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HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 2015-09-02- CDBG AGENDA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ADVISORY BOARD COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING RECEIVED WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 AUG 2 6 2015 6:00 P.M. CITY OF LYNWOOD LYNWOOD CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS •"ITY CLERKS OFFICE 11330 BULLIS ROAD, LYNWOOD, CA 90262 1ae€u GGG� L''L'r4/Ll110l Evelia Hernandez, Chairperson Dion Cornelious, Commissioner Marisela Perez, Commissioner Susana Medina, Commissioner Lorraine Moore, Commissioner OPENING CEREMONIES: A. CALL TO ORDER B. FLAG SALUTE C. ROLL CALL D. CERTIFICATION OF AGENDA POSTING E. PUBLIC ORALS: (ITEMS ON AGENDA ONLY) F. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —April 1, 2015 G. NEW BUSINESS • 1. Public Hearing - Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) H. STAFF ORALS I. BOARD ORALS J. ADJOURNMENT it COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ADVISORY BOARD COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 1, 2015 CALL TO ORDER: CDBG Chairperson Hernandez called the meeting to order on the above captioned date at 6:08 p.m. FLAG SALUTE: The flag salute was led by Commissioner Cornelious. All in attendance participated in the flag salute. ROLL CALL: Present: • Chairperson Evelia Hernandez Marisela Perez, CDBG Commissioner Dion Cornelious, CDBG Commissioner Absent: Susana Medina, CDBG Commissioner Elizabeth Battle, CDBG Commissioner Also present was Lynwood staff Annette Potts, Deputy Director of Administrative Services. CERTIFICATION OF AGENDA POSTING: Staff stated that the agenda was posted per the Brown Act. PUBLIC ORALS: NONE APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 11, 2015 and March 4, 2015 Commissioner Cornelious moved to approve the Minutes of February 11, 2015. The CDBG Commission voted unanimously to approve the Minutes as presented. Commission Perez moved to approve the Minutes of March 4, 2015. The CDBG Commission voted unanimously to approve the Minutes as presented. NEW BUSINESS A. NEW BUSINESS - Public Hearing The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Consolidated 5-Year Plan, Fiscal Year 2016 Strategic Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. Commissioner Cornelious motioned to open the public hearing. The Commission approved unanimously to open the hearing. Annette Potts, Deputy Director of Administrative Services, explained that the purpose of the public heating was to obtain citizen's input and comments on the City of Lynwood draft HUD Consolidated 5-Year Plan, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (Al) and Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Strategic Plan, which included the proposed allocations as recommended by the CDBG Commission: 1. CDBG Administration $215,000 2. Fair Housing Foundation $ 10,000 3. Section 108 Repayment $629,983 4. Code Enforcement Program $245,153 5. Senior Citizen Program $ 50,000 6. HOME Program Activities $316,296 Ms. Potts directed the public to the Strategic Plan section of the document which lists the above activities and amounts. She explained that the activities, if approved by Lynwood City Council, would be implemented during fiscal year 2016, which begins July 1, 2015 and ends June 30, 2016. Ms. Potts also mentioned that staff is currently reviewing the Section 108 Loan debt service and that if the City decides to pay off this debt, then an additional $600,000 in CDBG funds will be available for programming, which will increase services provided to the community in the upcoming years. Ms. Potts also commented that the draft Consolidated 5-Year Plan which includes a summary of the Al and FY 2016 Strategic Plan were made available to the public for a 30-day review period from March 19, 2015 to April 23, 2015 and that the Consolidated 5-Year Plan, FY 2016 Strategic Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice will be submitted to Lynwood City Council at their May 5, 2015, meeting for final approval. Ms. Evelia Hernandez expressed her concern regarding the homeless population in Lynwood. Ms. Hernandez noted that although Lynwood makes service referrals for the homeless, there are no homeless shelters located in the City of Lynwood. Mr. Dion Cornelious shared a story where as he was dumping trash from one container to another and a homeless man that has been in the Lynwood area for more than ten years, stopped by and helped him. Ms. Hernandez expressed the sorrow she and her son feel every time they come across a particular homeless man located near the Lynwood Library. Marisela Perez agreed that there is a need to help the homeless population in Lynwood, but if Lynwood's homeless does not accept assistance or referrals, there is not more that the City can do. The CDBG Commission expressed their desire to do more for the homeless and recommended that the City seek additional means to assist its homeless population. The Analysis of Impediment to Fair Housing Choice (Al) document in its entirety was submitted to the CDBG Commission at their March 4, 2015 at which time the CDBG Commission recommended approval of the Al to Lynwood City Council. The Fair Housing Action Plan of which is part of the Al, is included in the Consolidated 5-Year Plan and had been reviewed by the CDBG Commission at a prior meeting: Upon completion of the discussion on the draft Consolidated. 5-Year Plan, FY 2016 Strategic Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, the CDBG Commission recommended unanimously that the Lynwood City Council approve the draft documents. The Public Hearing closed at 6:15 p.m. STAFF ORALS Staff informed the CDBG Commission that the draft HUD Consolidated 5-Year Plan, FY 2016 Strategic Plan and Analysis of Impediments of Fair Housing Choice will be submitted to City Council at their May 5, 2015 meeting for final approval and that there were no meetings scheduled for the months of May, June, and July, however if the need arises, staff will contact the CDBG Commission. BOARD ORALS — The CDBG Commission thanked staff for the reporting submitted and commented that the materials were extensive and very informative. ADJOURNMENT The CDBG Commission adjourned at approximately 6:30 p.m. Chairperson, CDBG Commission Date Annette Potts, Deputy Director of Administrative Services Date MEMORANDUM DATE: August 25, 2015 TO: Honorable CDBGAB Chairperson and Members FROM: Annette Potts!Deputy Director of Administrative Services SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires cities such as Lynwood that receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Grant funds to submit a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER includes: • a description of resources made available • the investment of available resources • the geographic distribution and location of investments • the number of families and persons assisted (including the racial and ethnic status of persons assisted) • actions taken to affirmatively further fair housing • other actions indicated in the City's Strategic Plan and the Action Plan. For fiscal year 2014, the City of Lynwood received $1,470,876 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Grant program in the amounts below: SOURCE AMOUNT FY 2014 CDBG Allocation $1,126,616 FY 2014 HOME Allocation 344,260 Total amounts from CDBG and HOME grants: $1,470,876 HUD provided these funds to assist Lynwood in providing decent affordable housing; addressing slum and blighted conditions and providing public improvements and services for low and moderate income residents. The chart below is a summary of how CDBG and HOME funds were distributed. FISCAL YEAR 2014 ACTIVITIES CDBG PROGRAM Amount HOME PROGRAM Amount CDBG ADMINISTRATION $215,000 HOME ADMINISTRATION $34,426 FAIR HOUSING 10,000 CHDO ACTIVITIES 51,639 SECTION 108 REPAYMENT 627,933 HOUSING REHABILITATION 258,195 CODE ENFORCEMENT 223,683 TOTAL HOME PROGRAM $344,260 SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAM 50,000, , TOTAL CDBG PROGRAM $1,126,616 Enclosed for your review is the City of Lynwood draft FY 2014 CAPER. A public hearing will be held at your September 2, 2015 meeting to allow for you and the public to comment and/or provide input on the Draft report. Attachment "A" is the Summary of Accomplishments Report for FY 2014 CDBG and HOME funded activities. If you have any questions or need additional information prior to our September 2, 2015 meeting, please don't hesitate to call me at (310) 603-0220, extension 269. Thank you. ATTACHMENT"A" FISCAL YEAR 2014 July 1, 2014—June 30,2015 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT(CDBG) SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FUND PROJECT/ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION ALLOCATION BENEFICIARIES OUTCOME CDBG CDBG Administration