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CR 12-018 2012 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) ProgramCITY OF 4* February 21, 2012 110 P K i NS Council Report #2012-018 2012 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM Proposed Action Staff recommends approval of the following motion: Following the public hearing adopt resolution number 2012-010 approving the proposed_ program for the 2012 Urban Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and authorizing its submittal to Hennepin County. With this motion, the CDBG application will be submitted to Hennepin County for their review and approval. Overview As a participating city in the Urban Hennepin County CDBG program, Hopkins is eligible to receive $98,953 in CDBG funds for the 2012 program year. This is approximately $3,500 less than the 2011 allocation. The funds will be received on July 1, 2012 and must be expended by December 31, 2013. Staff is recommending that the City propose to fund the following activities with 2012 CDBG funds: • Housing Rehabilitation Loan/Grant Program • Resource West • Intercongregation Communities Association As a requirement of the CDBG funding process, the City must hold a public hearing on the proposed use of funds prior to approving the attached resolution. The City's proposal must be submitted to Hennepin County by February 23, 2012. Primary Issues to Consider • What is the intended use of CDBG funds? • What activities are being recommended for funding? • Were any other requests for funds received? Supportina Information • Resolution 2012-010 • Requests for fu C�hvA�4� Tara Bear Community Development Coordinator Financial Impact: $ 0 Budgeted: Y/N Source: Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): Notes: 2012 CDBG program Council Report 2012-018 Page 2 Analysis of Issues What is the intended use of CDBG funds? CDBG funds may be used to support a variety of housing and community development activities. The intent of the program is to fund primarily "bricks and mortar' projects versus social service programs. Activities must meet at least one of the following objectives of the CDBG program: • Benefiting low and moderate income persons • Prevention or elimination of slums and blight • Meeting a particularly urgent community development need Additionally, Hennepin County imposes the following guidelines: • 15% maximum for public service activities • Activity should be ranked as a high priority in the Hennepin County Consolidated Plan. Those activities are: Rental housing for families, elderly, physically disabled persons and homeless persons with incomes below 50% of median income Supportive housing for persons with mental illness and incomes below 50% Rehabilitation of owner -occupied housing with income below 50% Homeownership assistance to households with income below 80% Public services and/or facilities to assist families and seniors to maintain and/or increase self-sufficiency and independent living, and to assist youth and their families with counseling and crisis intervention services, and related activities Neighborhood revitalization activities that address issues of substandard/blighted property in scattered site or defined area redevelopments that will also provide affordable housing on 20% of the units • Minimum of 70% of funds spent on low to moderate income households • Funds can not be available from'other sources What activity is being recommended for funding? Staff is recommending that $88,953 of CDBG funds be used for housing rehabilitation activities. The Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant program has 2011 CDBG program Council Report 2011-010 Page 3 experienced continued demand during the past year and is important not only in its assistance to homeowners but also to maintain the City's housing stock. It is anticipated that $88,953 will assist 4 households. Staff is also recommending funding Resource West in the amount of $5,000. Resource West is a valuable resource in the community and supports the City of Hopkins by taking referrals from many of the City's departments including the police, housing and community services. The City is a frequent partner with Resource West in many community activites. Staff is also recommending funding the Intercongregation Communities Association (ICA) in the amount of $5,000. The ICA serves the area primarily as a food shelf, and experienced record