Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2013-19 - Adopt FY 2013-14 Community Dev Block Grant — reading text

community concerns. The City will continue to work with the Continuum of Care to identify funding sources for an emergency homeless shelter which would provide shelter for at least 50 homeless individuals. The City has agreed to provide a cold night shelter in one of its community centers, if needed. Some of these agencies provide limited shelter and comprehensive transitional permanent housing services to homeless families, many of which have female heads of households. Others are coordinating housing assistance for homeless and at -risk families by emphasizing prevention, shelter referrals, and relocation services. The Okaloosa/ Walton Homeless Continuum of Care Opportunity, Inc. provides a monthly forum in which community stakeholders, homeless persons, and formerly homeless persons can collaborate on needed services and request ideas and help from participating agencies. The Continuum of Care applies for federal and state funding, which it distributes to service providers based on results from a request for proposal process. Once funds are awarded, the Continuum of Care monitors expenditures and program delivery, and reports back to the appropriate government agencies. The Continuum of Care receives some funds for direct services, which are used to support collective programs, such as health clinics, provision of bicycles, and other essential needs beyond the capacity of individual members. Also, the Bridgeway Center, Inc. provides assistance to those who have been homeless for at least a year, or homeless four times in the last three years, and who have chronic mental illness and/ or substance abuse disorders. Case managers link clients to housing, employment, benefits, and mental health and/ or substance abuse treatment. Lastly, two more participating agencies provide a limited number of shelter beds. The Shelter House provides a safe haven for women, children, and men in imminent danger of domestic violence. FRESH Start recently completed a development for ten units of transitional housing for women and families, called Harbour Place Apartments on Bobolink Street NE, in FY 2008 -09. Both agencies receive funding from the Okaloosa/ Walton Homeless Continuum of Care Opportunity, Inc. Harbour Place Apartments consists of 10 units for a total of 12, 460 square feet. There are two each 750 square foot two bedroom, one bath units and eight each 960 square foot three bedroom, two bath units. Each floor also has a storage room with 750 square foot each. All units meet Fair Housing requirements and five percent of the units 10 are available for handicapped tenants. A complete list of local agencies providing services and assistance to the homeless and special needs populations is found below. Local services include but are not limited to ( 91. 210d): 1. Waterfront Rescue Mission —The target population is men with substance abuse and disorders. 2. Bridgeway Center, Inc. — Assists men and women requiring crisis stabilization and detoxification. 3. Salvation Army —The target population is men. 4. FRESH Start — Targets working parents and single women, primarily transitional housing for persons with jobs. 5. Shelter House —Women and children in imminent danger of harm from domestic violence. 6. Family Life Center— Pregnant and unwed mothers. 7. Lutheran Services —Runaway teens. 8. JADA —Men and women with substance abuse disorders; must agree to enroll in Christian recovery program. 9. Catholic Charities — Transients, emergencies. There is not a shelter but there are limited funds for hotel stays. 10. Red Cross — Persons rendered homeless by fire. No shelter, but limited funds for hotel stays. 11. Harbor House —Men with substance abuse disorders; transitional housing only. 12. Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County — Build affordable homes for low - income families. 13. White Sands Manor — Provides HUD subsidized housing for very low- income disabled senior citizens. 14. Okaloosa County Development Corporation ( OCDC) — Administers the S. H.I.P. and HOME programs for the City of Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa County through an interlocal agreement between both jurisdictions. 15. Striving for Perfection Ministries — Provides emergency benevolence, food, and utilities for low- income people. 16. Okaloosa County Head Start — Provides child care services for low- income families. 17. Okaloosa County Council on Aging — Coordinating agency for support services for the elderly, including housing and transportation. 18. Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority ( FWBHA) — Provides housing units for low- and moderate -income families and individuals. 