REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 09/21/2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
SUBJECT:
Title
Public Hearing on the 2021-2022 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report being filed with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
End
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report is a federally mandated informational assessment report of activities implemented with Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships grant funds to address the needs of low- and moderate-income residents. This report covers July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. The report has been made available to the public before the public hearing. After the public hearing, the report will be submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council receive and file the 2021-2022 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report and authorize the Community Services Director to submit the report to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Body
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
Federal regulations require the City of Corona to prepare an annual report called the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER is an informational assessment report of activities implemented by the City and its community partners with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) grant funds.
The 2021-2022 CAPER covers a period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, as approved in the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan, to address the needs of low- and moderate-income residents. Submission of the 2021-2022 CAPER marks the completion of the second year in the current Five-Year Consolidated Action planning cycle that covers July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025.
ANALYSIS:
For the 2021-2022 program year, the City received $1,209,556 of CDBG funds and $497,089 of HOME funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which were combined in the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan with $21,721 of unexpended prior year CDBG funds for a total investment of $1,231,277 and the total HOME budget allocated to activities being $497,089. This investment of CDBG and HOME funds was a catalyst for positive change in the community. The following information highlights the activities the City and its community partners implemented during the recently completed program year.
1. Affordable housing preservation and rehabilitation assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners.
The City’s Residential Rehabilitation Program completed one (1) forgivable loan project of approximately $25,000 for a low-moderate income owner of a single-family home. Program accomplishments are lower than usual and directly tied to the pandemic. Throughout the program year, staff continued outreach efforts through social media, Community Connect advertisement, Code Compliance, and targeted outreach through hundreds of program mailers.
2. Fair housing services to residents.
The City of Corona provided financial support to the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc. to provide fair housing outreach, education, and enforcement activities, including landlord-tenant matters. The Fair Housing Council assisted 1,647 residents.
3. Code Compliance efforts to bring housing units into compliance.
The City’s Code Compliance Division brought 217 housing units into compliance with local codes to ensure safe housing provided to low-moderate income residents of the CDBG Target Areas.
4. Special Needs services for residents.
The Peppermint Ridge Activity Center provided additional space for program activities for 22 adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
5. Miscellaneous Services for low- and moderate-income residents.
The ABC Hopes [Dis] Abilities and Life Skills Support Program provided services to 36 low-income residents. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire provided mentoring to 12 youths. The Starting Over Path to Seed program assisted 62 residents in starting back on the road to self-sufficiency. The Voices for Children Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA Program) assisted 13 youths during the program year.
6. Phase I Homeless Shelter Rehabilitation planning and construction.
To address homeless needs, the City focused on its Community Facilities goal in the Consolidated Plan by using CDBG funds to rehabilitate the City’s homeless shelter for use as a low-barrier emergency shelter. Phase 1 of the rehabilitation work that used CDBG funds is complete. Currently under design is Phase 2 improvement. Upon completion of Phase 2, the shelter will open.
7. The 2021-2022 Corona Senior Center Rehabilitation Project made significant strides and is currently in the final stages of the design phase with an anticipation date to bid, award the project, and complete construction during the upcoming 2022-2023 program year.
In addition to the City’s normal CDBG and HOME programs, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizing $2.2 trillion in various stimulus measures to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City received a special allocation of $1,670,542 of CDBG funds under the CARES Act, referred to in the CAPER as “CDBG-CV” funds. The City Council allocated these funds to prevent eviction and foreclosure for low- and moderate-income residents experiencing negative economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City Council also authorized a portion of these funds to implement a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Grants for Businesses program that provides $5,000 grant assistance to Corona businesses that need to purchase PPE necessary to implement social distancing requirements by federal and state guidelines to protect public and employee health.
During the 2021-2022 program year, the Community Assistance team implemented rental assistance, mortgage assistance, and business assistance programs.
8. Emergency Housing Needs Assistance - Rental
This program provided up to six (6) months of short-term rental and utility assistance to 81 households to prevent eviction or utility shutoff during the pandemic.
9. Emergency Housing Needs Assistance - Mortgage
This program provided up to six (6) months of short-term mortgage and utility assistance to 19 households to prevent eviction or shutoff during the pandemic.
10. Provided Personal Protective Equipment Grants to Businesses
This program issued eight (8) business grants to pay for the cost of PPE necessary to implement social distancing requirements in accordance with federal and state guidelines to protect public and employee health.
Citizen Participation
HUD regulations require the 2021-2022 CAPER to be made available to citizens for public comment. Per HUD regulations, a 15-day public notice was published in the Sentinel Weekly News on September 2, 2022, inviting the public to comment on the CAPER. The draft CAPER was available for public review at the City Clerk’s Office, Corona Public Library, Community Services Department, and online on the City’s CDBG webpage.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Adequate resources are available in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget for the preparation and submittal of the City’s 2021-2022 CAPER to HUD.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
No environmental impact is associated with the submission of the 2021-2022 CAPER or submission of the report to HUD. This action is exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act and does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
PREPARED BY: FRANK PEREZ, CDBG CONSULTANT & CYNTHIA LARA, COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: ANNE K. TURNER, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1 - 2021-2022 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)