demand in 2011. The ICA also provides other services such as financial and transportation assistance, and would use the $5,000 in CDBG funding primarily to assist Hopkins residents with rent, mortgage, and utility assistance in order to prevent homelessness. • Where any other requests for funds received? The following additional requests were received for 2012 CDBG funding: Organization Amount Purpose HOMELine $6,234 Tenant hotline and services In reviewing this request for funds, staff considered the intent of CDBG to fund "bricks and mortar' projects over social services. Granting the full HOME Line request would exceed the 15% maximum that can be used for social service activities if Resource West and ICA are funded at the requested $5,000 amounts each. In 2011 the city did allocate $1,000 in CDBG funds to HOMELine, but that year had seen an increase in allocated funds, a rare occurrence in the previous years. However, HOMELine services are eligible activities under CDBG regulations and the Council can elect to fund them as long as the total social service allocation do not total more than $14,842. Alternatives The City Council has the following alternatives regarding this issue: • Hold public hearing; approve 2012 CDBG program as proposed by staff. • Hold public hearing; amend the proposed CDBG activities and/or budget. RESOLUTION NO. 2012-010 RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPOSED USE OF 2012 URBAN HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY AND ANY THIRD PARTY AGREEMENTS WHEREAS, the city of Hopkins, through execution of a Joint Cooperation Agreement with Hennepin County, is cooperating in the Urban Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant Program; and WHEREAS, the city of Hopkins has developed a proposal for the use of 2012 Urban Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant funds made available to it; and WHEREAS, the city held a public hearing on February 21, 2012 to obtain the views of citizens on housing and community development needs and priorities and the City's proposed use of $98,953 from the 2012 Urban Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant. BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of Hopkins approves the following projects for funding from the 2012 Urban Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant Program and authorizes submittal of the proposal to Hennepin County. Activity Budget Housing Rehabilitation $88,953 Resource West $5,000 Intercongregation Communities Association $5,000 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby authorizes and directs the Mayor and its City Manager to execute the Subrecipient Agreement and any required Third Party Agreement on behalf of the City to implement the 2012 Community Development Block Grant Program. ADOPTED: the 21th day of February, 2012 By Its Mayor, Eugene Maxwell And Its City Manager, Michael Morrison ATTEST Kristine A. Luedke, City Clerk ResourceWest Connecting and Strengthening Community February 13, 2012 Tara Beard' City of Hopkins 1010 First Street South Hopkins, MN 55343. lhn91 cutive Directoi 915 Mainstreet • Hopkins, MN 55343-7515 Telephone: (952) 988-5350 Fax: (952) 988-5358 www.resourcewest.org, 2012 URBAN HENNEPIN COUNTY CDBG PROGRAM REQUEST FOR FUNDING A. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. City: Hopkins 2. Project Name: Back -to -School / Winter Warm Wear / Toy Chest 3. Primary Contact Person/ Phone No./Email: Judy Elling 1952-988-5351/ judy@resourcewest.org B. PROJECT DATA 1. CDBG Funding Requested $5,000 (needs to be same as council resolution) 2. Is this an existing CDBG-funded project? Yes No 3. Project Location:Address: 915 Mainstreet Hopkins 55343 or It is Citywide 4. Project Description: This Project provides school supplies, winter outer wear, and Holiday gifts for children age 0-18 who are from low-income families in the City of Hopkins. These families qualify for Free & reduced lunch program in the Hopkins & Minnetonka School Districts (60% of one Hopkins elementary school's students qualify for Free or Reduced lunch). The Project helps lessen the financial strain on low-income families when they receive their children's school supply list (averages $75 per child), when they need to purchase new coat, snow pants, and boots (average $100 per child), and during the Holidays (averages $60 per child). The project allows the participating families to redirect