to improve the physical
appearance of their properties, modernized the maintenance work order system and encouraged input
from tenants and the formation of tenant associations.
Actions planned during the next year to address the needs to public housing
According to the 2015-2016 Annual Report, the physical plant improvement projects the Northampton
Housing Authority is slated to continue or undertake in the new program year include the following:
- Hampshire Heights/ roof replacement phase 2
- Cahill Apartments/ replacement of the fire alarm system
- State Street/ replacement of hot water tank
- Bridge St. 689/ Upgrades to common areas, exterior door replacement, reconfiguration of entrances
- Grace House/ replacement of windows in old building and new entrance door
- McDonald House/ new roof, replace glass in 200 defective windows, revamp of computer system,
email, phones, reconfiguration of administrative offices
- Tobin Manor/ replacement of entry door, conversion of 3 bedroom unit to two units; a one bedroom
unit and a two bedroom unit
- Market Street/ chimney replacement
The NHA is also instituting smoke free housing policies and working with tenants to identify areas on
housing sites where smoking is permissible and weather protection structures can be constructed.
Actions to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and
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participate in homeownership
According to the 2015-16 Annual Report the NHA " continues to work to develop incentives and
initiatives to attract partnerships to the Authority and is working hard to have multiple programs for the
entire Authority population". With regard to tenant associations, the report states "We value feedback
from our resident communities. Tenant associations help us listen and act as a liaison between residents
and NHA staff to address residents' needs, concerns and ideas. Engaging our residents enables us to
better serve their needs." The NHA recently hired a Resident Services Coordinator who is in the process
of assessing resident needs and will create appropriate programming.
Their mission statement says: "The NHA is committed to ensuring decent, safe and affordable housing
and housing opportunity for the citizens of Northampton and the region, in an effort to maintain the
economic diversity of the community. To this end, the NHA shall strive to create and maintain clean and
secure housing developments, offer a variety of housing opportuntities for the community's citizens,
assure fiscal integrity of all program participants and work to support initiatives to provide
opportunities for residents who wish to gain self-sufficiency and economic independence. The
effectiveness of these endeavors is measured, in part, by the dedication of an innovative and caring staff
to efficient program management and collaboration with residents, community service providers and
Northampton's government and community leaders." They do have tenant representation on the Board
of Commissioners and a tenant association at the Salvo House (elderly and younger disabled). There is
also a newly formed tenant association at Hampshire Heights, the public family housing property on
Bridge Road.
If the PHA is designated as troubled, describe the manner in which financial assistance will be
provided or other assistance
The PHA is not designated as troubled according to criteria established by HUD or the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. They typically operate at a 95% or higher utilization rate.
Discussion
The Housing Authority owns and manages 618 public housing units. Additionally, 408 private landlords
participate in providing housing to those with low incomes through the Housing Choice Voucher
Program ( Section 8) administered by the NHA. The NHA also administers 321 VASH vouchers for the
region.
The new Executive Director was evaluated at the conclusion of her first year and subsequently given a
three year contract. She attended a Housing Partnership meeting in December of 2016, participated in a
strategy session held by the Mayor's Office to find housing for tenants needing to be relocated from 129
Pleasant Street/ Northampton Lodging, has instituted smoke free public housing and reorganized
internal operations. Capital improvements continue to be made on the properties. Discussion is
underway to identify the possibility of project basing some Section 8 vouchers at Leeds Village, an
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expiring use property, in order to maintain some affordability.
The Housing Authority typically provides housing to approximately 2,253 people annually. In the last
Annual Report available ( 2015-16) 849 of those housed were considered disabled, 594 were children,
482 were considered elderly (over 65) and the average annual income was $14,033. 67% identified as
Caucasian, 23% African American and 10% were classifed as other, or declined to report.
