Subtitle 15A. Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan

A Five-Year Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan, commencing in July 1995 and each fifth year thereafter; and

An annual Action Plan and Statement of Community Development Objectives and Projected Use of Funds, which shall constitute the County's Housing and Community Development Program and activities to address the needs of the homeless, and applications for securing federal funds under the terms of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, and the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1988.

A Section 3 Action Plan, to implement Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 as amended, (12 U.S.C. 1701u and implementing regulations at 24 CFR 135), which shall establish the strategies and goals to be followed to ensure that the objectives of Section 3 are met in the use of applicable federal funds in the County, including the objectives of promoting local economic development, neighborhood economic development, local hiring and employment, local procurement opportunities and individual self-sufficiency. The purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain HUD financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing Federal, State and local laws and regulations, be directed to very low, low and moderate income persons living in Prince George's County, particularly those who are (1) recipient of government assistance for housing, and (2) to business concerns which provide economic opportunities to very low and low income persons. The mission of Section 3 is to utilize existing federal programs to maximize economic for very low, low and moderate income persons. A Section 3 Action Plan when properly crafted at the grantee level can help address unemployment, underemployment, and economic poverty. Section 3 as national policy addresses issues such as housing affordability, employment status, and individual earnings. Section 3 requirements apply to HUD grantees and applies to all contractors and subcontractors performing work in connection with projects and activities funded by federal community development assistance covered by Section 3. The enactment of a Section 3 Action Plan is not a requirement of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, but is a tool to assist jurisdictions in facilitating its implementation.

A comprehensive assessment of housing and community development needs within appropriate subareas of the County (such as neighborhoods, census tracts, or other convenient statistical areas), including consideration of such factors as the distribution of residents with limited incomes (as defined by Federal regulations), over-crowded housing conditions, and substandard housing units, as well as areas of racial and ethnic concentration; and

A comprehensive strategy for meeting the neighborhood revitalization, housing, and economic development needs including:

An identification, by name and geographical boundaries, of the areas recommended for concentrated improvement efforts, together with statements of justification for each of the areas recommended for improvement;

Legible maps that shall show such information as:

A detailed description of recommended housing and community development activities proposed for implementation during the succeeding program year;

The estimated cost of each project proposed in the subject program year, and the total cost to bring the project to completion if it is a multiyear project, together with an identification of the sources of such funds;

The geographical boundaries, locations, and targeting where applicable;

Identification of the agency or combination of agencies responsible for administering and/or implementing the recommended activities;

Identification of priority housing activities and federal resources to address the needs of low and moderate income households, as well as special needs populations;

Identification of priority activities in areas that address underserved housing needs which include, but are not limited to: maintaining adequate housing; removing barriers to adequate housing; evaluating and reducing lead-based paint hazards; reducing the number of poverty level families; developing institutional structures; enhancing coordination between public and private housing, and social services agencies; and fostering public housing improvements and resident initiatives; and

Submission of a combined application for use of federal entitlement funds for programs such as Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Shelter Grant, Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program, and HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program.