the dollars they would have spent on these items to housing, energy bills, food, and other family necessities. This redirecting of dollars helps maintain financial stability in the home. A survey conducted of our 2012 Toy Chest participants (which 85% use one or two of the other programs also) indicated the following: Will spend the money saved by the Project on: Monthly Household Income Ran e: 35% said Food 24% less than $750 35% said Bilis 42% between $751 -$1,200 8% said housing/rent 28% between $1,201 - $2,000 1% said medical expenses 6% between 2,001 - $3,000 If you had to buy, where would you get the money: Family Size: 13% from not paying bills 29% family of 4 4% buy less of cheaper food 21% family of 3 30% would borrow money 20% family of 5 21% would try to work extra hours 15% familyof 2 5. Consolidated Plan Priorities: Using the Priority Summary chart below, identify what priority(ies) the project will meet. (Note: If a proposed project is a low urban county priority, you must explain why. it has a higher priority in your community.) 6. Describe anticipated results/accomplishments the project will have. These programs will serve approximately: 700 low-income families in Hopkins 7. Implementation Schedule: (Expenditure period begins July 1, 2012 and ends December31, 2013.) Task Back -to -School Date: August 2012 - April 2013 Task: Winter Warm Wear Date: Mid -October 2012 - April 2013 Task: Toy Chest Date: December 2012 8. Budget: UNDING SOURCES AMOUNT ._-012CDBG ' � �� T 5,000 Prior YearCDBG Funding (2011 only) Other Federal Funds s eci $ _8,350 $ - ow Income Housing Tax Credits _ $ �5Z000 State's eci Municipal - Cy of Minnetonka etro�olitan Council 74,999 — _ rivate s ec' - foundations FL24�9 Cher s eci —Individual ContributionsOther — ResourceWest General O eratinProject Total Inco ,Pr o ect Expenses OUN_T Back -to -School ; 10 500 Winter Warm Wear 4 500 Toy Chest _ _ $ �5Z000 Salaries & Benefits �_ 541999��F^__ thea Project Total Expenses$ Expense 74,999 — _ 2012 URBAN HENNEPIN COUNTY CDBG PROGRAM REQUEST FOR FUNDING (fillable form. Use one form per project) A. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. City: Hopkins 2. Project Name: ICA Food Shelf 3. Primary Contact Person/ Phone No./Email Cathy Maes/952-938-0729 director@icafoodshelf.org B. PROJECT DATA 1. CDBG Funding Requested $10,000 (needs to be same as council resolution) 2. Is this an existing CDBG-funded project? X Yes No 3. - Project Location: 12990 St Davids Road, Minnetonka Assisting neighbors in Hopkins Citywide 4. Project Description: (Describe the project in as much detail as possible, including the local need(s) the project will address.) ICA's ongoing mission is to supply food and financial assistance to those in need who reside in Hopkins. Money would be utilized to keep residences in their homes. 5. Consolidated Plan Priorities: Using the Priority Summary chart below, identify what priority(ies) the project will meet. (Note: If a proposed project is a low urban county priority, you must explain why it has a higher priority in your community.) 6. Describe anticipated results/accomplishments the project will have. (number of persons to receive services, number of affordable housing units to be rehabilitated or built, etc.) ICA's continues to experience an increase in needs; services are up 81% from 2008. Hopkins remains our highest need based area with 56.8% of our services targeted meeting the needs of those who reside in Hopkins. 10% of funds ICA received came from the Hopkins's community in 2011, $101,655.00. 7. Implementation Schedule: (Identify major project tasks to occur during/ within the first 12 months of the 18 month expenditure period. Expenditure period begins July 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2013.) Task: Housing Assistance Date 7-1 to 12-31-2012 Task: Utilities Assistance Date 7-1 to 12-31-2012 Task: Transportation Assistance Date 7-1 to 12-31-2012 8. Budget: (Specify total project budget by major funding sources. Attach additional listings where appropriate.) FUNDING SOURCES AMOUNT 2012 CDBG $10,000 Prior Year CDBG Funding (2011 only) $5000 Other Federal Funds (specify) FEMA $7991 Low Income Housing Tax Credits $0 State (specify) $0 Municipal Northwest Hennepin Human $93,791 Services Metropolitan Council $0 Private (specify) Donations $383,038 Other (specify) Grants $100,000 Project Total $600,000 -2 HOPKINS FINANCIAL SERVICES FROM ICA 2011 Financial Assistance Households Individuals Assistance 2011 Rent Assistance 288 800 $181,721 2011 Utilities Assistance 60 211 $18,284 2011 Transportation Assistance 627 1755 $ 7,504 *Work, Medical, School, interview, and Food Shelf $207,509 2011 Donations Received $981,164 ........ Total funding received $101,654 ......... Total funding received from the Hopkins Community 2012 URBAN HENNEPIN COUNTY CDBG PROGRAM REQUEST FOR FUNDING (fillable form. Use one form per project) A. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. City: Hopkins 2. Project Name: HOME Line's Tenant Advocacy Services 3. Primary Contact Person/ Phone No./Email Mike Vraa, 612 728-5770 x 113, mikev@homelinenm.org B. PROJECT DATA 1. CDBG Funding Requested $ 6,234 (needs to be same as council resolution)' 2. Is this an existing CDBG-funded project? EYes ONo 3. Project Location: 3455 Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis. 55407. HOME Line's tenant services are citywide. Tenants call our free hotline from their homes. 4. Project Description: (Describe the project in as much detail as possible, including the 'local need(s) the project will address.) Renters make up nearly 5,077 households in Hopkins, and many of these families have low incomes. When renters have problems involving their homes, those who don't know their rights and responsibilities can end up living in housing that is unsafe, lose security deposits that are rightfully theirs, or make decisions that cost them their home. HOME Line provides renters with the tools necessary to keep their homes safe and affordable. HOME Line's Tenant Hotline provides free legal advice to tenants about landlord/tenant law. These services prevent problems ranging from homelessness to illness from unsafe living conditions, and result in reducing the use of the city's emergency resources. The Tenant Hotline Services began in 1992 as a service to Suburban Hennepin County residents. Today we serve the entire state and have recently taken our 136,000th call. Four staff attorneys and a tenant advocate work full time on the hotline along with 75-100 law student volunteers each year. Hopkins has accounted for 3,771 calls since 1992. Our Tenant Hotline Services to Hopkins have helped save tenants at least $23,459 this year alone. We have also helped to prevent the eviction of 15 Hopkins families. Last year alone we advised 169 renter households from Hopkins. The most common reasons Hopkins residents call 1 our hotline are: evictions, repairs, and Security Deposits. The need for this service in Hopkins is apparent -- Hopkins residents already rely on this valuable service. Tenants living in rental units (usually single-family homes or duplexes) are encountering an ongoing problem in Hopkins: the landlord being foreclosed on. Typically, the tenant has done nothing wrong and is usually current on their rent when they are served with a notice of an impending sheriff's sale (usually within 2-3 weeks). Faced with this information, many renters simply vacate the rental unit. The law, however, probably allows them to stay in the home for 6- 9 months following the sheriff's sale. Since 2008, HOME Line's phone number has been included in all foreclosure notices and briefly explains renter's rights in these situations. The difference between leaving in 3 weeks or having an additional 6 to 9 months to find suitable new housing cannot be overstated -people find adequate and livable new housing (and may have enough time to actually buy a home if they are on a homeownership track) and their kids may be able to complete their school year. Our primary objective with renters facing foreclosures is to provide information and advice. Once the tenant understands they don't have to leave prior to the sale, they can plan their lives accordingly instead of racing to vacate in three weeks into a less than ideal housing situation. The goal is to make sure as many tenants know this as possible. HOME Line expects to serve 5 renter households in foreclosure situations in Hopkins in the nextyear. In 2011, we helped 5 renter households in Hopkins facing foreclosure issues. By offering free tenant hotline services, HOME Line has been providing needed services for those most vulnerable. While our services are available to all renters free of charge, 93% of our Hopkins callers have low incomes; (77%) of these callers are women; 36% are racial minorities. Our programs are aimed at low-income renters. We identify the key demographics at the beginning of each call. 5. Consolidated Plan Priorities: Using the Priority Summary chart below, identify what priority(ies) the project will meet.