Secure federal funding and documentation, program $215,000 Citywide Availability 11330 Bullis Road monitoring/audits, reporting and compliance, financial Lynwood, CA 90262 management systems, provides technical assistance and process pymts. for community organizations. CDBG Fair Housing Provide services to ensure Lynwood residents receive $10,000 268 People Availability/ Foundation equal opportunities to rent, lease or purchase housing Accessibility 3605 Long Beach Blvd. without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation or Long Beach, CA 90807 gender. CDBG Code Enforcement Identifies and ensures the correction of residential $223,683 4,102 Housing Sustainability 11330 Bullis Road code, health and safety violations in low-mod areas. Units cited Lynwood CDBG Section 108 Make payments and financial reporting on the City's$7 $627,933 Debt Service All debt paid Repayment million Section 108 Loan debt. - for FY 2014 CDBG Senior Citizens Provides services activities including exercise and health $20,000 147 Seniors Availability/ Program classes, excursions, referrals for legal aid, taxes and social Accessibility 11301 Bullis Road benefits, nutrition, and medical. Lynwood, CA 90262 Street reconstruction including wheelchair ramps&ADA Street are CDBG FY2014 Street improvements to Wisconsin Avenue; Sequoia Drive; $280,000 Being designed Sustainability Improvement Project Michigan Avenue and Cornish Avenue. For construction. FISCAL YEAR 2014 July 1, 2014—June 30, 2015 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP(HOME) PROGRAM SUMMARY of ACCOMPLISHMENTS FUND PROJECT/ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION ALLOCATION BENEFICIARIES OUTCOME HOME Program To provide HOME program management,oversight HOME Administration and monitoring. 34,426 Citywide Availability Community Development Housing Development No new projects _HOME Organization(CHDO) Provide funds to CHDO for the development of new housing. 51,639 Affordability Rehabilitation Program Provide grants and deferred payment loans to qualified Loan/Grants available property owners,for home improvements and corrections Affordability/ HOME City wide to code violations. 258,195 32 Families Sustainability I I . DRAFT CITY OF LYNWOOD CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Fiscal Year 2014 July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015 COMMUNITY DEVELOMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS 8/15 CITY OF LYNWOOD CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) FISCAL YEAR 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS wa 4 � t? ti� 7a e 4 �re RAGE Executive Summary 1 A Assessment of Goals and Objectives 3 B Affirmatively Further Fair Housing 4 -Actions taken to eliminate housing impediments 5 -Summary of Impediments to fair housing choice and actions taken 6 C Affordable Housing 6 D Continuum of Care 7 E Other Actions 9 1. Actions to Address obstacles to meeting underserved needs 9 2. Economic Opportunities 9 3. Foster and maintain affordable housing 10 4. Eliminate barriers to affording housing 10 5. Overcome gaps in institutional structures and enhance coordination 11 6. Improve public housing and resident initiatives 11 7. Evaluate and reduce lead base paint hazards 12 8. Ensure compliance program, comprehensive planning, requirements and monitoring 12 9. Reduce the number of people living below the poverty level 12 F Leveraging Resources 13 G Citizen Participation 13 H Self Evaluation - Goals and Accomplishment Chart 15 I Monitoring 17 J CDBG Narrative Statements 18 r 0 a 4 4 a`•"#e �'u' ` i"�a"j+y ;',�tw & ." t'v' .-` : I. . Y y,' ,7A P HOME CAPER Narratives 21-24 CITY OF LYNWOOD CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) FISCAL YEAR 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires Cities that receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Program funds to submit a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER provides a summary of the actions taken to meet the housing and community development needs identified in the FY 2014 Annual Action Plan with the use of federal funds. The CAPER also identifies non-federally funded activities that assisted in meeting the City's goals of providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities. This report covers the fifth and final program year of the City of Lynwood's 5-Year Consolidated Plan 2000-2014. It contains three main parts: First, a set of narrative statements that discuss the City's achievements in housing and community development in relation to its Consolidated Plan (ConPlan). The second part provides narratives that focus on the financial and programmatic performances of Lynwood's entitlement-formula grants, the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), and HOME Partnerships for Investment Program (HOME); and of these performances in relation to the City's Annual Action Plan (AAP) for fiscal year 2014. Other narratives in this part describe the abilities of the City and its community agencies to leverage additional resources for housing and supportive services activities. A third part of this CAPER compiles attachments of supporting data for the narratives found in the first two parts. - The City--has-exceeded the goals set in the 5-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plans, which have resulted in improvement and stability in low-income neighborhoods. Activities such as street, public and facility improvements, home improvements, and the provision of public services, have a positive long-term impact on the community. Summary of Resources and Distribution of Funds HUD resources available for use during fiscal year 2014 include: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY 2014 Allocation: $1,126,616 Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) FY 2014 Allocation: 344,260 Total funds available for FY 2014: $1,470,876 Fiscal year 2014 fund distributions are as follows: Activities/Programs Fund Amount CDBG Administration $215,000 Fair Housing Services 10,000 Section 108 Loan Repayment 632,933 Code Enforcement 223,683 Senior Citizen Program. 50,000 CDBG Subtotal $1,126,616 HOME Administration $34,426 HOME CHDO Activity 51,639 HOME housing rehabilitation 258,195 HOME Subtotal $344,260 Geographic Distribution: Lynwood endeavors to provide services throughout the City (in every census tract area) to ensure that the needs of low and moderate-income residents are met with the use of HOME and CDBG funds. The City has six (6) census tracts. Each census tract contains at least 70% low to moderate-income residents, as documented in HUD's Annual updated for Low/Mod Income Summary Data (LMISD). A demographic assessment of the City reveals that services are needed in every census tract throughout the City. Neighborhoods that may be identified as focus areas will not be concentrated on to the exclusion or neglect of other areas. However, a strong plan of collaboration will occur within certain areas that require a multitude of services and programs to achieve success with revitalization. The overriding objective is to address the needs of low and moderate-income persons and neighborhoods throughout the City. Lead Agency: The City of Lynwood City Manager's Office is the lead agency for overseeing the development and implementation of the program year five Action Plan and administration of the CDBG and HOME programs. The City Manager ensures that the goals of the City Council and the community are met through the various programs and activities within the Consolidated Plan. Other public and/or private agencies responsible for administering programs covered by the Action Plan include: Lynwood Public Works, Lynwood Development Services and the Recreation and Community Services Departments, in addition to the Fair Housing Foundation, a non-profit organization. Consultation: Working within the goals set by Lynwood City Council, staff Worked closely with the Community Development Block Grant Commission, neighborhood groups and residents developing goals, initiatives and strategies that are pertinent to each neighborhood in addition to public services providers who have direct contact with the clientele being served. 