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AP-65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities – 91.220(i)
Introduction
Describe the jurisdictions one-year goals and actions for reducing and ending homelessness
including
Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their
individual needs
The City of Northampton works closely with Eliot Homeless Services. Eliot is the selected vendor across
the Commonwealth for a contract from the Department of Mental Health which funds street outreach
activities to identify and serve homeless individuals. This PATH Program ( Project for Assistance in
Transition from Homelessness) has outreach workers in Pittsfield, Greenfield, Northampton, Amherst,
Holyoke, Westfield and Springfield which allows for very comprehensive coverage in Western
Massachusetts. The Path Worker in Northampton has been in the position for almost 20 years and is
well connected with the local population, knows where the unsheltered reside outdoors and is a critical
link in our local service delivery system. Brendan P. works closely with ServiceNet's Shelter and Housing
division as well as its clinical division, to link clients with housing and mental health and substance abuse
services. This program, in conjunction with ServiceNet Resource Center staff, is responsible for housing
some very chronically homeless mentally ill people that have been on our streets for decades.
Brendan reports monthly at the City sponsored Next Step meetings and is our first alert warning system
if the unsheltered numbers become high enough that we need to locate additional shelter beds. He
visits camps and conducts "office" hours at the Main Street bagel shop and is the City's eyes and ears on
the street. He builds trust through the engagement process, does individual therapy as a trained
clinician and runs a group meeting early in the morning to catch folks coming out of the winter shelter at
7 a.m. He participates in a weekly meeting with ServiceNet Resource Center staff for coordinated case
management to assist with helping people move their lives forward. Brendan and his counter part in
Amherst work closely, as many clients go back and forth between the 2 communities for shelter and
services. Brendan has been joined by outreach staff from Dial Self. Dial Self is the Franklin county agency
that provides housing and support services for unaccompanied youth. They recently received funding
from HUD to create an outreach position to serve Hampshire County. Between the two programs, our
community is confident that all persons sheltered or unsheltered are aware of available resources and
can receive the assistance they may seek to access them successfully.
Because many of the people actively panhandling are clients of Tapestry Health (needle exchange
program), Tapestry is investigating how they can do some street outreach as well. There is currently a
work group doing research on how to address our panhandling issue. Because the homeless services are
so accessible, and most of the panhandlers are housed, it presents other challenges. For this reason, the
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Work Group is not only composed of the Police Chief and shelter and service providers ( and Mayor and
City Councilors), but the Coordinator for Hampshire Hope, a local coalition working to address the opioid
epidemic and Tapestry Health are also present.The eventual public education campaign that is
developed will speak to services that are available so donors have a choice between giving to people
directly or to service programs. Because there is no family homeless shelter in Northampton, we are less
active in shelter level programming. CDBG funding does support housing stabilization activities however,
to prevent family homelessness. State funding sources had been increased during the past year, which
allowed for a reduction in the hotel/motel population (none in Northampton) from several hundred to
zero. The recent cuts to the State budget will result in that cycle starting all over, again. Cuts to funding
for homeless youth, RAFT, and not allowing RAFT for individuals will lead to rising numbers this coming
year, should those vetoes stand.
Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons
CDBG funding will continue to be provided to the City's two shelters, the Grove Street Inn and the Inter-
Faith Winter Shelter for Homeless Individuals for staffing. Collaborative advocacy and support will be
provided to Safe Passage for the operation of their emergency shelter for domestic violence victims and
to Soldier On, for their emergency shelter beds serving Veterans. The CDBG Administrator participates
on the Management Committee that meets monthly to oversee the operation of the Inter-Faith Winter
Shelter and volunteers once a month to stay overnight. CDBG funding has been used for physical
improvements to the City owned Grove Street Inn although the ownership of that facility is being
transferred to ServiceNet, Inc. the program administrator. Because HUD funding has been shifted away
from transitional housing units in favor of housing first and permanent supportive housing beds, there
are very few programs that continue to utilize time limited transitional housing program models.
There are no plans to create additional emergency shelter beds. With the year round beds at the Grove
Street Inn, the winter shelter beds at the Inter-Faith shelter during the coldest winter months and the
annex for winter shelter overflow in Easthampton (6), the numbers of those seeking shelter in
Northampton can usually be accommodated. There were a number of turnaways this past year at the
winter shelter, however. This will be analyzed over the coming months to assess needed program
changes. Folks turned away in Northampton for actively abusing substances can usually be
accommodated at Craigs Doors in Amherst, which is a wet shelter. There were some operational
difficulties at the Amherst program in past years that have improved. With the close communication
between the City and ServiceNet, the operators of both shelters for individuals in Northampton, a close
watch occurs and shifts can be made mid-season if necessary.
Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families
with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to
permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that
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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
Victims of domestic violence presenting to Safe Passage have access to their emergency shelter in
Northampton, if there is an opening. People finding themselves chronically homeless work with
ServiceNet staff at the Resource Center to identify locally available units. ServiceNet has some
permanent housing units on Hawley Street (9) and they own and manage the Florence Inn (17). Those
units provide some ability to house those coming out of homelessness. People entering the InterFaith
Shelter are often moved up to the Grove Street Inn when beds are available to allow more time for
people to do the work necessary for self-sufficiency. There are no emergency shelter beds for families in
Northampton, so the City is less involved with that realm of service. Grace House, a program of the
Center for Human Development is a closed referral residence for women in recovery and their children
through the State's Department of Public Health and Soldier On recently brought 60 new housing units
on line. There is a beautiful new building containing 16 units on the VA Campus for women Veteran's
and their children, as well as 44 units of limited equity coops for older male Veterans at that site. Soldier
On is in the process of renovating buildings in Agawam and Chicopee to provide additional PSH units to
the region. Soldier On has emergency shelter beds, transitional beds and permanent supported housing
options on the campus. Soldier On is able to serve men and women Vets at every stage of the housing
and services continuum of care. They also will pick up and serve Veterans leaving the jail system if they
have no other immediate housing options. The Northampton Housing Authority administers
approximately 300 HUD VASH vouchers for the region and the case managers at the VA in Leeds
participate in Next Step meetings and serve on the Network to End Homelessness's Veteran's
Committee.
The 3 County Continuum of Care has received funding to develop a more formal coordinated entry
system and Soldier On is taking the lead on developing it for the entire CoC. This will streamline intake
and placement, as well as rapid rehousing efforts. The key to this success will be increasing the
production of units so referrals can be made. Great strides have been taken in the prevention and
diversion realm, however, and the availability and utilization of State resources has greatly reduced the
number of families in hotels and motels. The number in Western Mass. (primarily Greenfield, Holyoke,
West Springfield and Chicopee) has gone from 400 in the last couple of years to zero. We have seen in
the past that when there are dollars available for case managment, first and last months rent and
security deposits and for rental and utility arrearages, permanent housing placements can be made.
When those dollars disappear, the cycle starts over and the number of homeless families needing to be
placed in hotels and motels starts the upward climb when shelters get full.
Through private fundraising efforts, a CDBG allocation, Community Preservation funds and applications
to area foundations, Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals has acquired an existing building
to house and serve 4 unaccompanied homeless youth. A new building on an adjacent parcel will house 4
additional youth, an office and a community room.They are partnering with Dial Self. This will be the
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third house created by FOH. The first is Yvonne's House which serves 6 chronically homeless men and
women; now owned and managed by ServiceNet, the second is the Gandara/Friends House which
serves 6 formerly homeless men and women committed to sobriety. The first phase of the Dial Self
project, the renovation of the existing building is expected to be completed in the late fall of 2017. This
is an exciting addition to our local service delivery system.
Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely
low-income individuals and families and those who are: 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); or, receiving
assistance from public or private agencies that address housing, health, social services,
employment, education, or youth needs.
The City has conducted the following actitivities to prevent homelessness:
- Created the Community Housing and Support Services Program to provide assistance to families facing
eviction. The Coordinator identifies court involved families with non-payment issues and provides
intensive case management services to preserve tenancies. 3 year grant, initiated by the Northampton
Housing Partnership, funded by the Northampton Community Preservation Committee. Grant was the
vision of legal aid attorneys and front line support service people who acknowledge the multiple
challenges some families face and the need for one trustworthy person in their lives to help them
navigate those challenges. The application for renewal will be submitted to the Community Preservation
Committee in the second round of 2018.
-Next Step meeting held with 3 Social Workers at Cooley Dickinson Hospital (5-12-16) to revisit the
Discharge Planning Protocol developed by the Network several years ago. Phone numbers were
exchanged, faces put to names and all agreed to work together to avoid discharging people into
homelessness whenever possible. They have continued to attend meetings this past year.
