FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Springfield has completed an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to participate in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Grant programs. The analysis is a supplementary document to the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and is available for public review and comment through 5 p.m. April 4.
Hard copies may be obtained at the Planning and Development Department, Busch Municipal Building, 840 N. Boonville Ave., and any branch of the Springfield-Greene County Library located within the city limits of Springfield. Written comments may be sent to Grants Administrator Bob Jones at [email protected].
HUD mandates that the City of Springfield certify that it will affirmatively further fair housing with each submission of its five-year Consolidated Plan. According to HUD, this means that the City of Springfield, receiving CDBG and/or HOME funds under the program will 1) complete a fair housing study, known as an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2) develop strategies and activities to overcome the effects of identified impediments; and 3) maintain records that reflect the analysis and actions taken in this regard.
Methodology
The analysis was developed by City Planning and Development staff using a process based on the 2018 Springfield Citizen Participation Plan and the Consolidated Plan consultation process.
Additional citizen input was collected for the analysis via an online survey and more than 35 community meetings with agencies, business leaders, support groups, minority groups and neighborhood associations.
More than 850 participants were asked to indicate barriers to fair housing in Springfield. A lack of knowledge about fair housing practices by tenants and landlords was identified as the primary barrier by 40% of survey respondents. The next highest-ranked barrier identified was location of affordable housing (18%).
The City of Springfield places a great deal of emphasis on the development of affordable housing, a key component to fair housing choice. A review of impediments identified in previous analyses indicates that the City is making progress to address affordable housing concerns.
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For more information, please contact Bob Jones at 417-864-1593 or [email protected] or Cora Scott, director of Public Information and Civic Engagement, at 417-380-3352 or [email protected].