The City of Kalamazoo has updated its Consolidated Plan for 2010-2014. The Community Planning and Development Department presented this update to the City Commission on March 15, 2010, which they adopted.
Click here to view the Consolidated Plan for 2010-2014.
SUMMARY
The Consolidated Plan is a five-year plan that provides a basis and strategy for the use of the City’s Federal entitlement funds, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME). Decisions on how these critical funds are allocated and prioritized will be based on this Plan.
Please note that this planning effort is separate from the Plan Kalamazoo update to the City’s Master Plan.
PURPOSE
In the Consolidated Plan, the City of Kalamazoo has estimated the housing needs of its extremely low, low, and moderate income families. The estimate includes the needs of homeless individuals and families, the housing and service needs of special needs populations, the availability of unassisted housing, and the availability of assisted housing. It also provides an estimate of the resources expected to be available to meet the needs.
On the basis of this information, the City of Kalamazoo has developed a strategy for meeting housing needs over the next five years. For the City of Kalamazoo to continue to be eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds, and Emergency Shelter Grand (ESG) funds, the Act requires that the Plan be approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
(Click here to view the 2004-2009 Consolidated Plan.)
PRIORITIES FOR ASSISTANCE
Based on an analysis of housing and community development needs within the City of Kalamazoo, public input sessions, and public hearings, the following priorities for assistance have been developed for use in the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan:
• Rehabilitation and maintenance of existing housing stock
• Continued commitment to affordable housing
• Neighborhood based economic development, recruitment, and employment opportunities and training
• Provide opportunities for youth engagement and establish programming to reduce crime
• Infrastructure rehabilitation to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods and better accommodate special needs populations
YOUR INPUT
In order to understand the priorities of the community, a series of neighborhood input sessions was hosted throughout the City at various dates and times to give community members plenty of opportunities to attend.
In addition to the public meetings, the City also solicited information from residents online. Additionally, a 30-day public review period was held November 20 to December 20th, followed by a Public Hearing to review those comments and other changes to the draft on January 14th.
For questions, please contact McKenna Associates, Inc. (382-4443) or the City of Kalamazoo Community Planning and Development Department (337-8044).
