PART I
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A.PURPOSE
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandates that all entitlement communities receiving HUD funds, consolidate the submission requirements of its Community Planning and Development (CPD) formula grant programs and prepare community development strategies into one Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan is a collaborative process by which a community establishes a unified, strategic vision for community development and housing actions. It is the means to analyze the entire community currently receiving HUD funds and coordinate responses to the community's needs. Consolidating CPD programs will offer RiversideCounty a better chance to shape these and other existing programs into effective, coordinated neighborhood and community development strategies to revitalize their communities.
B.CONTINUING THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN
Not unlike other local governments, the County’s priority needs are far greater than its available resources. The 2004-2009 Consolidated Plan is the County’s third Consolidated Plan. Since the County’s first Consolidated Plan the County has expended over $66,000,000 in Federal funds to achieve the priority goals of each Consolidated Plan. Federal funds are maximixed to the greatest extent possible by leveraging with state and local funding sources. Although the resources are limited and the need is forever increasing, the County is working toward achieving the greatest possible benefit for its communties and residents.
The County of Riverside has successfully completed and placed in service a large and varying range of services, programs and projects which are now serving the needs of the wide range of population of RiversideCounty. Despite the County of Riverside’s success the populations needs continue and grow as the County of Riverside continues to be an emerging market for economic and population growth. This Consolidated Plan continues to focus on the objectives in our previous Consolidated Plan. RiversideCounty must continue to strive for the well founded goals and objectives described in the previous plans until ineffective or unneeded. RiversideCounty has developed extremely valuable momentum in our drive toward these objectives but there remains much work to be done to meet the continuing goals and objectives.
C.AREA AND JURIDICTIONS INCLUDED
There are currently fourteen (14) cities that participate with the County in its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement program and receive an allocation based upon the HUD Fair Share formula. The Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) and Home Investment Partnership Act (HOME) funds are distributed to eligible activities regardless of location. The County participating cities include:
BanningBeaumont
BlytheSan Jacinto
CathedralCityCanyonLake
Desert Hot SpringsIndio
LakeElsinoreLa Quinta
MurrietaNorco
PerrisTemecula
The cities of Riverside, MorenoValley, Corona, Hemet, PalmDesert and Palm Springs are their own entitlement jurisdictions that receive and administer CDBG funds separate from RiversideCounty. The cities of Coachella, Indian Wells, Calimesa, and Rancho Mirage do not participate in the CDBG program.
D.CDBG PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 created the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). CDBG program objectives are achieved by providing grant funds to cities and urban counties who then distribute the funds to local governments and non-profit organizations for projects which construct public facilities, preserve and expand housing stock for lower income persons, stimulate the local economy and improve social services. RiversideCounty has participated in the program as an entitlement, urban county, since 1975.
The primary objective of the Community Development Block Grant program is the development of viable urban communities by providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. Other objectives include the prevention of or elimination of slums and blight and meeting other community development needs of particular urgency.
Projects funded in the urban County of Riverside are selected on the basis of eligibility, consistency of needs with generally available data, appropriateness of proposed plans and programs to meeting the needs and objectives, coordination of mutually supportive housing assistance and community development activities, and compliance with applicable laws.
Basic program objectives include:
1.Elimination of slums and blight;
2.Elimination of conditions harmful to health, safety and public welfare;
3.Conservation and expansion of housing for all, but principally for low and moderate income persons;
4.Improving the quantity and quality of community services, primarily for low and moderate income persons, i.e. (Childcare, homeless and Senior Services);
5.Promoting the better use of land and other natural resources;
6.Reducing the isolation of income groups within communities; and
7.Restoring and preserving properties of special historical value.
E.HOME PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
The HOME Program is a federally funded grant program for housing. Funds are allocated by formula to participating jurisdictions. HOME funds allow great flexibility with respect to the types of properties to be assisted, the types of development (new construction, modest or major rehab) to be undertaken, the forms and amounts of financing to be offered, the quality and type of housing provided, the households assisted and procedures for running programs.
HOME program objectives include:
1.To expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing.
2.Strengthen the abilities of state and local governments to provide housing.
3.To assure that federal housing services, financing, and other investments are provided to state and local governments in a coordinated, supportive fashion.
HOME program applications are received on a continuing and over the counter basis as funds continue to be available.
F.EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT PROGRAM (ESG) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
The Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG), authorized pursuant to the Stewart B. McKinney Act, provides funding to assist, protect and improve living conditions for the homeless. RiversideCounty has participated in this program since 1987. The County of Riverside receives an annual entitlement allocation from HUD to provide services in the following categories: renovation or conversion of buildings for use as emergency shelters for the homeless; maintenance and operational costs associated with emergency shelters; the prevention of homelessness and the provision of essential services to the homeless. The Local FEMA Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Economic Development Agency.
G.AMERICAN DREAM DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE (ADDI) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The American Dream Down Payment Initiative (ADDI) was signed into law on 16 December 2003 under the American Dream Down Payment Act (Public Law 108-106). Funds made available under the ADDI statute will be allocated to eligible HOME program participating jurisdictions to assist low-income families become first time homebuyers.
The County of Riverside is an existing eligible HOME program participating jurisdiction receiving an allocation of HOME funds. The County of Riversideexpressly solicits an ADDI fund allocation with this Consolidated Plan.
The County of Riverside proposes to use ADDI funds to establish and operate a second First Time Home Buyer, in addition to EDA’s existing First Time Home Buyer Program, offering closing cost assistance or down payment mortgage assistance. EDA proposes to conjoin both programs in an attempt to reach the very low and extreme low-income segment of the population. The amount of ADDI assistance will comply with the maximum subsidy limits of 6% or $10,000 per single family unit.
The County of Riverside proposes to market the combined HOME funded First Time Home Buyer and ADDI program to those households reaching below the very low income limit and especially to long term recipients of the Housing Authority’s Section 8 program. In conjunction with the Housing Authority’s Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program, the County will market the ADDI program to Section 8 voucher recipients and participate in FSS and Section 8 tenant programs and trainings. The ADDI will be presented at all Fair Housing and Homeownership fairs and seminars conducted by or in participation with the County of Riverside.
The County of Riverside’s existing First Time Home Buyer program participants attend an eight hour homebuyer education seminar course. The County currently partners with Springboard, Rancho Housing Alliance, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition and Neighborhood Housing Services, to provide home buyer education. The County is currently working with these non profits to develop a more extensive 16 – 24 hours training program for participants receiving joint assistance from ADDI and HOME. The training is expected to include; Budgeting and Financial Management; Home Buying Procedure; Maintenance of the Home; Credit Counseling; and other responsibilities of a home owner.
The County of Riverside will receive $152,437 in allocation for 2003 – 2004 and $179,184 in allocation for 2004 – 2005.
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