2 FISCAL YEAR 2014 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT A. ASSESSMENT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The City of Lynwood has successfully completed its fifth year of the City's Five-Year Consolidated Plan despite the global recession and its impact on federal, state, and local funds. Lynwood is pleased to a report solid performance. The number of residents benefiting from CDBG and HOME funded activities exceeded expectations in most cases. This exemplifies the broad array of programs offered and evidences the City's continuing efforts to be effective stewards of federal funds in the service of its residents. Lynwood met its spending targets for low and moderate income beneficiaries through its affordable housing and public services and facilities programs. Lynwood also stayed under mandated caps on public services spending and expenditures for planning and administrative functions. Lynwood's pattern of investments did not change significantly in FY 2014. Focus and priorities were placed on activities that assisted with community conservation, low and moderate income family needs, and/or people with special needs. The pattern of investment also emphasized coordination between agencies and leveraging of government funds with the use of the City's General Fund and private resources. The City continues to encourage non-profits as well as partnerships between for-profit and non-profits for development of affordable housing. Lynwood allocated $280,000 in CDBG funds through a substantial change process for residential street improvements located at Wisconsin Avenue, Sequoia Drive, Michigan Street and Cornish Avenue. These streets were among the most deteriorated streets in the City, as identified by the Lynwood Public Works Department. In addition, a comprehensive array of services and programs were implemented to improve the quality of life for Lynwood's youths, seniors and all residents by creating and coordinating public services aimed at health, safety, education and fair housing. Nevertheless, as state and private funding resources reduced their contributions, services were necessarily scaled back in order to maintain safe and effective operations. Despite the difficult economy, Lynwood is a community successfully pursuing its housing, anti-poverty, anti-homelessness, and community development goals with a creative and varied fusion of financing sources; professional commitment, creativity, and insight; and active community support. The City identified the following priority needs to increase housing opportunities for all residents of Lynwood and promote stability in declining areas by: - - (1) Preserving the Existing Housing Stock; (2) Increasing Affordable Housing Opportunities; (3) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing; 3 (4) Addressing the Needs of Homeless Individuals, Families and Special Populations; (5) Providing public Infrastructure Improvements; (6) Expanding the City's Economic Base and Promoting Job Opportunities. The table below lists activities funded and implemented in FY 2014 to include set goals, objectives and program outcomes. - ACTIVITY FUNDS OBJECTIVE GOAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALLOCATED SET OUTCOME Provide decent housing and 100 268 Availability/ Fair Housing $10,000 suitable living People People Accessibility environment Senior Citizens $50,000 Suitable Living 80 Seniors 147 Seniors Availability/ Environment Accessibility Code $223,683 Suitable Living 1,200 Units 4102 Housing Units Sustainability Enforcement Environment Inspected inspected &cited CHDO $51,639 Provide Decent 1 project In Construction Affordability Activities Housing 4 Single Family Units HOME Housing $258,196 Provide Decent 10 Homes 32 Home Completed Affordability/ Rehabilitation Housing Sustainability CDBG Housing Prior year's Provide Decent 3 Homes 2 Homes Completed Affordability/ Rehabilitation funding Housing 1 in Construction Sustainability Combined resources from the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Grant and City's General fund are used to promote decent, safe and sanitary housing by implementing home improvement programs, graffiti removal, public improvements and code enforcement activities focusing on the identification and elimination of slum, blight, code violations, health and safety and overcrowded conditions. During FY 2014, 154 illegal structures and 162 illegal garage conversions were identified by code enforcement and eradicated and/or returned to the original use. In addition, public service and safety activities were implemented to improve the wellbeing of the community along with health, educational and recreational programs for seniors; tutoring and mentoring to at risk children; after school and school dropout diversion programs, crime awareness, and gang prevention programs. B. Affirmatively Further Fair Housing - During FY 2014, the City contracted with the Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) to provide fair housing services and workshops. 268 Lynwood residents received assistance in the form of fair housing counseling, education, and information on issues such as eviction, habitability, lease terms, property sale, homeowner and renter rights, harassment, rent increases and unlawful detainers. 4 Information and workshops were provided to landlords, tenants, real estate professionals, and homeowners. FHF set up quarterly informational booths at Lynwood public schools, Lynwood Senior Citizen Center and the Public Library to discuss housing issues, answer questions regarding fair housing rights, and offer fair housing services. FHF also manned a booth at the Century Sheriff's Station Open House to provide information and answer questions regarding housing issues. Literature is distributed in both English and Spanish and contains information regarding fair housing law, discrimination, accessibility policies, reasonable accommodations and modifications, and disability policies. FHF also provided Fair Housing Management workshops and certification training; and held public walk-in clinics to allow the community to meet with Housing Counselors. Presentations were also made at the St. Lynwood Francis Medical Center and to Lynwood Neighborhood Block Watch groups. More than 268 Lynwood residents were provided with fair housing counseling and/or housing discrimination investigations in addition to addressing issues and inquiries regarding racial, familial, ethnicity/national origin, disability and marital status discrimination. Two discrimination Actions were filed and resolved during this fiscal year. Actions taken to eliminate fair housing impediments Actions taken to overcome fair housing impediments as identified in the City's Analysis of Impediments report include the continuation of the City's partnership with the Fair Housing Foundation to monitor and investigate complaints and inquiries for housing discrimination. A summary of some of the services devised to address issues specific to the City include: • Accepting and investigating housing discrimination complaints; • Counseling for possible and actual victims of housing discrimination, property owners and managers, homeowners, insurers, lenders and other housing industry representatives; • Counseling and referrals on landlord/tenant housing complaints; • Providing remedies for individuals and systemic forms of discrimination, including conciliation, administrative, and judicial enforcement efforts; and • Conducting investigative audits to detect patterns and practices of illegal discrimination. • Annual Realtors Workshop for the Southwest Board of Realtors • Provide Certificate Management Trainings to Property Management Companies_ • Conduct workshops to housing providers • Promoting media interest in eliminating housing violations Lynwood and FHF will continue to conduct workshops, give presentations, provide fair housing educational materials and monitor local newspapers for Discriminatory newspaper advertising that may include discriminary language, etc. No occurrences were found this fiscal year. 5 Summary of Impediments to fair housing choice and actions taken IMPEDIMENTS FY 2014 ACTIONS TAKEN Housing discrimination, particularly in the rental Responded to various fair housing inquires, housing market. however only two housing discrimination cases were filed. 1st case for familial status/physical disability and 2nd case for Mental Disability discrimination. Both cases have been resolved. Discriminatory advertising, although very rare, may impede the protected populations from having Continue work with and/or monitor the Long Beach knowledge on all the housing opportunities that are Press Telegram and local newspapers for inclusion available in the City's rental and for-sale housing of a fair housing disclaimer where applicable. markets. The Long Beach Press Telegram is the Request that fair housing organizations be listed to only newspaper that does not print a fair housing respond to public inquiries. disclaimer in the classified real estate ads section. Private sector real estate practices that are Annual monitoring and review of the HMDA and contrary to the attainment of fair housing for all calculating loan denial rates for the four loan types. persons. Prior year's HMDA data will be used as a baseline data for current year's comparison. IMPEDIMENTS FY 2014 ACTIONS TAKEN Amend/update Lynwood's Zoning Regulations to Lynwood updated its Zoning Regulations to include Improve Planning and Zoning Practices a family definition stating "residential care facilities and group homes for people with disabilities" fall within the meaning of a"family". C. Affordable Housing Lynwood's housing strategy involves designing programs that address housing priorities identified in the ConPlan. Housing goals are to preserve the existing housing stock by correcting substandard properties, increasing the supply of affordable housing units, and/or providing assistance to first-time homebuyers to enable more low and moderate- income families to become homeowners. Maintaining the quality and affordability of the existing housing stock is a key priority of Lynwood's goals and the purpose of the Lynwood's Housing Rehabilitation Programs. This fiscal year's goals were to provide ten home improvement loans and/or grants to Lynwood residents with the use of CDBG and HOME program funds. Lynwood met its goal by providing 32 homeowners with financial assistance for home improvement. 