FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Springfield’s Draft FY 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan funding recommendations are available for public review and comment until 5 p.m. April 5. Copies of the funding recommendations may be obtained at any of the branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library located within the city limits of Springfield or via the City’s website. Written comments may be sent to [email protected]
The City recently received its annual allocation amounts from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). The City is being allocated $1,584,058 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and $1,274,238 in Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding in fiscal year 2023. All CDBG-funded activities will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of 24 CFR Part 570. All HOME-funded activities will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of 24 CFR Part 92.
The following activities have been identified and selected for CDBG and HOME funding for FY 2023-2024 through a collaborative effort which has resulted in projects designed to meet City Council’s priorities and objectives and identified community needs.
All the programs and activities enumerated below will constitute an expenditure of funds for which a minimum of 70% will be used for projects which principally benefit low- and moderate-income people. Annual Action Plan projects are proposed for funding as follows.
Affordable Housing
Housing activities will principally serve low- and moderate-income families in the targeted area. The targeted area boundaries include an area that is generally bounded by West Bypass, Glenstone, and Interstate 44 and south to Grand Street plus Census Tract 4. HOME activities will include rental housing new construction and rehabilitation, and down-payment assistance loans. Approximately 15% of HOME funds will be used for special nonprofit (CHDO) activities for rental housing rehabilitation or new construction. A CDBG-funded homeowner rehabilitation, weatherization and emergency home repair program will be conducted in the target area by four (4) local non-profit organizations.
Economic Vitality
A commercial loan program and a business incentive loan program will be continued within the corporate limits of the City of Springfield.
Public Services
Public Service funding is proposed to be provided to the following IRS Code 501 (c) (3) designated nonprofit corporations serving Springfield:
- The Harmony House Domestic Violence Sustainable Shelter project will utilize funds to provide three meals a day to individuals and families fleeing domestic violence.
- The Good Samaritan Boys’ Ranch Transitional Living Program for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care program will utilize funds allowing foster-care youth to transition from group homes to apartments.
- The Child Advocacy Center’s Forensic Interviewer program will fund the forensic interviews of children within the CDBG catchment area.
- Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri’s LifeHouse Crisis Maternity Home program will fund a 24/7 residential program for homeless pregnant women and infants/children.
- Isabel’s House, Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks Preventing Child Abuse by Supporting Families in Crisis program will provide immediate refuge to children ages birth to 12 whose families are in crisis, while also referring the parents to appropriate resources for assistance.
- The Salvation Army’s Emergency Social Services program will provide emergency assistance to individuals and families who need rent, utility, or mortgage assistance.
- The Kitchen Inc.’s Rare Breed Youth Outreach Center will engage with and help youth who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness.
- Great Circle’s Empowering Youth program will help serve children and youth with issues pertaining to homelessness, abuse, neglect, domestic violence, poverty, abandonment, and substance abuse.
- Ozark Food Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program will provide at-risk children with nutritious weekend meals.
- The Betty & Bobby Allison Ozarks Counseling Center’s Mental Healthcare for Low Income Springfieldians program will provide professional counseling treatment for low-income Springfield residents who would not otherwise be able to afford to get help for their mental health issues.
Administration and Planning
Reasonable costs for general oversight, coordination and management of the CDBG Program will be provided. A policy planning and management capacity will be maintained in part with CDBG funding with an emphasis on neighborhood conservation and economic development.
Anti-displacement: None of the above-described activities are designed or anticipated to create involuntary residential displacement of persons or households. However, the City of Springfield has a plan for avoiding displacement and for the establishment of benefits to persons displaced by the programs, on file and available for public inspection at the Planning and Development Department, in the Busch Municipal Building, 840 N. Boonville.
First reading and vote by City Council
City Council will hold a first reading and public hearing on the FY 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan at City Council Chambers on April 3 at 6:30 pm. The final vote will be held April 17.
Citizens wishing to sign up to attend and/or speak at the April 3 public hearing are required to contact the City Clerk’s office at 417-864-1650 or [email protected] prior to the reading of the bill.
Further information is available by contacting the Department of Planning and Development at the Busch Municipal Building, 840 Boonville Ave., P.O. Box 8368, Springfield, Missouri 65801 or calling 417-864-1031. In accordance with ADA and LEP guidelines, if you need special accommodations when attending any City meeting, please notify the City Clerk’s office at 864-1443 at least three days prior to the scheduled meeting.
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For more information, please contact Melissa Haase at 417-536-7648 or [email protected].