- Soldier On picks up any Veteran being discharged from the Hampshire County House of Correction and
will shelter them if they have no immediate other housing options. The City's Veteran's agent does
extensive case management with Veterans to find and preserve affordable housing and works closely
with the Northampton Housing Authority in the administration of the VASH Voucher Program.
- City funds the Community Legal Aid Homelessness Prevention Program which also does tenancy
preservation work through the Court System, in a more triaged fashion. Tenant landlord mediation
occurs at Housing Court and payment plans are established and services secured in order to avoid
evictions into homelessness.
- a Veteran's Court has been established in Holyoke. This Court takes into consideration special issues
being faced by Veterans that may have contributed to law violating activities, such as Post Traumatic
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Stress disorder. The Court has already preserved many tenancies and linked people with needed
resources.
- The City views most of the public service activities funded by CDBG as homelessness prevention
efforts. Increasing language competency in order to secure economic self- sufficiency, accessing free
food to be better able to afford housing costs, preparing at risk youth for employment opportunities and
career paths, are some examples. Enhancing self worth, life skills and training for economic security are
all critical components to having stable housing and healthy lives.
- Local service delivery system includes homelessness prevention activities, housing search assistance
and housing stabilization services as well as employment and educational programs to provide paths to
self-sufficiency and economic security.
Discussion
Non-homeless special needs activities:
Elder Households are served by the Highland Valley Elder Services, the Northampton Housing Authority
and the Northampton Senior Center and Council on Aging. Services include home modification grants
and loans to age in place, home delivered meals, public housing and outreach, education and
socialization opportunities. Frail elders are served by HVES Protective Services division. The newly CDBG
funded program entitled EARN will provide employment training and job information to elders who still
need to work after retirement, to make ends meet.
Households with disabled members will be served by Stavros Center for Independent Living, the
Department of Mental Health and the Department of Developmental Disabilities. The Community
Housing Support Services Coordinator will also be available, as well as the Resource Center and Housing
Authority.
Households with mentally ill members will be served by Community Support Options, ServiceNet, Inc.
and the Department of Mental Health. There are several residential settings in the City which function as
community based housing for the mentally ill with 24/7 staffing on site.
The Department of Public Health operates a new detox center in Greenfield which increases the bed
availability in the region, as well as continuing to operate residential programs. Gandara Center operates
Hairston House, the former Alliance for Sober Living residence on Summer Street and the
Gandara/Friends House on Maple Avenue to serve individuals in recovery from substance abuse.
Victims of domestic violence receive emergency shelter, legal assistance and support services through
Safe Passage. People with HIV/AIDs are served through a Positive Place, a community program based
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out of Cooley Dickinson Hospital. The program has 22 rental vouchers utilized in properties owned
privately, located throughout the region. THeir HOPWA allocation through the City of Springfield is
$122,659 and $116,062 from the 3 County COC. 11 vouchers are from HOPWA and 11 are from the
McKinney Vento Program. They have no funds for short term rent, mortgage or utility allowances, nor
do they operate any facilities themselves.
The CDBG Administrator holds the Next Step Collaborative meetings monthly. Those sessions provide
the vehicle for keeping that close watch on the numbers of unsheltered and shelter capacity in order to
make needed adjustments. The Network to End Homelessness Individual Services Committee provides
the on-going communication around regional capacity, as other area shelter providers are present and
report on their statistics and bed capacity. Between the local and regional networks, providers and
policy makers are up to date on fluctuating activities. The recent cuts from the State budget included
one for the Network to End Homelessness. The earmark for Craig's Doors shelter in Amherst was left in,
so that was a huge relief. The Steering Committee of the Network will be assembling soon to strategize
how to keep the Network' s committee facilitation role going, with reduced funds. It has been invaluable
for coordination and achieving regional goals.
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AP-75 Barriers to affordable housing – 91.220(j)
Introduction:
Actions it planned 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
Northampton works and will continue to work to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing.
Current efforts include:
- The Northampton Housing Partnership is examining a home rule option to allow tax relief to
developers of affordable housing. Such a program was adopted by the town of Amherst. Tax relief is
given to account for the reduction in rental amounts (between market rate units and subsidized units)
for projects of 10 units or more. City staff have met with Amherst staff to learn more. Discussions will
continue as Amherst has its first project to utilize the program about which we can learn.