11 VI. ANNUAL ACTION PLAN OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES 2013 -2014) Every year the City of Fort Walton Beach prepares an Annual Action Plan which provides information on the City' s anticipated resources, its proposed activities and methods of allocation and implementation. This Action Plan is prepared following the application, citizen participation and administrative review process. The Action Plan is formulated in May and is reviewed and approved by the Citizen' s Advisory Committee and forwarded to City Council for final approval. The City is required to submit an Annual Action Plan to HUD every year by the middle of August. Proposed Schedule of Adoption March 2013- Advertising for Projects /Applications /Input April 2013- Public Hearing Mid April 2013 - Applications Due May 2013- CAC Meeting to review applications and approve allocation of funding June 2013 - CDBG Draft Annual Action Plan complete June -July 2013 - Public Comment Period on Action Plan August 2013- City Council considers draft Plan August 2013- Annual Action Plan sent to HUD Priorities The priorities for the annual action plan are generally set forth in the Five Year Consolidated Plan. This year' s priorities are to improve the safety and livability of neighborhoods, eliminate blighting conditions, and increase access to quality public facilities. The following table outlines the goals and objectives to be carded out during the action plan period ( 2013- 2014): Objective Category: Objective Category: Suitable Objective Category: Decent Dousing Living Expanded Economic Opportunities Which Includes: Which Includes: Which Includes: assisting homeless persons E3 improving the safety and job creation and retention obtain affordable housing livability of neighborhoods assisting persons at risk of M eliminating blighting establishment, stabilization, becoming homeless influences and the deterioration and expansion of small business of ro art & facilities inc1 it micro businesses retaining the affordable increasing the access to the provision of public services concerned with housing stock quality public and private facilities employment increasing the availability of reducing the isolation of the provision ofjobs to low affordable permanent housing in I income groups within areas income persons living in areas 12 standard condition to LMI through spatial deconcentratiou affected by those programs and families, particularly to members of housing opportunities for activities under programs covered of disadvantaged minorities lower income persons and the by the plan without discrimination on the revitalization of deteriorating basis of race, color, religion, sex, neighborhoods national origin, familial status, or disability increasing the supply of restoring and preserving availability of mortgage supportive housing which properties of special historic, financing for low income persons included structural features and architectural, or aesthetic value at reasonable rates using non- services to enable persons with discriminatory lending practices special needs ( including persons with My /AmS) to live in dignity andinde endence providing affordable housing LJ conserving energy resources LJ access to capital and credit for that is accessible to job and use of renewable energy development activities that opportunities sources promote the long -term economic social viability of the community Proposed Programs /Activities This year' s activities were developed fully utilizing the citizen participation process. The program was advertised and applications were taken for program funding. City staff reviewed the applications and forwarded them to the Citizen' s Advisory Committee for review. The Citizens Advisory Committee then approved projects based on needs, priorities, and available funding. The following is the final list of activities that were approved for the 2013 -2014 CDBG Program: 1. Planting and Administration ($ 23, 527) 20% The City of Fort Walton Beach Engineering Services Department administers the CDBG program and is responsible for conducting all public hearings and meetings, advertising the report, advertising for and accepting applications, reviewing applications, staffing the Citizen Advisory Committee, administering funds to sub -grantees, preparing the Annual Action Plan each year, preparing the CAPER each year, and for preparing the Five Year Consolidated Plan every five years, among other administrative duties. 2. Nuisance Abatement Program ($ 10, 000) 8. 5% The Nuisance Abatement Program will assist in eliminating blight and the deterioration of properties through the removal of unsafe conditions and by enhancing the appearance and conditions of structures. The program will allow low income residents of the City to apply for funding to resolve code enforcement nuisance issues on their property, including the demolition of unsafe and dilapidated structures. Proposed Outcome: Eliminates blighting influences and improves the safety of neighborhoods by resolving nuisance issues for approximately l -2 properties. 3. Chester Pruitt Youth Enrichment Program ($ 17, 645) 15% 13 Chester Pruitt is a local youth recreation center that offers summer programs, after school care, and tutoring. The funds will be used to subsidize program fees for low and moderate income families for children enrolling in the programs. Proposed Outcome: Provides a suitable living environment by assisting approximately 25 -35 youth from low to moderate