SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve of the City of Clearwater’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). (APH)
Body
SUMMARY:
[The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is the principal administrative report documenting the City’s expenditures for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024, the City had $9,205,465 in CDBG and HOME program funding available to fund eligible housing and community development activities, economic development activities, and local agencies that provide services that assist extremely low to moderate-income residents. This was the expected amount available referenced in the FY 2023-2024 Action Plan. The actual funding amount included $913,337 in new CDBG entitlement funding and $532,649 in new HOME entitlement funding through the CDBG and HOME programs. The City had $1,138,092 in prior year resources and $1,274,537 in program income for CDBG. The City had $2,477,254 in prior year resources and $2,869,596 in program income for HOME. The City also has three revolving loan funds totaling $1,221,637.
Through the CDBG and HOME program activities, total expenditures were $3,999,603 in FY 2023-2024. Funds not expended from this year’s budget will be programmed in future years.
In addition to reporting activities carried out with federal money, a summary of activities conducted with the Florida State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program and Pinellas County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) Program is also included in the narrative section. For FY 2023-2024, SHIP fund expenditures totaled $3,383,561 and PCHTF fund expenditures totaled $175,481.
The report provides HUD with necessary information for the Department to meet its requirement to assess each grantee’s ability to carry out relevant Community Planning and Development programs in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations. It also provides information necessary for HUD’s Annual Report to Congress, and it provides grantees an opportunity to describe to citizens their successes in revitalizing deteriorated neighborhoods and in meeting objectives stipulated in their Consolidated Planning document.
The City of Clearwater’s FY 2023-2024 CAPER contains information on the City’s assessment of the following activities:
- Assessment of Five-Year Goals and Outcomes
- Resources and Investments
- Affordable Housing
- Homeless and Other Special Needs
- Public Housing
- Other Actions to Address Barriers to Affordable Housing
- Monitoring
- CDBG
- HOME
A list of notable accomplishments utilizing federal, state, and local funds for FY 2023-2024 include:
- Provided 18 down payment and closing cost assistance loans/grants totaling $447,850.
- Assisted 3,225 homeless persons with public facility or infrastructure activities, 124 homeless persons with public service activities, and 698 homeless persons with overnight shelter.
- The City assisted 6,265 special needs persons with public facility or infrastructure activities, and 114 special needs persons with public service activities.
- City provided $1,093,360 for six single-family home projects built by Habitat for Humanity and Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services: $826,416.80 in SHIP funds for homes at 1160 LaSalle Street, 1414 Monroe Avenue, 1420 Monroe Avenue, 1130 LaSalle Street, 1132 LaSalle Street, and 406 Vine Avenue. In addition, the City provided $505,964 in HOME and HOME CHDO funds for homes at 1537 Palmetto Street and 1541 Palmetto Street. General Funds in the amount of $889,953.95 were allocated for homes located at 1205 Roosevelt Avenue, 922 Eldridge Avenue and 1002 Jones Street.
- Provided $616,500 in SHIP funds to help 10 low-income families purchase homes in Clearwater and utilized $103,653.27 in SHIP funds to assist 3 low-income Clearwater homeowners with housing rehabilitation needs.
- Using General Funds, converted from American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allocated to affordable housing, the city rehabilitated 2 owner-occupied homes at a cost of $58,474.45 and rehabilitated a 179 rental unit project at a cost of $500,000 using ARPA and PCHTF; the city also provided funds for 7 downpayment loans totaling $315,000; and 1 grant for down payment assistance totaling $15,000.
- Expended special CDBG-CV funds in the amount of $1,199,784.70 out of an available $1,351,560. These funds were expended on CDBG-CV eligible activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Since the initial allocation, these funds have been expended on COVID-19 related homeless services, case management, emergency non-congregate shelter, legal services, housing navigation, and business assistance through various providers, including Directions for Living (COVID-19 case management for elderly, and emergency non-congregate shelter), Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation (COVID-19 mortgage/utility assistance), Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas, Inc. (COVID-19 housing navigation), Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. (COVID-19 housing legal services), St. Vincent de Paul CARES (COVID-19 emergency non-congregate shelter), R’Club Child Care, Inc. (COVID-19 air quality improvements), and St. Vincent de Paul UPC (COVID-19 emergency non-congregate shelter). These funds have also been used to create outdoor recreational opportunities. These efforts addressed the goals in the substantially amended FY 2019 Annual Action Plan that allocated the City's CDBG-CV funds for coronavirus response.
- Provided $161,800 for technical assistance services to Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida, Inc. dba Prospera and WeeCare, Inc. dba Upwards that assisted 42 entrepreneurs and businesses.
- Provided $26,875 to two organizations to deliver homeownership education and counseling to assist 152 Clearwater residents: Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services and Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation.
- While the City does not provide legal services, the City provided $22,833 in CDBG funds to Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. (GLS) to provide civil legal aid related to housing related matters to 12 residents.
On January 28, 2025, the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board recommended City Council approval of the CAPER as written. The CAPER is typically due to HUD by December 31 each year. However, due to the impact of Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene and to accommodate the City of Clearwater council meeting scheduled for February 6, 2025, HUD has granted an extension, moving the deadline to February 28, 2025
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
N/A
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
2.4 Support equitable housing programs that promote household stability and reduce the incidence of homelessness within Clearwater.