6 The City of Lynwood in partnership with the Habitat for Humanity and utilizing HOME Program funds, is currently constructing four affordable single family owner-occupied housing units at 3303 Magnolia Avenue. Another three units adjacent to the property have been completed for a total of seven new affordable housing units being made available to qualifying families. These units will be three bedrooms and two bathrooms each. In addition, Habitat for Humanity built a new affordable single family unit at 3193 Euclid Avenue Lynwood, CA 90262, which was sold to a single working motherwith two children. - Summary of Efforts to Address Worst Case Needs Housing in is defined by HUD as low income renters who pay more than Worst case needs housing y p y 50% of income for rent, live in severely substandard housing, (including homeless people) or have been involuntarily displaced. However, Lynwood has an agreement with the County of Los Angeles Housing Authority (LACHA) to provide housing subsidy vouchers to address and/or assist with the needs of extremely low and very low income families and to increase the supply of affordable housing, promote self-sufficiency and asset development, ensure equal opportunity and affirmatively further fair housing, and to achieve consistency with the City of Lynwood Consolidated Plan. Lynwood will continue to monitor the Housing Authority's Plans and provide input as it pertains to Lynwood residents in an effort to add to the number of affordable housing units available to Lynwood residents. D. Continuum of Care Lynwood's continuum of care strategy is to provide emergency, temporary and/or permanent housing for the homeless through referrals and supportive services. Although Lynwood does not operate its own homeless facility, it makes referrals to neighboring cities to refer homeless individuals and/or families to local emergency shelters and transitional housing programs. Many of Lynwood's hotel/motels offer temporary shelter to those in need. Referrals are made according to need. Below are some of the agencies of which referrals are made: . Program Service Area of Operation South Central Health and Rehabilitation Program Addiction Services Lynwood Transitional Housing Program for Homeless Young People Homeless Services Lynwood Compton Welfare Right Shelter Emergency Shelter City of Compton Esther's House Domestic Violence Center Lynwood/Los Angeles Shields for Families, Inc. Transitional Housing Los Angeles County — Palms Residential-Care Facility - -Mental Health Care/Housing Los Angeles County 7 Referrals are also made to the following organizations: • The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). LAHSA operates a comprehensive variety of programs to strengthen and promote the effective operation of the continuum of care process. Services offered include Outreach and _ assessment; Crisis Intervention; Hotel vouchers; Move-in assistance; Emergency shelters; Transitional housing; and Permanent and affordable housing. LAHSA also has a Emergency Response team that offers services to people who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness: • Direct emergency services and transportation • Emergency services and shelter referrals to homeless families and unaccompanied adults and youth • Emergency assistance and referrals to social service agencies • Outreach services to homeless encampment dwellers • The Department of Health Services, who provides housing opportunities for persons with AIDS; the Peoples Guide to Health Welfare and Other Services, who provide information to the homeless on how to get food, money and other help from government programs, and Shelter First who has five locations, providing short term and transitional shelter to homeless men, women and children. • The Union Rescue Mission, which is the national's largest and Los Angeles' oldest rescue mission. Services include emergency food and shelter, residential recovery programs for men, women and families, health care, job training, computerized learning centers, clothing and hygiene provisions. • American Family Housing (AFH), a non-profit organization, provides emergency, transitional and permanent housing as well as education, counseling and job training for homeless and low-income adults and families who want to work to improve their lives and become self-supporting members of society. The City of Lynwood and AHD will be working together to establish and implement a program for the acquisition of rental property and/or new construction and development and management of eligible rental units. The City of Lynwood has not been approached by agencies or requested to support application of agencies for homeless housing/supportive service programs. However, the City is interested and supports the efforts of any local non-profit agencies seeking funds to locate homeless/transitional facilities within the City. 8 E. Other Actions: 1. Actions to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs Lynwood's special needs groups include disabled persons, single-parent households, persons with drug and/or alcohol addiction, elderly and frail elderly people, persons with AIDS and related diseases and include families below poverty, the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless. The primary obstacle to meeting the-underserved needs in the City of Lynwood is a lack of available funding to the City and to the various non- profit Y 9 Y profit agencies that assist the City in serving the low and moderate-income residents. As entitlement grants shrink or remain level-funded, the cost of delivering services and completing projects increases, resulting in an ever-widening spread of cost and available funds. Mirroring this trend is the increasing difficulty in leveraging funds through state and private resources, also decreasing or stagnant in recent times. Although the availability of funds from federal, state and other private resources continue to decline, Lynwood was able to meet these challenges by leveraging Lynwood general fund monies with CDBG and HOME funds, in an effort to continue current program delivery. Lynwood provides people with special needs with various services, activities and programs operated by the City and public and private agencies and institutions, some of which are noted above. Specific services are provided to Lynwood seniors in the form of health, safety awareness workshops, exercise classes, legal aid and transportation services. More 5,000 seniors participated in Lynwood's senior programming with 147 seniors receiving direct benefits. Lynwood in partnership with the Steelworkers Foundation provides free hot meals Monday through Friday at the Senior Citizen Center, a City Facility. The City's Rehabilitation program provides preferential slots to expedite applications of seniors interested in home improvement. Lynwood also provides its low-income residents with free Health Care Screening and vaccinations through St. Francis Medical Center, located in the City of Lynwood. Financial needs are referred to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. Lynwood also has five State licensed facilities for the developmentally disabled including Angelica Guest Home, Hope Adult Home, Hope Family Adult Home, Sea Breeze Manor and Wilson Care Facility. Lynwood operated many youth programs and activities throughout the year, including sports camps, afterschool programs, summer, spring and winter camps and thousands of residents have benefitted from the City's Crossing Guard and Graffiti programs. 2. Economic Opportunities Although the City did not fund any economic development programs with CDBG or HOME funds, Lynwood provided job training through- its-Workplace laeveloprnent ---- Program, which designs and implements employment and training programs for the community. 