- The City's zoning ordinance is being analyzed to identify additional costs that could possibly be
removed or reduced in order to facilitate the creation of affordable units; such as the need for site plan
review for new detached accessory apartment units. The Zoning Committee of the Northampton
Housing Partnership has met with the Office of Planning and Sustainability and created a list of zoning
revisions that may enhance the creation of more market rate affordable units.
- The City is monitoring HUD's movement to allow test pilot projects for establishing small area fair
market rent rates in high cost areas to increase utilization of Section 8 rental vouchers.
- The City has purchased two large land tracts on which to create affordable home ownership, although
there are few State funding sources currently available for homeownership development. One is the
CDBG funded Glendale Road parcel, and the other is on Burt's Pit Road. Habitat for Humanity responded
to the RFP for Glendale Road and will construct 4 homes. The RFP for the second parcel has not yet been
issued.
- Mass. Fair Housing Center will continue to conduct confidential testing of Northampton landlords to
ascertain discriminatory practices.
- The City re-instituted a Housing Rehabilitation Program to assist households with low and moderate
incomes, allowing them to remain in their homes and experience improved living environments. The
program is operating very successfully with 7 units in various stages of completion in the first year of
operation.
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Discussion:
The City Council approved a line item of $20,000 to hire a consultant to implement the Fair Housing
Assessment Tool requirement from HUD. The Northampton Housing Partnership will work during the
late summer and fall of 2017 to develop a Request for Proposals to identify the consultant. Even though
the tool is not required for submission until 2018-19, the work is critical to undertake and the City is
moving forward. The Tool is very comprehensive and the information it will yield through targeted focus
group work and data collection and assessment is essential for relevant policy formation, program
development and planning activities.
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AP-85 Other Actions – 91.220(k)
Introduction:
Actions planned to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs
The most important role the City can play is to facilitate communication and collaboration in the face of
diminishing resources. With continued cuts in program funding sources across the board, it is imperative
that our service delivery system operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, insuring services are
not duplicated or wasted. Specifically with CDBG funding, the City will support people and organizations
carrying out public social service programming, preserving and creating affordable housing, increasing
economic self-sufficiency and improving public facilities and infrastructure to improve the quality of life
for the residents of our City that may be underserved, have insufficient incomes or face challenges that
are preventing them from achieving their life goals.
City support for and participation in the Western Mass. Network to End Homelessness, the Western
Mass. Inter-Agency Council on Housing and Homelessness, the Three County Rural CoC, the Next Step
Collaborative, the Housing Partnership and the committees of the regional network will facilitate
coordinated actions to meet the needs of the underserved. The City of Northampton is a strong and
committed partner in those venues.
The City will support agencies to the extent possible with CDBG funding that provide direct front line
services to those finding themselves most in need in Northampton. The on-going communication with
those entities through meetings and interactive monitoring sessions facilitates the identification of
service delivery gaps. The CDBG administrators and Mayor's Office works diligently to address those
gaps.
With the numbers of Hispanic households increasing and many with language challenges, it is imperative
that Casa Latina, the grass roots organization serving the Latino community in Hampshire County be
viable and strong. Outreach, advocacy and connection to resources will become increasingly critical to
prevent people from slipping beyond the safety net. The City is committed to supporting the
organization as it seeks to redefine its mission and goals, and identify new resources in order to move
fully forward.
The City will work with the Northampton Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners, Executive
Director and newly hired Resident Services Coordinator to insure the NHA is a collaborative partner in
meeting the affordable housing needs and support services of its tenants.
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Actions planned to foster and maintain affordable housing
CDBG and CPC financial resources have been allocated to several housing projects in the past few years.
The Valley CDC Lumber Yard Apartments, Live 155 (formerly Northampton Lodging), the Friends of the
Homeless/Dial Self housing for unaccompanied youth, Valley CDC's expansion and renovation of 82
Bridge Street SRO and improvements to the Gandara House for those in recovery. Additionally, the
CDBG staff assists with permitting, conducting environmental reviews and contracting, writing support
letters to garner other funding, as well as identifying and coordinating support services that can be
brought to the projects.
