Community Development - Maricopa County

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 appropriated Community Development Block Grant funds for emergency assistance for redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes and residential properties under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).

Maricopa County has been identified as a possible recipient of up to $9,974,267 in this program. The Department of Housing and Urban Development published details, rules and requirements for the NSP in the Federal Register on Monday, October 6. Information on the NSP program regulations, funding allocations and other information can be found on HUD's website at www.hud.gov/nsp.

Maricopa County Community Development has completed an assessment of the areas of greatest need based on HUD's analysis of data from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, the Federal Reserve Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, U.S. Department of Labor Unemployment Rate, and the U.S. Postal Service 90 Day Vacancy Rates.

A Substantial Amendment to the FY2008 Annual Action Plan is currently under development and will be made available for public comment from November 12, 2008 to November 28, 2008. Please click here to review Draft NSP documents.

A Public Hearing will be held by the Community Development Advisory Committee on November 12, 2008 to solicit public comments on the proposed Amendment to the Annual Action Plan. The Amendment to the Annual Action Plan will be submitted to HUD on or before December 1, 2008. Once the Amendment to the Annual Action Plan has been submitted to HUD, Maricopa County will begin soliciting partners to assist with the implementation of the NSP.

The following public meetings have been scheduled for items related to the NSP:

Community Development Advisory Committee
Security Building
234 N Central Avenue
3rd Floor Arizona Conference Room
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
6:30 PM
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
BOS Auditorium, Sullivan Room
205 W Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ 85003
10:00 AM
Monday, November 17, 2008

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
BOS Auditorium, Sullivan Room
205 W Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ 85003
10:00 AM
Monday, December 1, 2008

(Please note: Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday observance on Thursday, November 27, 2008, public comments on the Substantial Amendment to the FY2008 Maricopa County Annual Action Plan for Neighborhood Stabilization Program will be received through 5:00 PM on Friday, November 28, 2008.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

AND SOLICITATION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS ON

THE MARICOPA COUNTY AMENDMENTS

TO THE FY 2008 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM

The Maricopa County Community Development Department will hold a public hearing on November 12, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the third floor conference room of the SecurityBuilding at 234 N. Central, 3^rd Floor Conference Room, Phoenix, AZ 85004. The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain citizen input and comment on the draft amendments to the Maricopa County FY 2008 Annual Action Plan (AAP) and FY 2005-2009 Five-Year Consolidated Plan (CP), (if any). The amendments will incorporate goals and proposed activities for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). The FY 2008 AAP amendment details proposed activities that will be implemented to meet the NSP Program Guidelines.

The Maricopa Urban County AAP refers primarily to the housing and community development needs, and intended uses of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI), and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) resources of the UrbanCounty for FY 2008. The UrbanCounty consists of approximately 11 incorporated cities and towns, 15 unincorporated communities, and the balance of unincorporated MaricopaCounty.

ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AMENDMENTS (FY 2008)

PROPOSED USE OF NSP FUNDS

Maricopa County anticipates receiving $9,974,267 in NSP funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The following objectives are emphasized for project selection in order to meet the goals of the NSP program.

·         Redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed houses and residential property to benefit low, moderate and middle-income persons

·         Priority consideration for areas of greatest need

·         Continued affordability

Proposed NSP-funded projects may include:

·         Acquisition/rehabilitation/new construction program for homeownership

·         Acquisition/rehabilitation/new construction for rental housing

·         Homebuyer counseling and downpayment assistance

Completion of all projects is subject to the availability of funds. It is anticipated that no displacement of persons will occur as a result of the FY 2008 NSP-assisted activities. Should displacement occur, Maricopa County shall implement the proposed activities in accordance with 24 CFR 570.606 and its Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan. Maricopa County Community Development intends to submit the FY 2008 AAP amendments for approval to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by December 1, 2008.

AMENDMENTS TO FY 2005-2009 FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN (if any)

·         Amendments, if any, as may be highlighted in the draft FY 2008 AAP

CONTENT OF PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD

The agenda for the public hearing to be held on November 12, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. will include, but not be limited to, the following items.

Anticipated uses of NSP resources of approximately $9,974,267.

Identification of proposed areas of greatest need to which NSP funds will be targeted.

A review of the contents of the draft FY 2008 Maricopa Urban County AAP amendments and solicitation of written or verbal public comments on the draft.

Amendments to the MaricopaCountyFY 2005-2009 CP (if any).

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED AND PLACES TO SECURE COPIES OR REVIEW THE PLAN

Copies of the Maricopa County draft FY 2008 AAP amendments and amendments (if any) to the FY 2005-2009 CP, will be available for formal review and comment from November 12, 2008 to November 27, 2008 at the following locations: (Maricopa County office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.)

Ø      Maricopa County Community Development, 222 North Central, Suite 5200, Phoenix, AZ

Ø      Maricopa County Public Housing Authority, 2024 N. 7^th Street, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ

Ø      Maricopa County website at www.maricopa.gov/comm_dev .

Comments on the draft document(s) should be directed to Renee Ayres-Benavidez, Director, Maricopa County Community Development, 222 North Central, Suite 5200, Phoenix, AZ85004, phone number (602) 372-1535, fax (602) 372-2292, email ayresr@mccd.maricopa.gov. Hearing impaired persons please use the Arizona Relay Service number 711, or TDD/TTY (602) 372-2291.

Maricopa County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, familial circumstance, sex, handicap or age in any of its policies, procedures or practices. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission and access to or treatment or employment in Maricopa County Community Development’s programs and activities.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities or for persons needing assistance with English translation: For assistance, call Maricopa County Community Development, 222 North Central, Suite 5200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, (602) 372-1535, or TDD/TTY (602) 372-2291. To the extent possible, additional reasonable accommodations will be made available within time constraints of the request.

Para información en español, favor de comunicarse a las oficinas de Maricopa CountyCommunity Development a 602-372-1535.