9 Lynwood's youth employment programs provide positive and meaningful training opportunities and focus activities to,address youth unemployment, crime and poverty, and teaches fundamental life and workplace skill to help youth explore, prepare for, transition, and ultimately succeed in the adult world of work. This fiscal year Lynwood provided job training opportunities to 62 Lynwood youth in collaboration with the HUB Cities Consortium Youth Program. Youth received training for office administration, telephone systems and communication, office equipment and machines, custodial and recreational and sports leadership. Additional training was provided off-site at Lynwood Medical Offices, Lynwood Library, Child Care Centers and community based non-profit organizations. In addition, Lynwood provided municipal training to 3 youth in various Lynwood City departments on job development, specifically in the senior citizen and recreation centers. In additional Lynwood's Intern Program provided job development and inter-governmental relations instruction to 7 Lynwood youth. Funds for economic development are limited and with so many reductions, the City will be hard pressed to fund economic development activities in the future. However City officials and staff will continue to work with private and other public partners to assist in the retention and expansion of local businesses with the objective of increasing average incomes with particular emphasis on expansion of a sustainable local economy. 3. Foster and Maintain Affordable Housing Lynwood in partnership with the Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) provides housing counseling, housing discrimination investigations, and landlord-tenant mediation and counseling to Lynwood residents free of charge. FHF also provides comprehensive, extensive and viable education and outreach services in addition to workshops and presentations to Lynwood residents. Fair housing activities were provided to educate tenants, landlords, owners, Realtors and property management companies on fair housing laws; to promote media and consumer interest; and to secure grass roots involvement within the communities. In addition, FHF specifically targets outreach to persons and protected classes that are most likely to encounter housing discrimination. Also the implementation of new housing policies and procedures have enhanced and expedited housing development and rehabilitation activities. Home improvement financial assistance was provided to 32 Lynwood residents to preserve housing standards through the City's housing programs. Code Enforcement activities remain an important component for maintaining and improving Lynwood's housing stock, focusing on illegal structures and problems that threaten safety and security. 4. Eliminate barriers to affordable housing The principal barriers to affordable housing in Lynwood continues to be the lack of land for new housing development and the high costs of new development, partly due to high land costs but also due to the cost of building materials such as concrete, wood, and steel. Reduced funding at the federal and state level contributes to the difficulty of building new affordable housing. 10 The recession has not alleviated the problems of housing affordability in Lynwood. While home prices are deflating in some neighborhoods, which would make homes more affordable, increases in unemployment in the City may undercut effective demand for such housing, and place greater pressure on the rental market. Lynwood continues to fund fair housing activities geared to eliminate impediments to fair housin g choice, low-income renter households are able to access and maintain � `affordable housing. In addition, the Lynwood affordable home improvement loan and - - grant programs will continue to operate and upgrade the City's supply of affordable housing stock. Lynwood promotes public awareness by providing and/or distributing fair housing literature at public places such as Lynwood's City Hall Bateman Hall, Senior Citizen Center, the Public Library and the foundation for Early Childhood Education and by holding Fair Housing and workshops where a variety of information and literature is offered in English and Spanish. 5. Overcome gaps in institutional structures and enhance coordination The City has made a concerted effort to eliminate institutional gaps, and enhance coordination of programs to all segments of the community. The City and community based organizations work closely with governmental entities and community commissions and activist to determine the critical needs of households, in order to ensure CDBG and HOME funded activities address gaps in services. Public hearings and forums are held throughout the program year to obtain community input. The City also works with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), to provide critical information regarding homeless services and identifying and prioritizing gaps and needs in the regional system of care. 6. Improve public housing and resident initiatives The City does not have public housing, however the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program within the City of Lynwood. There are currently 426 families receiving rental assistance from the Housing Authority who live in the City of Lynwood. 21 of these families have disabled members and 139 of these families are single member residents. Lynwood will _ continue to support services and programs geared towards the increase of public housing and resident initiatives. The County of Los Angeles Housing Authority (LACHA) has developed a five-year Strategic Plan and an Annual Plan. The Plans guide the actions of the LACHA to address the needs of extremely low and very low income families and includes goals to increase the supply of affordable housing, promote self-sufficiency and asset development, ensure equal opportunity and affirmatively further fair housing, and to achieve consistency with each jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan. Lynwood will continue to monitor the Housing Authority's Plans and provide input as it pertains to Lynwood residents in an effort to increase the supply of affordable housing for Lynwood residents. 11 7. Evaluate and reduce lead base paint hazards It is the City of Lynwood's goal to provide an environment free of lead based hazards. Integral to the City's residential rehabilitation programs are Lead Based Paint Hazard assessments for each project. The City contracts with qualified firms to conduct property inspections and risk assessments for rehabilitation projects. Environmental experts perform lead-based paint testing and/or risk assessments. Lynwood discloses - - to the homeowner lead-based paint hazards testing results. After the lead hazard is controlled or abated and the environmental expert performs a clearance process, the homeowner is notified of that clearance. Property owners will be provided the lead based paint pamphlets and literature regarding the hazards and protection from lead in the home. Home improvement participants are required to sign a statement verifying their review and understanding of LBP. 8. Ensure compliance with program and comprehensive planning requirements and monitoring The City requires all subrecipients under the CDBG program to submit monthly and/or quarterly performance report, documenting the number, income, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics of the persons/households assisted. The Community Development Department conducts annual site visits to subrecipients where applicable desk top audits to ensure that CDBG requirements as well as the contracted scope of services are being met. Project and financial data on CDBG and HOME funded activities are maintained using HUD's IDIS (Integrated Disbursement Information System) software. Use of this system allows HUD staff easy access to local data for review and progress evaluation. The City monitors affordability provisions as outlined in HOME program agreements. Projects that have one to four HOME units will have on- site inspections every three years; projections with five to twenty-five units will be inspected every two years. For projects containing twenty-six units or more, a yearly inspection will be conducted. 9. Reduce the number of persons living below the poverty level The 2014 Action Plan identified strategies for reducing the number of persons living below poverty level in Lynwood. The City provided resources to households living in poverty through networks of social and public service agencies and programs. Specifically, resources, food and shelter referrals were provided to assist households on need. Affordable housing is being provided to 4 low income families through the Habitat for Humanity Development and the Los Angeles Housing Authority in collaboration with the City of Lynwood has provided rental subsidies to 426 low income residents in the City of Lynwood. Lynwood also makes referrals to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) for those in need of low income housing. HACLA is committed to == housing homeless individuals and families through the Homeless Program, HUD-VASH, Permanent Supportive Housing Program, Skid Families Demonstration Project, Shelter Plus Care, and Project 50 programs. 