Efforts will continue to prevent any additional loss of units from the subsidized housing inventory.
Demolition of NHA property on Burts Pit Road and plans for new development at the Laurel Street site
will move forward.
Added to the affordable housing inventory are: 16 transitional housing units for women Veterans and
their children (competed in December 2015) and 44 new units of limited equity cooperative ownership
units for older male Veterans at the VA campus, slated for completion in 2016, and 43 new affordable
units (of 83) at the Christopher Heights Assisted Living Development at Village Hill (the former State
Hospital site), creating 87 new units of affordable housing. The 55 units at Valley CDC's Lumberyard
project and the 48 affordable units at 129 Pleasant Street through HAPHousing, will add an additional
103 permanently affordable rental units for individuals and families when State funding is secured
(2016-2017) and construction completed (2018-19).
Ten homeownership units will be improved through the creation of a Housing Rehabilitation Program. If
Habitat for Humanity gets involved with parcels through the City's acquisition of property for limited
development projects, new construction of home ownership units could occur in the coming years. 4 are
now planned for the Glendale Road site.
The Housing Partnership will continue to meet monthly to strategize about preservation issues, as well
as identify opportunities for new unit production. Outreach will continue with one of the property
owners of an expiring use development (Leeds Village Apartments, 2018).
Actions planned to reduce lead-based paint hazards
CDBG funds have been being utilized for a Housing Rehabilitation Program. With the age of the housing
stock, it is conceivable that each residential rehab project undertaken may include remediation of lead
paint to some degree. All of the seven units progressing to date have had lead inspections. Some limited
remediation has been done on one unit. The program parameter of permitting up to $45,000 of work
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per unit was set that high to accommodate remediation if it is needed. The goal of the program would
be for six to ten units participating to be able to achieve full compliance for deleading. The
Northampton Board of Health has agreed to keep a separate data file for all units with deleading
certification in order to keep track of abated units.
Through the City's Fair Housing activity, information on resources for lead abatement are disseminated
at the annual Landlord Workshop held in February.
Actions planned to reduce the number of poverty-level families
According to the American Community Survey 2014 data, 6.0% of all families and 13.9% of the total
population had incomes below the poverty level. The City will work to insure the following services are
available through the existing delivery system: the MANNA Soup Kitchen, the SRO food pantry and the
Northampton Survival Center to address food insecurity which addresses food insecurity and frees up
income for housing costs. The Literacy Project, The Center for New Americans and Community Action's
Youth Employment Readiness Program will assist residents with economic empowerment. Valley CDC's
Small Business Assistance Program will help increase incomes for small business entrepreneurs.
The Northampton City Council supports the work of the Living Wage Campaign. Volunteers doing this
work conduct outreach and education activities with area employers about the benefits of paying wages
that can support household living expenses. The Pioneer Valley Workers Center educates and advocates
for employees about their rights and responsibilities and strives to improve employer/employee
relationships and working environments. Community Action administers a wide variety of programming,
as the anti-poverty agency in the region.
Actions planned to develop institutional structure
With the Western Mass Network to End Homelessness and Three County Continuum of Care meetings,
the City is regularly informed and participates in regional activity relative to individual and family
homelessness, unaccompanied youth and Veterans efforts. The only gap previously identified in the
existing institutional structure was a youth component. DialSelf now has a presence in Hampshire
County with a new youth street outreach program and plans for a residence for youth, so that gap has
been filled.
Between the Next Step Collaborative, Valley CDC's Homeless Services Providers quarterly sessions and
the Northampton Housing Partnership meetings, the City gains a holistic sense of what is happening in
the community at a local level. Next Step meetings are attended by providers working with the
unsheltered individual homeless, sheltered homeless individuals, Veterans, people with HIV/AIDS and
people at risk of homelessness in the SRO's. Housing Partnership members are composed of a legal aid
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attorney doing eviction prevention work, local clergy, a Community Reinvestment Act Banking
compliance officer, a financial advisor/realtor, a Housing Authority tenant, social service providers, a
private landlord and interested citizens. Valley CDC meetings are attended by DMH case managers,
housing search workers, housing stabilization staff and PATH workers who identify tenants whose
housing is at risk. The institutional structure that currently exists is comprehensive and collaborative.
