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BUCKS COUNTY
2010-2014 CONSOLIDATED PLAN NOTICES

Under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, jurisdictions receiving federal funds for housing and community development activities must prepare a Five-Year Consolidated Plan. The programs covered under the Plan are the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, and the Emergency Shelter Grant programs. The Bucks County Department of Community and Business Development (the Department) is the lead agency in the preparation/implementation of the Consolidated Plan.

Housing Strategies

The County’s housing strategy centers on creating affordable housing options for individuals, families, and the elderly, in a manner that renovates older housing units, creates community assets, and helps combat poverty. The County’s efforts will target low/moderate income persons, with the objective of increasing the supply of affordable ownership and rental units (particularly for those with disabilities); assisting homeowners repair and bring their properties up to Housing Quality Standards; supporting first-time homebuyers with down payment and closing costs; building the capacity of Community Housing Development Organizations; supporting housing services targeting the transition from poverty to self-sufficiency; and, affirmatively promoting equal access to decent, quality, and affordable housing, without regard to race, gender, color, national origin, age, familial status, or disability.

The Homeless and Special Needs Populations

Bucks County seeks to bring together organizations, to implement a comprehensive strategy on addressing the factors and conditions affecting both population groups, through its Continuum of Care. The Continuum calls for increased communication and coordination among all participants in addressing homeless prevention activities, homeless services, and development of transitional and permanent housing.

Community Development Strategies

Community Development encompasses physical, economic and social improvement projects. The County is committed to improving access to quality public and private facilities serving populations at greatest risk; the maintenance and upgrade of infrastructure in low/moderate income areas; the provision of public services for seniors, disabled, and persons with HIV/AIDS; and, the use of financial tools (e.g., CDBG, Section 108) to revitalize blighted areas, provide financial and technical assistance to private enterprises to create jobs and business opportunities for low/moderate income persons, while promoting self-sufficiency, and stable and safe neighborhoods and communities.

Public Hearing

A public hearing will be conducted on the proposed Consolidated Plan on Thursday, January 7, 2010. The hearing will be held 3:00 PM at the 4th Floor Conference Room, at 1260 Almshouse Road in Doylestown.

Comments on the Plan

Copies of the proposed Consolidated Plan can be obtained free of charge by contacting the Bucks County Department of Community and Business Development at 215/345-3840 (e-mail: business@co.bucks.pa.us). Copies of the plan are also available at public libraries. Citizen participation and anti-displacement plans are included as attachments to the Consolidated Plan. Written comments on the Plan and/or the County’s performance in carrying out past activities should be submitted to the Department of Community and Business Development, 1260 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, PA 18901, no later than January 14, 2010.  All comments will be considered by the Bucks County Board of Commissioners before adoption of the final Plan.

STATEMENT OF FY 2010 PROPOSED USE OF FUNDS
 CDBG, HOME and ESG PROGRAMS

Bucks County receives annual funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), and HOME programs. The funding is intended for the benefit of low/moderate income persons and for the elimination of blight.  The following describes the proposed use of anticipated funding for FY 2010 (April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011):

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM

The following is Bucks County's program for the use of $2.3 million in anticipated FY 2010 CDBG grant, $250,000 in program income to be used to administer the economic development program, and $2,503 in funding redirected from prior years.

Statement of Objectives

• Conservation and expansion of the housing stock for all persons, but principally those of low and moderate income.
• Expansion and improvement of community facilities and services benefiting low/moderate income.
• Promotion of economic development and the creation and retention of jobs for low/moderate income persons.
• Elimination of slums and blight and prevention of blighting influences.
• Elimination of conditions, which are detrimental to health, safety and public welfare.
• Preparation of plans for a better utilization of land and other natural resources.
• Restoration and preservation of properties of historic value.

 

Projected Use of FY 2010 CDBG Funds

The following projects have been recommended by the Bucks County Community Development Advisory Board for funding:

Project Number	Organization	Project Name	Amount
10-01	Bucks County  Community & Business	CDBG Program Administration		$430,000
10-02	Bucks County Planning Commission	Bucks County Comprehensive Plan Update		$100,000
10-03	Bucks County General Services Division	Peace Valley Park Bathroom Accessibility		$262,564
10-04	SCORE	Upward Mobility Project		$20,000
10-05	BARC, Inc.	Quakertown Workshop Rehab		$149,700
10-06	Bucks County Redevelopment Authority	Revolving Loan Fund Implementation Costs		$100,000
10-07	Legal Aid	Housing Legal Services		$60,000
10-08	Delta Community Supports	Rehab of Three Group Homes		$46,000
10-09	Bucks County Free Library	Accessibility Parking and Curb		$21,188
10-10	Warminster Heights	Roofing Replacement		$100,000
10-11	Family Services Assoc.	Group Home HVAC Bucks Villa		$29,875
10-12	Co-MANS	Accessibility Improvements		$29,220
10-13	Interfaith Housing	Predevelopment Costs		$30,000
10-14	American Red Cross Shelter	Operations Homeless Shelter		$200,000
10-15	Lenape Valley Foundation	Group Home  Rehab Forsythia		$28,800
10-16	Libertae Inc.	Group Home Bathroom Rehab		$23,587
10-17	Libertae Inc.	Group Home Roof Replacement		$16,000
10-18	St. Mary’s Hospital	Equipment  LIFE Frail Elders Program		$13,340
10-19	YWCA	Homework Zone Bucks Landing		$22,220
10-20	Bucks County Military Affairs	Van Purchase for Vet Services		$20,000
10-21	Doylestown Borough	Road Improvements Broadale		$66,100
10-22	Penndel Borough	Accessible Ramp		$27,000
10-23	Morrisville Borough	Roof Replacement Library Entranceway		$35,000
10-24	Hilltown Township	Road Paving Reliance & Summit		$112,200
10-25	Warminster Township	Accessibility Handicap Ramps		$99,000
10-26	Lower South. Townsnhip	Storm Water Management Colonia Drive		$99,925
10-27	Perkasie Borough	Installation of 20 Handicap Ramps		$66,800
10-28	Nockamixon Township	Eastern Upper Bucks Senior Center Operations		$34,200
10-29	Durham Township	Accessibility Rehab		$35,000
10-30	Solebury Township	Accessible Bathrooms		$44,056
10-31	Doylestown Township	Handicap Signal Improvement Barn Plaza		$34,550
10-32	Northampton Township	Accessibility Improvements		$37,991
10-33	Newtown Township	Floor and Drain Installation Clark Barn		$8,187
		Total CDBG Funding:	$2,402,503