12 • Special services are provided to Lynwood seniors in the form of health, safety and exercise classes, and legal aid and Dial-A-Ride. The Steelworkers Foundation provides hot meals Monday through Friday, at a City Facility. In addition, low-income residents may receive Health Care Screening and vaccinations, free of charge, through St. Francis Medical Center located in the City of Lynwood. In addition, referrals are made to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services for financial assistance to a variety of disabled persons including cooking, cleaning, personal care and transportation. The City's Rehabilitation program provides preferential slots to expedite applications of seniors wishing to participate in the City's Rehabilitation program. Various youth programs and activities are on-going in the City. There are also five State licensed facilities for the developmentally disabled; Angelica Guest Home, Hope Adult Home, Hope Family Adult Home, Sea Breeze Manor and Wilson Care Facility, in operation throughout the City. F. LEVERAGING RESOURCES: Lynwood historically matched the investment of CDBG and HOME dollars with the investment of Redevelopment Agency Property Tax Increment funds, Low/Moderate Income Housing Set-Aside funds and Low Income Housing Credit funds. However, the Governor of California signed bills into law, abolishing Redevelopment Agencies in California and redirected Redevelopment Agency funds. This had been devastating to the City of Lynwood and has resulted in the elimination of vital funding for community development, housing and economic development programs and activities. As a result, leveraging is limited to Lynwood's General funds, Bond money and CDBG and HOME program income. The City's general fund also augments the cost of several public service activities. Lynwood is not required by HUD to match federal funds. G. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION The City of Lynwood citizen participation process facilitates community input in all phases of the consolidated planning, reporting and implementation including the Consolidated Annual Performance Report (CAPER). Throughout the year CDBG and HOME programs are reviewed and discussed at various public forums including City Council meetings, neighborhood block watch meetings, City Commission meetings and during public hearings, all designed to solicit public comments. Lynwood encourages the inclusion of all City residents, especially low-income residents, non-profit organizations and other interested parties. Bi-lingual services are available upon request. The draft FY 2014 CAPER was made available to the public on August 13, 2015 for a 30-day review period, as required by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations. Copies of the draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report were made available to the public at the Community Development Department, Lynwood City Clerk's Office, Lynwood City Hall Annex Building and Lynwood Public Library. 13 A Public Notice of the 30-day public review period was published in Lynwood's local newspaper, the Lynwood Press Wave on August 13, 2015 and a Notice of Availability for the FY 2014 draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) was noticed on the City of Lynwood website. On September 2, 2015, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Commission held a Public Hearing for the review and discussion of the draft FY 2014 draft CAPER, and to allow public comment. The meeting will take place at the City of Lynwood, City Hall Council Chambers. Outreach efforts were made to encourage the participation of all citizens including minorities, non-English speaking persons and individuals with disabilities. CDBG Commission meetings provide a consistent and effective forum for citizens to participate in the CDBG/HOME grant process, especially in the Annual Action Plan process, and serve as a place for management and staff to vet policy issues and obtain public feedback. Each of the five CDBG Commissioner were given a copy of the draft FY 2014 CAPER, in addition copies are available for the public. 14 H. SELF-EVALUATION for fiscal year 2014 were carried out both in The City of Lynwood's plans and activities y spirit and action. The strategy concentrated both CDBG and HOME funding on affordable housing, eliminating barriers to housing, affirmatively furthering fair housing and the coordination of ,public improvements and public services that benefit low and moderate income persons, including the elderly, and those persons with disabilities. The City of Lynwood has successfully met HUD's timeliness standards and has complied with all of HUD's reporting requirements for fiscal year 2014. Overall, the City has made progress in addressing the challenges of stabilizing the homeowner base within the community, improving the existing housing stock, and improving the overall quality of life in neighborhoods throughout Lynwood. Although Lynwood has made progress despite the ongoing recession resulting in the reduction of funds, there is still a great need in the community, especially for those at the lowest of incomes. Continuous cuts at both the federal and state levels of government have put a squeeze on public service programs, while the demand for these services have increased. The ability of the City to meet these particular needs with its HUD funding has been limited with federal CDBG and HOME program budgets not keeping pace with inflation and being aggressively cut, nevertheless, Lynwood will continue to aggressively pursue long-term objectives in the ConPlan by leveraging resources and a variety of financing approaches, as becomes available. Below provides a Strategic Plan Goals and Accomplishments chart of the City of Lynwood Consolidated Plan 5-year goals as compared to the fiscal year 2014 annual accomplishments. 5-Year (FY 2010-2014) GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENT CHART Objective# Performance Five-Year" Annual Actual Number By Outcome/Objective* Indicators Expected Expected Program Year Specific Objectives Number Number #1 SL-3 Code Enforcement 2010-2011: 1,500 2010-2011:3,937 Code Enforcement-Enhance Number of 6,500 Units sustainability for the purpose of creating code 2011-2013: 1,200 2011-2013:3,342 a suitable living environment by funding compliance City has 2013-2013: 1,200 2013-2013:3,085 code enforcement activities in inspections exceeded its deteriorated and deteriorating areas. 5 year goals. 2013-2014: 1,200 2013-2014: 1,800 2014-2015: 1,200 2014-2015:4,102 #2 SL-3 Infrastructure Street/Alley Improvements- Total number of 2 projects 2010-2011: 1 project 2010-2011: 1 project Enhance sustainability for the purpose persons of creating a suitable living environment provided City has 2011-2013:2 projects 2011-2013:2 projects by improving public streets and alleys in improved exceeded its the low and moderate income access to public 5 year goals. 2013-2013: 0 project 2013-2013:2 projects residential neighborhoods. street and alleys 2013-2014:0 project 2013-2014:0 project 2014-2015: 1 project 2014-2015: 1 project 15 Objective# Performance Five-Year Annual Actual Number By OutcomelObjective* Indicators Expected Expected Program Year Specific Objectives Number Number #3 SL-3 Infrastructure Total number of 1 project 2010-2011: 1 project 2010-2011: 1 project Sidewalk Improvements- persons completed Enhance sustainability for the purposes provided with City has 2011-2012:0 project 2011-2012:0 of creating a suitable living environment improved exceeded its by improving public sidewalks. sidewalks 5 year goals. 2013-2013:0 project 2013-2013:0 2013-2014:0 project 2013-2014:0 2014-2015:0 project 2014-2015:0 #4 SL-1 Public Services 2010-2011: 100 2010-2011:319 Senior Services-Enhance Total number of 500 people - availability/accessibility for the purpose elderly persons 2011-2013: 100 2011-2013: 137 of creating a suitable living environment provided 2013-2013: 100 2013-2013: 141 by providing senior services services City has -— - - — - exceeded its 2013-2014: 100 2013-2014: 126 5 year goals. 2014-2015: 100 2014-2015: 147 #5 SL-1 Infrastructure 2010-2011:50 2010-2011: 185 Fair Housing-Enhance Total number 250 people availability/accessibility for the purpose of persons City has 2011-2013:50 2011-2013: 205 of creating a suitable living environment provided fair exceeded its 2013-2013:50 2013-2013:210 by providing fair housing services housing 5 year goals. services 2013-2014:50 2013-2014:226 2014-2015: 80 2014-2015:268 #6 SL-1 Public Services Other Public Services—Enhance Total number of 500+people 2010-2011: 100 2010-2011: 146 availability/accessibility for the purpose persons to be 2011-2013: 100 2011-2013: 100 of creating a suitable living environment assisted City has 2013-2013: 100 2013-2013: 150 by providing services to low/moderate exceeded its income persons. 