People work together and support each other.
Actions planned to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social
service agencies
The Northampton Housing Authority hired a new executive director last year. During this past year, the
NHA stepped forward to house many of the tenants needing temporary relocation from Northampton
Lodging. It is the City's expectation that the NHA will continue to improve its role as a collaborative
community partner and that support services to existing NHA tenants will be enhanced by that
collaboration.
The City will continue to attend HAPHousing's and Valley CDC's quarterly meetings with housing service
providers for coordinated case management and tenancy preservation for residents in their buildings.
The City is grateful for the meaningful partnerships it has with Valley CDC and HAP Housing ( now
Wayfinders). Between the two Pleasant Street developments, those two agencies are investing 40
million dollars to create affordable and market rate mixed use housing in Northampton. These are just
the latest projects in a long list of collaborative efforts. With Valley pursuing the 82 Bridge Street project
and now partnering with The Community Builders to develop the final parcel at the former State
hospital, the inventory of quality affordable housing opportunities in Northampton continues to grow.
Discussion:
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Program Specific Requirements
AP-90 Program Specific Requirements – 91.220(l)(1,2,4)
Introduction:
Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(1)
Projects planned with all CDBG funds expected to be available during the year are identified in the
Projects Table. The following identifies program income that is available for use that is included in
projects to be carried out.
1. The total amount of program income that will have been received before the start of the next
program year and that has not yet been reprogrammed 0
2. The amount of proceeds from section 108 loan guarantees that will be used during the year to
address the priority needs and specific objectives identified in the grantee's strategic plan.0
3. The amount of surplus funds from urban renewal settlements 0
4. The amount of any grant funds returned to the line of credit for which the planned use has not
been included in a prior statement or plan 0
5. The amount of income from float-funded activities 0
Total Program Income:0
Other CDBG Requirements
1. The amount of urgent need activities 0
2. The estimated percentage of CDBG funds that will be used for activities that benefit
persons of low and moderate income.Overall Benefit - A consecutive period of one,
two or three years may be used to determine that a minimum overall benefit of 70%
of CDBG funds is used to benefit persons of low and moderate income. Specify the
years covered that include this Annual Action Plan.90.00%
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Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
Reference 91.220(l)(4)
1.Include written standards for providing ESG assistance (may include as attachment)
2.If the Continuum of Care has established centralized or coordinated assessment system that
meets HUD requirements, describe that centralized or coordinated assessment system.
3.Identify the process for making sub-awards and describe how the ESG allocation available to
private nonprofit organizations (including community and faith-based organizations).
4.If the jurisdiction is unable to meet the homeless participation requirement in 24 CFR
576.405(a), the jurisdiction must specify its plan for reaching out to and consulting with
homeless or formerly homeless individuals in considering policies and funding decisions
regarding facilities and services funded under ESG.
5.Describe performance standards for evaluating ESG.
Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(5)
1. Distribution of Funds
a . D escribe the eligibility requirements for recipients of HTF funds (as defined in 24 CFR § 93.2).
b. Describe the jurisdiction’s application requirements for eligible recipients to apply for HTF funds.
c. Describe the selection criteria that the jurisdiction will use to select applications submitted by eligible
recipients.
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d. Describe the jurisdiction’s required priority for funding based on geographic distribution, which is a
description of the geographic areas of the State (including areas of low-income and minority
concentration) in which it will direct assistance during the ensuing program year.
e. Describe the jurisdiction’s required priority for funding based on the applicant's ability to obligate HTF
funds and undertake eligible activities in a timely manner.
f. Describe the jurisdiction’s required priority for funding based on the extent to which rents for units in
the rental project are affordable to extremely low-income families.
g. Describe the jurisdiction’s required priority for funding based on the financial feasibility of the project
beyond the required 30-year period.
h. Describe the jurisdiction’s required priority for funding based on the merits of the application in
meeting the priority housing needs of the jurisdiction (such as housing that is accessible to transit or
employment centers, housing that includes green building and sustainable development features, or
housing that serves special needs populations).
i. Describe the jurisdiction’s required priority for funding based on the location of existing affordable
housing.
j. Describe the jurisdiction’s required priority for funding based on the extent to which the application
makes use of non-federal funding sources.
