2020-2025 Consolidated Plan Priorities: The Contra Costa County Consortium, a partnership of four cities (Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek) and Contra Costa County, receives funds each year from the federal government for housing and community development activities . To receive federal funds, the Consortium must submit a strategic plan – the Consolidated Plan – every five years to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that identifies local needs and how these needs will be addressed. The Consolidated Plan must also demonstrate how the Consortium will meet national goals set by the U.S. Congress to develop viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities, principally for persons of extremely-low, very-low, and low income.
The preparation of the FY 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan began with holding three public community meetings and two service provider (housing and non-housing) group meetings during the months of March through June 2019. Individuals and representatives of various public agencies, community organizations, and service providers throughout the County were invited to attend these meetings. These meetings covered various topics, including but not limited to:
- Affordable housing;
- Persons with disabilities;
- Single parents/female-headed households;
- Homelessness;
- Economic Development (business assistance and job creation/retention);
- Seniors; and
- Youth and Families
The Consortium also solicited input from community organizations, public agencies, and the general public through an on-line survey that was accessible beginning in the month of March through the end of July 2019. A hard copy of the survey is attached (Attachment A). Consortium staff and a housing data consultant compiled and analyzed the survey data to come to the following observations:
- Services to homeless populations or to those at imminent risk of homelessness ranked high as a priority for continued CDBG support.
- Affordable Housing activities are also a high priority. Of the eligible activities for affordable housing, the following were the highest ranking; 1) housing for “Special Needs Populations” (especially seniors/elderly), 2) preservation of existing affordable housing, 3) rehabilitation assistance to existing housing, and 4) emergency repairs for low-income homeowners.
- Job Development/Creation and Pollution/Property Cleanup ranked the highest of the Economic Development services.
- General Infrastructure and Public Facilities Improvements are also a priority with the following rankings; 1) improvements and/or construction of streets and sidewalks, 2) senior centers, 3) youth/neighborhood centers, 4) park and recreational centers, and 5) childcare centers ranking the highest.
Although the Consolidated Plan is still underway, County CDBG staff substantially completed the Needs Assessment section. Taking in to consideration the information collected from individual consultations, community meetings, focus group meetings and the survey information, County CDBG staff proposes to continue the four main priorities for the next five-year period (2020-2025), as follows:
- Affordable Housing (New unit Development and Rehabilitation of existing units);
- Homelessness (Providing or Improving Emergency Shelter and Provision of Services);
- Non-Housing Community Development (Public Services, Infrastructure/Public Facilities, Economic Development); and
- Administration (Administration of the various Federal Programs).
Not approving the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan priorities would delay the Consolidated Plan process and the CDBG/HOME/ESG/HOPWA application process, which could jeopardize the County's allocations from HUD of the various federal programs.