5 year goals. 2013-2014: 100 2013 2014: 126 2014-2015: 100 2014-2015: 147 #7 DH-3 Housing HOME/CDBG funded Housing 2010-2011: 10 2010-2011: 15 Rehabilitation Program—Enhance Total number of 50 units 2011-2013: 10 2011-2013: 15 sustainability for the purpose of creating units to be City has 2013-2013: 10 2013-2013: 9 _ a suitable living by funding home assisted exceeded its —2013-2014: 10 2013-2014: 15 _ improvement loans and grants to 5 year goals low/moderate income persons. 2014-2015: 10 2014-2015: 32 16 • Performance Five-Year Annual Actual Number By Objective# Indicators Expected Expected Program Year OutcomelObjective* Number Number Specific Objectives #8 DH-2 Community Housing Development Organization(CHDO) HOME Program-Enhance affordability Total number of 10 units __ 2010-2011: 1 2010-2013:_0_ - -. for the purpose of creating a suitable units to be 2011-2013:4 2011-2013: 10 living by developing housing for low and assisted City has 2013-2013: 0 2013-2013:0 moderate income persons. exceeded its 2013-2014: 87 2013-2014:87 5 year goals. 2014-2015: 4 2014-2015: 4 #9 DH-2 Homeless Prevention HPRP Program—Enhance Total number of 80 2010-2011: 10 2010-2013:86 availability/accessibility for the purpose persons to be City has 2011-2013:44 2011-2013:418 of creating a suitable living environment assisted exceeded its City has reached its by providing services to persons at risk 5 year goals. 2012-2013: 0 _ goal. of becoming homeless or people who 2013-2014: 0 2013-2014:0 are already homeless. 2014-2015: 0 2014-2015:0 *Outcome/Objective Codes AvailabilitylAccessibility Affordability Sustainability Decent Housing DH-1 DH-2 DH-3 Suitable Living Environment SL-1 SL-2 SL-3 Economic Opportunity EO-1 EO-2 EO-3 I. MONITORING All CDBG and HOME program grant disbursements are timely and do not differ from the letter of credit disbursements. There are no activities or strategies falling behind of schedule at this time. The City's monitoring procedures are outlined below: CDBG Subrecipient — The City of Lynwood requires all subrecipients under the CDBG program to submit quarterly performance report, documenting the number, income, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics of the persons/households assisted. In addition, site visits are made to locations of subgrantees receiving more than $30,000 annually, to ensure that the quality, services and that the targeted beneficiaries are consistent with CDBG program guidelines as well as the contracted scope of services specified in the agreements with the City. Home Program—The City will continue to monitor the affordability provisions as outlined in the HOME program agreements. Projects that have one to four HOME units will have on-site inspections every three years; projections with five to twenty-five units will be inspected every two years. For projects containing twenty-six units or more, a yearly inspection will be conducted. 17 Technical Assistance - The City will provide technical assistance to community based organization seeking grants, grant preparation and grant administration. Furthermore, project and financial data on CDBG and HOME funded activities will be maintained using HUD's:IDIS (Integrated Disbursement Information System) software. Use of this system allows HUD staff easy access to local data for review and progress evaluation. J. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT NARRATIVE STATEMENTS The following narratives provide an overview of the City's actions during the reporting period demonstrating the relationship between the expenditure of CDBG funds and efforts to address priority needs, goals and objectives as identified in the Five-year Consolidated Plan. Lynwood's 5-year Consolidated Plan identified several high priority activities. During fiscal year 2014, the City allocated resources to meet high priority needs for housing and community development. Other activities included public safety programs, youth and senior services and activities, and code enforcement. Lynwood funded its housing activities with the use of HOME and CDBG funds. These funds were dedicated to home improvement for low/moderate income families. CDBG funds were also used to identify and improve substandard housing, and enforce Lynwood's housing code standards. Below is a summary of the use of funds in relation to Consolidated Plan priorities: Homeless/HIV/AIDS: The City completed did not have allocated funds for direct p services to homeless, HIV and AIDS; however referral were made to nearby shelter and service providers. Non-Homeless Special Needs: CDBG public services funds were expended for Senior Citizen activities benefitting low income and very low income residents; public safety activities and public services. More than 2,7721 residents benefitted from these services and/or were referred to such agencies as the Department of Social Services and the Legal Aid Society. Affirmatively Further Fair Housing — Lynwood in partnership with the Fair Housing Foundation work together to solve housing issues relating to discrimination, tenant/landlord disputes and substandard housing complaints, as well as educating the public as to their rights under the law. This fiscal year, 268 Lynwood residents received assistance through the FHF program. It is the City's goals to increase fair housing education throughout the community and assist with the enforcement of fair housing laws and the use of various tools including testing to document discrimination with a special focus on homeownership and rental housing. Lynwood continues to monitor and remove impediments to fair housing choice and updates its Analysis of Impediment to assure that progress is being made and that any new impediments are being addressed. 18 Owner-Occupied Housing: In an effort to preserve Lynwood's existing housing stock, Lynwood completed 32 home improvement projects with the use of HOME program funds. Another three home improvement projects were completed with the use of CDBG funds, for a total of fifteen families that received home improvement assistance this fiscal year. Rental Housing: Lynwood in partnership with the Los Angeles County Housing Authority has provided 426 rental subsidy vouchers to Lynwood residents. Affordable Housing: The AMCAL Development project is currently providing low income housing to 87 families. Lynwood in partnership with the Habitat for Humanity is developing 7 single family affordable housing units at 3303 Magnolia Avenue for sale to low income families and another two affordable housing units were completed by Habitat for Humanity and made affordable to Lynwood low income residents. Infrastructure Improvements: Lynwood completed a substantial change to its fiscal year 2014 Consolidated Plan to fund the improvement of four residential streets. These streets have been designed and are currently in bidding stage. We expect the completion of this street improvement project in 2015. In addition, Lynwood is utilizing its 4.6 million Measure R Bond Funds to improve deteriorated/dilapidated streets throughout the City. Nine streets to include Linden, Virginia, Josephine, Bradfield, Walnut, Redwood, Louise, Elmwood, and Olanda were completed this fiscal year, with these funds. Code Enforcement: Code enforcement addresses property maintenance, building violations, health and safety violations in order to bring violations into compliance and educate to educate the community on the Lynwood Municipal Codes and California building codes, thereby enhancing property improvements and protecting public health, safety and the quality of life in Lynwood. This year accomplishments include the inspection of 4,104 Housing units which resulted in 8,747 citations for health and safety hazards, property maintenance violations, and building, electrical, or plumbing code violations. 84% of these citations have been addressed; the remaining 16% are in process. Evaluation of extent to which CDBG funds were used for activities that benefit low and moderate income persons – The City of Lynwood ensured that 100% of CDBG funds were spent to benefit low and moderate income persons and households, as evidenced in Attachment "A" the Financial Summary Report.