 

In excess of 70 percent of this funding will be used for activities benefiting low or moderate-income persons.  In addition to the new grant Bucks County expects to receive approximately $400,000 in program income from its economic development and owner occupied housing rehabilitation programs, $100,000 of which will be used to administer the economic development program. All of the program income received will be used to support further economic development activities.

 

Proposed Use of FY 2010 Emergency Shelter Grant Funding

The County anticipates receiving approximately $104,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funding. The funding will be distributed among three organizations to support the operations of their homeless shelters, as follows:

Project Number	Organization		Project Name		Amount
10-34	A Woman's Place		Shelter Operations		$6,000
10-35	Housing Group		Shelter Operations		$28,000
10-36	American Red Cross		Shelter Operations and Homeless Prevention		$70,000
		Total ESG Funding:			$104,000

 

Home Investment Partnership (HOME) Program Funding

Bucks County anticipates expending approximately $4,823,000 in new projects and for the support of ongoing activities for the benefit of low/mod income first-time homebuyers, renters, and persons with special needs. The expenditures will be supported by approximately $1.3 million in FY 2010 HOME program federal grant, along with funding from County’s own Housing Trust Fund, and uncommitted or redirected funds from prior years. The projects and activities recommended for funding by the Bucks County Housing Finance Board for funding are as follows:
                                                                                                                                                                                           

Project Number	Organization			Project Name		Amount
910-01	Habitat for Humanity			Grundy Power House - Phase I		$780,000
910-02	BC Housing Development Corp.			Bensalem Rental Housing for Disabled Vets		$1,500,000
910-03	Interfaith Housing			Scattered Site		$600,000
910-04	BARC			Group Home Acquisition		$113,000
910-06	RDA			Owner Occupied Rehab Program		$400,000
910-07	Tenant Based Rental Assistance			Rental Payments for Self-Sufficiency Program		$240,000
910-08	Bucks County			Program Administration		$130,000
910-09	CHDO			Operations		$60,000
910-10	First-Time Homebuyer Assistance			Down payment/Closing Cost Assistance		$200,000
910-11	Counseling and Education			Homebuyer, Rental, Foreclosure, Fair Housing		$200,000
				Total Housing Program Funding:		$4,823,000

Additional Projects
The Housing Finance Board also received a Concept Application from Cornerstone requesting funding for the development of rental housing for two purposes: Supportive Housing for Reentry Program (24 units) and housing for disabled persons (12 units). The proposal requested $600,000 in assistance for both activities. The applicant was requested to submit a detailed application (Technical Submission) for consideration by the Board at its meeting of June 14, 2010.

PROGRAM AMENDMENTS

The CDBG Advisory Board also recommends amending the Bucks County Community Development Block Grant annual plan for preceding years to reflect the following program amendments:

1.   Redirection of funding from Project #04-02 ($68,032) & 05-03 ($100,000) to the                                             $168,032
General Services Division to conduct accessibility improvements at county facilities (#09-45).

2.     Redirection of funding returned from projects terminated without implementation and those completed under budget
to the following projects;

• Project #09-46 Indian Creek Foundation – Group Home Rehab                                                                     $46,325
• Project #09-47 Delta – Rehab of Two Group Homes (Davisville) and Andover)                                          $12,000
• Project #09-48 Network of Victims Assistance (NOVA) – Installation of Accessible Bathrooms              $22,500

                                                                                                               
                                                                                                Total Redirected to FY 2009 Projects:                $80,825

COMMENTS

Comments on CDBG program objectives, projected use of 2009 funding and proposed program amendments must be submitted to the Director, Department of Community and Business Development, Neshaminy Manor Center, 1260 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, PA  18901 by January 8, 2010.  All comments will be considered by the County Commissioners before submitting the proposed program to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Bucks County will act to affirmatively further fair housing in the administration of housing and community development in the public and private sectors.

Bucks County Commissioners
Charles H. Martin, Chairman
James F. Cawley, Esq., Vice Chairman
Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW

Published on December 4, 2009