HOWARD COUNTY FFY2019 SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT

In accordance with 24 CFR Part 91 of the federal regulations governing the Consolidated and Annual Action Plans and Howard County’s Citizen Participation Plan, notice is hereby given that the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is proposing to amend its FFY18 and FFY19 Annual Action Plans.

CDBG Amendment

Howard County did a Substantial Amendment to our FFY2019 Annual Action Plan to in response to $770,356.00 CDBG-CV funding the County is receiving and to reprogram $173,876.04 in FFY2018 CDBG Program funds.

We have amended our Citizen Participation Plan, to allow for virtual public hearings and a 5-day Public Comment Period. On April 23, 2020 the County submitted a Waiver Letter requesting the use of those waivers allowing for the virtual town hall meetings and the 5-day public comment period. Howard County conducted three Virtual Public Needs Hearing on April 30, May 5 and May 7, 2020. The invitation was emailed to 138 stakeholders from the Nonprofit Stakeholder list maintained at Department of Housing and Community Development.

Beginning Thursday, June 4, 2020 Howard County residents will have 5-days to review and provide comments or concerns regarding the draft version of the Amended FFY2019 Annual Action Plan. All comments must be received by June 9, 2020 at 11:59.99 PM.

Written comments must be directed to Kelly Cimino, Director, Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development or to Elizabeth Meadows, Chief, Community Planning and Grants, at the Howard County Housing office, at 9820 Patent Woods Drive, Suite 24, Columbia, MD 21046. Comments can also be provided by email, either to Kelly Cimino at kcimino@howardcountymd.gov or to Elizabeth Meadows at emeadows@howardcountymd.gov. 

Link to Amended FFY19 Annual Action Plan

The Department  is in the process of awarding $770,356.00 in CDBG funding awarded to Howard County from the federal CARES Act and an additional $800,000.00 in County funding as part of the County Executive’s Disaster Relief & Recovery Initiative to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and county residents.  During three virtual needs hearings held in early May, nonprofits and housing providers were informed that project applications for short-term rental subsidies, eviction prevention and housing stability would be given priority consideration.  The application round closed on May 22, 2020.  The Department received 13 applications for over $2 million in assistance.  Applications are currently being reviewed for award consideration. Award decisions based on funding availability will be posted in mid-June. Once the awards are posted, information for residents that want to apply for up to 3 months of rental assistance will be posted on the County’s website under COVID-19 resources.   

Amended Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) 

PUBLIC NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

The Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) gives notice that it has amended its Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) for programs covered under the Consolidated Plan as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD). Click here for the Notice.

Howard County’s Amended Citizen’s Participation Plan

The Department of Housing and Community Development has amended its Citizen Participation Plan (CCP). The CPP provides and encourages Howard County residents to participate in the development and review of the Consolidated Plan, The Annual Action Plan, the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and the Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH), and the Disaster Relief Citizen Participation Planning (DRPP). The draft Amended CPP.

Howard County has prepared its Draft FFY 2020-2024 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and FFY 2020 Annual Action Plan. The County must submit these plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds. The County’s allocations amounts it will receive are $1,309,534.00 in CDBG and $465,543.00 in HOME funds for the FFY 2020 program year.  Click here for the Draft Plan.

DRAFT 2020 FAIR HOUSING ANALYSIS RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

Howard County has joined with a group of six local governments, five public housing authorities (PHAs), and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) to release for public comment a draft 2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice in the Baltimore Region (AI).

You can click here to view the full draft 2020 fair housing analysis on the BMC website. This analysis uses data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other sources to identify impediments to housing choice for populations protected under the Fair Housing Act and proposed action steps to be incorporated into jurisdictional Consolidated Plans and PHA plans that begin July 1, 2020.

The 30-day public comment period ends on March 31, 2020. Please submit comments by email to housing@baltometro.org.

The participants in this fair housing analysis will also hold a Public Hearing on Monday, March 23, 6:00 pm at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council office, 1500 Whetstone Way, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21230. Click here for directions to BMC. 

The hearing location is ADA accessible. If you wish to attend and require a special accommodation (e.g. interpreter for deaf and hard of hearing or interpreter for persons with limited English proficiency), please contact Dan Pontious at dpontious@baltometro.org or 410.732.0500 x1055 no later than March 17.  

If you have any questions specific to Howard County, please contact M. Elizabeth Meadows at emeadows@howardcountymd.gov.

Howard County, MD receives annual allocations of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program funding from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be used for community development and affordable housing benefiting low-income residents of Howard County between 0-80% area median-income (AMI). 

In accordance with federal requirements for jurisdictions receiving funds from HUD for housing and community development programs, Howard County has prepared its FFY2019 Annual Action Plan, which is the final Year of its four-year Consolidated Plan for FFY2016-2019. The Approved FFY2019 Annual Action Plan can be viewed by clicking here.

The FFY2018 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 FFY18 Annual Action Plan. Click here to view the CAPER.

Howard County’s Department of Housing and Community Development staff have created a HOME Investment Partnership Program  Policy and Procedure Guide as mandated by the 2013  HOME Program Rule.  For any questions related to this guide, please click here to email the HOME Specialist.

The Consolidated Plan is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program that must be completed by the entitlement community every four (4) years.  The Howard County Four Year Consolidated Plan establishes the goals Howard County proposes for the next four (4) year period and outlines the specific initiatives the County will undertake to address these goals by encouraging the development of decent housing, promoting a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities.  The FFY16 Annual Action Plan is approved within the FFY16 Consolidated Plan.  The Annual Action Plan is also required by HUD and must be approved every year during the Approved Consolidated Plan time-frame.  The Annual Action Plan describes specific actions the County will take during the program year to implement the goals and objectives outlined in the Approved Consolidated Plan.