- - — -- 19 Changes in Program Objective a. There was one Substantial Change to the fiscal year 2014 Consolidated Action Plan to provide CDBG funding for fiscal year 2014 Street Improvement for four residential streets. The streets are currently out to bid and expected for completion in 2015. b. Assessment of Efforts to Carryout Planned Actions as part of Certifications: Resulting--project assessments contained within the CAPER reveal that the City closely adhered to plan actions and project activities described in the Action Plan, and that all benefitted extremely low income, low income, and moderate income persons. c. Lynwood did not hinder the Consolidated Plan implementation by action or willful inaction. d. Use of CDBG Funds for National Objectives — CDBG funds were used exclusively for activities benefiting low/mod persons, and slum/ blight activities. e. Lynwood has complied with certification to expend a minimum of 70% of Lynwood CDBG funds benefitted low/mod people. f. Anti-displacement and Relocation - In FY 2014, no displacement and relocation occurred as a result of CDBG and HOME funded activities. g. Low/Mod Job Activities - No job creation activities were undertaken with CDBG funds in FY 2014. 20 CITY OF LYNWOOD _- - HOME PROGRAM CAPER NARRATIVES FISCAL YEAR 2014 HOME funds were committed to fund the housing activities identified in the Consolidated Plan and the FY 2014 Action Plan. The following table represents the Strategic Plan Priorities for housing as described in the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan. — The table represents the Strategic Plan Priority-levels for-both rental-housing and owner occupied housing. 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan - Strategic Plan Priorities Priority Need Category Priority Level Owner Occupied / Single Family High Housing Multi Family/ Rental Housing Low The priority levels assigned to each of the aforementioned categories during the development of the 2014 Consolidated Plan were based on the following criteria: • Community participation • Public'consultation process • Public meetings and hearings • Past HOME funding allocations • Input from City Departments • Needs identified in the Housing Element Based on the Strategic Plan Priorities for the Consolidated Plan period, the City established the following priorities and specific objectives under the 2014 Action Plan: 1. Maintain the quality and affordability of the existing housing stock through the HOME And/or CDBG funded Housing Rehabilitation Program. 2014 Specific Obiectives: Completed fifteen home improvement loans/grants. Lynwood provides loans up to a maximum of $35,000 and grants up to $10.000 for home improvement. To be eligible for assistance, homeowners cannot exceed the low- to moderate-income levels as established by HUD. Under the $10,000 grant element, the City assists homeowners who are in need of repairs to items that present an immediate threat to the integrity of the structure and/or the elimination of -- - health and safety issues on the dwelling. During fiscal year 2014 Lynwood provided assistance to 32 Lynwood families for home improvement assistance. 21 2. Increase the number of affordable rental housing stock-through the acquisition or- construction of rental housing. No specific goal set for FY 2014, nor were any FY 2014 HOME CHDO funds spent during the program year, although several project are under consideration. HOME Match Report Under the Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME fund guidelines, - - Lynwood qualifies for a 100% HOME Match Reduction for the 2014 Program Year. Therefore, the City is not required to provide a matching contribution. Contracts with Minority Business Enterprises (MBE's) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE's). Lynwood contracts with MDG, Inc., a minority business, to provide technical assistance for the City's home improvement program, in the form of home improvement inspections, lead base and contractor compliance, as well as Avant-Garde, Inc. a minority, woman owned business, to provide HOME program administrative assistance. As a participating jurisdiction, the City maintains an affirmative marketing approach that provides information and attracts eligible persons for available housing without regard to race, color, national origin, sex,, religion, family status or disability. Addressing the multi-ethnic nature of the city, the City uses marketing procedures that inform potential program participants about Federal fair housing laws and equal housing opportunities in both Spanish and English. Additionally, the City uses special public outreach programs that include community based organizations, real estate organizations, and public service groups to solicit applications and inform the public about eligible programs and available assistance. Property Acquisition and Rehabilitation Lynwood and Habitat for Humanity (HFH) are continuing to partner for affordable housing development to make available to low income households. Qualifying households will be required to provide sweat equity by assisting in the rehabilitation of their home when applicable and must qualify for a standard market rate loan. The City will "help up" the family by reducing the price of the home to an affordable level and enabling the family resources to be expended on other necessary family enhancing activities. Annual Goals and Strategies - - - The Housing Rehabilitation program continues to have an overwhelming citizen -_ response and has completed its annual and five year goals as set in the Consolidated Plans. The annual goal for FY 2014 was. set- at 10 home improvement projects. Lynwood completed 32 home improvement projects this program year. 22 Accomplishments Lynwood met all required commitment and expenditure deadlines for the HOME program thereby supporting the goal of creating a safe, decent living environment for Lynwood residents. The City's Housing rehabilitation program provided technical and financial assistance to 32 qualifying owners of residential properties. within the City of Lynwood. The program, limited to owner occupied homes, is designed to rehabilitate and correct code violations for existing properties. Within the program year the City has marketed the program at various town hall meetings and publications, including Lynwood n' Perspective to provide the information to the community regarding the program. Vacant Property Acquisition and Rehabilitation No new activities took place this fiscal year. Vacant Property Acquisition and New Construction No new activities took please this fiscal year. Report on match contributions and resources from private and non-federal resources. The City of Lynwood does not have a matching contribution requirement with the federal formula entitlement grants. Results of on-site inspections of affordable rental housing units. The City has established program guidelines that require all rental units to meet the City's minimum property standards, building codes and zoning ordinances at the time of project completion. Rent requirements are enforced by deed restrictions and affordability terms are included in written agreements. Both occupancy and rental requirements are monitored for 5 to 20 years depending on the amount of HOME funds provided. The City monitored five rental projects that were assisted with HOME funds in prior years. Currently the City is monitoring one rental development and, per HUD requirements, has acquired certifications from tenants confirming their low income status. As a result of the monitoring and certifications, the project is in compliance with all rent restrictions and occupancy requirements. 23 I ' Lead Based Paint (LBP) - - The City of Lynwood's housing is of old housing stock and has the potential of containing lead hazards. Lead based paint removal and abatement is a priority for HOME assisted units and all homes where improvements are sought. The City consults with the County of Los Angeles regarding the Consolidated Plan Lead Abatement plan and has implemented federal regulations pertaining to lead. The City will continue to provide information and education to households by incorporating the procedures to - eliminate LBP hazards and to provide a process for the proper abatement of LBP in residential properties and will continue to, as it has in the past, distribute Lead Based Paint brochures in the Development Services Department to all homeowners and contractors seeking to improve their homes. For all residential rehabilitation projects funded by HOME and CDBG, Lead Based Paint (LBP) inspections were conducted by a licensed contractor to determine the existence of lead based paint on the property. The City has expended approximately $15,000 on the abatement of lead in HOME assisted rehab projects. All applicants to the Housing Rehab program are provided literature regarding the hazards of lead and methods to protect from lead in the home. Homeowners are also required to sign a statement certifying their review and understanding of LBP brochure. For new residential units, including all construction sponsored by the City, contractors are not permitted to use paint containing more than 0.006 percent lead by weight in the total content of liquid paint. 24 , : IL -