Why is Community Development diverting $10,000 (federal dollars) from the Single Family Housing Rehab Program to a non-profit?
As I understand it the VOA (Volunteers of America) are good at securing free government grant money. Why would the City agree to give them $10,000 (or is it $35,000–see below) especially since there is such a high demand for housing rehab dollars?
The following public notice is on the homepage of siouxfalls.org
Public Notice
This notice provides the public an opportunity to examine and comment on proposed Amendment #4 to the 2014 Action Plan for the City of Sioux Falls for a period of 30 days. Low- and moderate-income persons, racial and ethnic minorities, non-English speaking persons, and persons with disabilities are specifically encouraged to examine the proposed amendment. The Action Plan is part of the City’s Consolidated Plan. It identifies specific activities to be undertaken with the use of federal funding from both the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) program. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed amendment should do so in writing and send the same to Community Development, 235 West 10th Street, PO Box 7402, Sioux Falls, SD, 57117-7402. Written comments must include the name and address of the individual submitting the comment. The comment period ends at 5 p.m. on November 10, 2014.
Project 503-302. Additional CDBG funding of $10,000 will be provided Volunteers of America, Dakotas for Bowden Center Improvements for a revised allocation of $35,000. The center is located at 430 West 11th Street. Improvements will be made to the center’s outdoor recreation space. Bowden Youth Center offers education and creative opportunities in a safe, supportive environment as well as recreational activities. The funds will be provided as a no-interest deferred loan. Total estimated project cost is $62,200. The additional CDBG funding will be reallocated from the Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation program.
I am all for the city gifting money from the CIP to help with this project but instead we are diverting Federal money set aside for housing rehabilitation. That is what the Federal money gives it to us for, not playgrounds.
Something smells fishy here.
The only surprise from this administration is there’s not more zeros after 10,000 and it’s not a separate indoor tennis court for Huether’s mistress.
This is a perfectly acceptable use of CDBG funds. The “CD” in CDBG means just that – Community Development. That’s a broad, broad array of activities. For you to suggest that CDBG funds are “set aside” by the federal government specifically for housing rehabilitation is false. So is your assertion about why the federal government provides funds through CDBG.
You’re free to be critical of the spending priority, but you don’t get to misrepresent the nature of the program to provide support to your position.
Sometimes the ends justify the means, but this does not seem like such a situation. The Bowden Center is a good place, but affordable housing seems to be a more pressing need.
Horndog, thanks for the followup. I have done a little research since I have posted (as I have told peeps several times, like to put it out there first for discussion). You are right, the monies CAN be used for this, and it is an OK use of the money. I also found out it is a LOAN to VOA, which is great. Still think it could have been easier to just give them $10K out of the CIP and got it over with.
Why is the City required to solicit public comment?
Low- and moderate-income persons, racial and ethnic minorities, non-English speaking persons, and persons with disabilities are specifically encouraged to examine the proposed amendment. The Action Plan is part of the City’s Consolidated Plan.
What is the City’s Consolidated Plan?