2. Does the jurisdiction’s application require the applicant to include a description of the eligible
activities to be conducted with HTF funds?
3. Does the jurisdiction’s application require that each eligible recipient certify that housing units assisted
with HTF funds will comply with HTF requirements?
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4. Performance Goals and Benchmarks. The jurisdiction has met the requirement to provide for
performance goals, consistent with the jurisdiction’s goals established under 24 CFR 91.215(b)(2), by
including HTF in its housing goals in the housing table on the SP-45 Goals and AP-20 Annual Goals and
Objectives screens.
5. Rehabilitation Standards. The jurisdiction must establish rehabilitation standards for all HTF-assisted
housing rehabilitation activities that set forth the requirements that the housing must meet upon project
completion. The jurisdiction’s description of its standards must be in sufficient detail to determine the
required rehabilitation work including methods and materials. The standards may refer to applicable
codes or they may establish requirements that exceed the minimum requirements of the codes. The
jurisdiction must attach its rehabilitation standards below. If the jurisdiction will not use HTF funds for
the rehabilitation of housing, enter “N/A”.
In addition, the rehabilitation standards must address each of the following: health and safety; major
systems; lead-based paint; accessibility; disaster mitigation (where relevant); state and local codes,
ordinances, and zoning requirements; Uniform Physical Condition Standards; and Capital Needs
Assessments (if applicable).
6. Resale or Recapture Guidelines. Below, the jurisdiction must enter (or attach) a description of the
guidelines that will be used for resale or recapture of HTF funds when used to assist first-time
homebuyers. If the jurisdiction will not use HTF funds to assist first-time homebuyers, enter “N/A”.
7 . HTF Affordable Homeownership Limits. If the jurisdiction intends to use HTF funds for homebuyer
assistance and does not use the HTF affordable homeownership limits for the area provided by HUD, it
must determine 95 percent of the median area purchase price and set forth the information in
accordance with §93.305. If the jurisdiction will not use HTF funds to assist first-time homebuyers, enter
“N/A”.
8. Limited Beneficiaries or Preferences. Describe how the jurisdiction will limit the beneficiaries or give
preferences to a particular segment of the extremely low- or very low-income population to serve
unmet needs identified in its consolidated plan or annual action plan. If the jurisdiction will not limit the
beneficiaries or give preferences to a particular segment of the extremely low- or very low-income
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population, enter “N/A.”
Any limitation or preference must not violate nondiscrimination requirements in § 93.350, and the
jurisdiction must not limit or give preferences to students. The jurisdiction may permit rental housing
owners to limit tenants or give a preference in accordance with § 93.303 only if such limitation or
preference is described in the action plan.
9 . R e f i n a n c i n g o f E x i s t i n g D e b t . Enter or attach the jurisdiction’s refinancing guidelines below. The
guidelines describe the conditions under which the jurisdiction will refinance existing rental housing
project debt. The jurisdiction’s refinancing guidelines must, at minimum, demonstrate that
rehabilitation is the primary eligible activity and ensure that this requirement is met by establishing a
minimum level of rehabilitation per unit or a required ratio between rehabilitation and refinancing. If
the jurisdiction will not refinance existing debt, enter “N/A.”
<TYPE=[section 9 end]>
Discussion:
The Plan details how funds expected from the 2017 grant (B17-MC-25-0027) will be expended including
the anticipated program income of $20,000. These loans consist of a 1st time home buyer repayment of
$21.08 per month and a housing development loan payment of $1,000 per year. The anticipated
amount includes additional program income, if any, which is unknown as it is dependent on whether or
not housing rehab and home repair loans are paid off. Over the past several years, due to the difficult
economic situation, the City has seen fewer repayments. The majority of homeowners request
subordinations. All unanticipated program income received during the prior program year not included
in the 2016-2017 plan has been allocated in this year's document and no reimbursements, other than
program income, have been made to the local account.
This plan covers program years 2015, 2016, 2017.