(Note: If a proposed project is a low urban county priority, you must explain why it has a higher priority in your community.) 6. Describe anticipated results/accomplishments the project will have. (number of 2 persons to receive services, number of affordable housing units to be rehabilitated or built, etc.) We anticipate assisting approximately 170 Hopkins renter households over the hotline during the program year, saving tenants $22,000 dollars in rent abatements and security deposits, preventing 15 evictions, and assisting 5 tenants facing landlord foreclosure. Also see the attached one-page sheet, which covers what HOME Line has accomplished in Hopkins in the past. 7. Implementation Schedule: (Identify major project tasks to occur during/within the first 12 months of the 18 month expenditure period. Expenditure period begins July 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2013.) Task: Tenant Hotline Services Date: Ongoing 8. Budget: (Specify total project budget by major funding sources. Attach additional listings where; appropriate.) -FUNDING SOURCES AMOUNT 2012 CDBG $76,293 Prior Year CDBG Funding (2011 only) $69,121 Other Federal Funds (FHPAP) $57,500 Low Income Housing Tax Credits $0 State (MN DHS) $10,000 Municipal(Bloomington, Eden Prairie) $12,958 Metropolitan Council $0 Private (listed below) $181,000 Other (Trainings,Contributions,Book Sales) $70,800 Project Total $477,672 Additional Funding sources Amount Pruate Greater Minnesota Housing Fund Foreclosure 10,000 Hugh J. Andersen Foundation 11,000 McKnight Foundation 75,000 Minnesota State Bar Foundation 500 Otto Bremer Foundation 50,000 Ramsey County Bar Foundation 2,000 Foreclosure Funders Council 32,500 GoVernt*to ; untiin .o h , DHS Prison Reintegration Grant 10,000 Family Homeless Prevention & Assistance Program 22,500 Hennepin County 35,000 Bloomington Health & Human Services Grant 7,958 New Hope CDBG 4,759 3 Brooklyn Park CDBG 14,424 Eden Prairie 5,000 Edina CDBG 1,689 Hennepin County Consolidated Pool CDBG 7,620 Maple Grove CDBG 3,000 Hopkins CDBG 1,000 Minnetonka CDBG 1,919 Brooklyn Center CDBG 7,968 Plymouth CDBG 6,210 Ramsey County CDBG 20,000 St. Paul COPP11,500 y rer Other FUnd Community Shares 4,000 Contributions 20,000 Hotline Training 20,000 Tenant Rights Book 10,000 Interest Income 200 Miscellaneous Income 1,600 Other (Attorney Fees, etc.) 15,000 4 HOME Line's Tenant Hotline in Hopkins: 2011 OVERVIEW In 2011, 169 Hopkins renter households contacted HOME Line for Tenant Hotline Services. Hopkins is the 13th (out of 466) most served city by our tenant hotline in Minnesota, accounting for 1.47% of all of our tenant hotline calls. This represents service to approximately 423 residents when all family members have been counted. Over the past 20 years, HOME Line has served 3,771 Hopkins renter households. The cost to serve the city of Hopkins in 2012 is $6,234. HIGHLIGHTS In 2011, HOME Line helped renters from Hopkins: • Recover and/or save an estimated $23,459 ($497,207 since 1992):1 • Prevent an estimated 15 evictions (278 since 1992). • Renters with repair issues who follow our advice are 37% more likely to get their problem fixed than those who don't. • In landlord foreclosure, a significant issue in Hopkins, the average amount of days stayed after the sheriff's sale by renters we have helped is 180 days, and the average amount of money saved by renters in a landlord foreclosure is $5,935 in 2011 ($43,919 since 1992). Top Ten Reasons For Calls (2011) 1. Evictions 28 2. Repairs 25 3. Security Deposit 18 4. Notice to Vacate 11 5 Break Lease 11 6. Privacy Intrusion 8 7. Leases 8 8. Change Lease 8 9. Neighbors 7 10. Bed Bugs/Infestation 7 INCOME BREAKDOWN The vast majority (93%) of these callers are extremely - low, very -low or low-income. These income categories Callers' Income 2011 are those used by the U. S. Department of H. U. D.: • Extremely Low: Incomes below 30% of the metro median. • Very Low: Incomes between 30% and 50% of the metro median • Low: Incomes between 50% and 80% of the metro median. • Moderate: Incomes above 80% of the metro median. I Based on research completed by a University of Minnesota School of Statistics Ph.D. Candidate.