• Budget Information
• History
• Facts & Issues

Budget information

FUNDING SOURCE: 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department

HISTORY

• The Mayor and Commission approved the HED Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the associated FY06 (July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006) Annual Action Plan in April 2005.
• The Mayor and Commission approved the FY09 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009) Annual Action Plan in April 2008.
• On February 13, 2009, the U. S. House of Representatives and Senate approved the
  conference report for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 that was subsequently signed into law by the President on February 17, 2009.
• On February 25, 2009, HUD announced formula allocations of ARRA funds to be made
  available to local entitlement communities. The Unified Government will receive approximately $395,575 of CDBG and $604,969 of HPRP funds from the ARRA Program.
• During the April 13, 2009 Work Session, HED staff presented options to the M&C for allocation of the ARRA program funds. Based upon guidance for that meeting, staff was authorized to begin the public input process and advertising.
• The Substantial Amendment to the FY09 Annual Action Plan was advertised within the April 19, 2009 Athens Banner-Herald Sunday newspaper. The Substantial Amendment began the public comment period for citizen input on the "proposed uses" of ARRA funds. The public comment period ran 13 days from April 19, 2009 to May 1, 2009.
• The April 23, 2009 Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission Agenda Setting meeting during a special called session served as the Unified Government Public Hearing to solicit and discuss public comments on the "proposed uses" of the ARRA funds for Community Development and Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing activities.
• The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission vote on the uses of ARRA funds at the May 5, 2009 Voting Session. The approved Substantial Amendment to the FY09 Annual Action Plan was available for public review from May 6, 2009 to May 17, 2009 at the following locations:
  • Department of Human and Economic Development
  • Mayor’s Office
  • Manager's Office
  • Athens Regional Library
  • Planning & Zoning Department
  • Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center (RDC)
  • Miriam Moore Community Service Center
  • Hancock Community Development Corporation
• The Mayor and Commission approved the proposed uses of ARRA funds and the allocation of HPRP funds at their May 5, 2009 Voting Meeting. The HPRP Substantial Amendment was submitted to HUD by the May 18, 2009 due date.
• HUD forwarded the HPRP Substantial Amendment approval letter the week of July 13, 2009.
• HUD plans to execute grant agreements by September 1, 2009.
• The Unified Government must have funds obligated to sub-grantees by September 30, 2009.
• ARRA funds must be contracted to sub-grantees by December 29, 2009
• At least 60 percent of the HPRP funds must be spent within two years from December 29, 2009 and all funds must be spent within three years.

FACTS & ISSUES

• To receive ARRA funds, the Unified Government as an eligible grantee must submit a
  Substantial Amendment to the FY09 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009) Annual Action Plan of the Five-year Consolidated Plan (see Attachments I-A and I-B).
• The HED Citizen Participation Plan as part of the Consolidated Plan, includes citizen
  participation standards and public hearing notification procedures that are required for implementation of amendments to the Annual Action Plan.
• CDBG funds ($395,575) from the ARRA Program are to be used for projects and/or activities that maximize job creation and retention and economic benefits.
• Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing funds ($604,969) from the ARRA Program must be used to provide financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly rehoused and stabilized. The funds provide a variety of assistance that includes short-term or medium-term rental assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services. Housing relocation and stabilization services include mediation, credit counseling, security or utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance, and case management.
• The following agencies have received funding contracts:
  • Community Connection of Northeast Georgia: $146,244 over a three (3) year period for homeless and at-risk households facing eviction.
  • Advantage Behavioral Health Systems: $146,244 over a three (3) year period for homeless and at-risk households facing eviction and suffering from Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
  • AIDS Athens: $146,244 over a three (3) year period for homeless and at-risk households facing eviction and suffering from HIV/AIDS.
  • Project Safe: $146,244 over a three (3) year period for homeless and at-risk households facing eviction and suffering from domestic abuse
• The balance of the funds ($20,001) will cover administrative costs.
• HED staff met with all HPRP sub-recipients to review inter-agency coordination of services. The four (4) HPRP programs noted above are operational and have active case loads.