Community Planning & Grants

PUBLIC NOTICE AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

FFY 2020 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER)

On September 6, 2021, the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development will release a draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for two federally-funded programs – the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program. The draft CAPER covers activities undertaken during July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.  The CAPER describes activities funded through these programs, their relationship to community development objectives and assesses the County’s success in meeting the goals outlined in the FFY 2020 - FFY 2024 Consolidated Plan.

On Wednesday, September 15, 2021, a Public Hearing will be held at 6:00 PM at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Conference Room 211, Columbia, Maryland to obtain comments on the draft CAPER.  Due to space and safety protocols, if you plan on testifying, you must pre-register by emailing: [email protected]ntymd.gov for admittance. Additionally, you should provide a copy of your testimony in writing.  If you cannot attend the Public Hearing, written comments must be directed to Kelly Cimino, Director, Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development or to Elizabeth Meadows, Chief of Community Planning and Grants, at the address listed below.

The draft CAPER will be available for public review and comment beginning September 6, 2021 through September 21, 2021. The draft CAPER will also be available on the Howard County website at www.howardcountymd.gov/DHCD-Grants.   Any and all comments must be submitted in writing and mailed to:

         Kelly A. Cimino, Director

         Howard County Dept. of Housing & Community Development

         9820 Patuxent Woods Drive - Suite 224

         Columbia, MD 21046

The deadline for written comments is September 21, 2021. A summary of all comments received, and responses will be included in the final CAPER document that will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on or about September 27, 2021.

Efforts will be made to accommodate the disabled and non-English speaking residents and a sign language interpreter services will be available upon request with three (3) days advance notice to Quanita Kareem, Compliance Officer, Howard County Housing Department, at 410-313-3386, or email [email protected].         

The FFY2020 CAPER is a report mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for all communities that receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funding. The CAPER reports the outcomes and accomplishments set forth in the County’s FFY20 Annual Action Plan.

June 29, 2021 – As the national CDC moratorium on evictions is set to expire this month, and Maryland’s this August, one in five Marylanders are currently behind on rent. In response to this unprecedented crisis, United Way of Central Maryland will expand the Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention (STEP) Program to serve residents in Baltimore City as well as Baltimore, Harford, and Howard Counties. Developed through a partnership between United Way of Central Maryland and Baltimore County in late 2020 and early 2021, the first-of-its-kind effort in Maryland has already provided more than $4 million to support residents on the brink of homelessness.  Click here for the full announcement.

To complete the CDBG and HOME program year, the County reports annually on the progress it has made toward its Consolidate Plan goal in the Consolidate Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER describes Howard County’s affordable housing and community development activities carried out over the past program year running from July 1st through June 30th each year. The CAPER also provides the community a concise breakdown of the federal funds used for activities that were undertaken during the program year and an evaluation of the County’s progress in carrying out the goals and objectives as stated in the Five Year Consolidated Plan.

• The Approved FFY2019 CAPER

In accordance with federal requirements for jurisdictions receiving funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for housing and community development programs, Howard County has prepared its FFY2021 Annual Action Plan in accordance with its five-year Consolidated Plan for FFY2020-2024.  This Action Plan outlines how the County will use federal resources to address the current housing and community development needs of our low to moderate income population, while remaining aligned with the goals outlined in our Consolidated Plan.

• The Draft FFY2021 Annual Action Plan

The County was awarded additional federal funding to help combat the economic effects of the pandemic. These funds are available for help rent, utilities and mortgage assistance here.  For additional assistance, contact the grants team at (410) 313-6318 Option 4.