The City will be holding a series of public planning meetings and a community survey for the Consolidated Plan.

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1 January 12, 2015 Dear Community Leader, Thank you for your dedicated service to the City of Elkhart and its residents. You or a representative from your organization has shown an interest in City of Elkhart planning or in the City s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This program takes Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development funds and puts them to work in our community. Your assistance is needed to determine how that will be done. This year the City will engage in a planning process to write the 5-year Consolidated Plan. The resulting Consolidated Plan will be effective from July 1, 2015, until June 30, The plan will outline goals and objectives determined through public meetings, dialogue with interested stakeholder, and the results of the attached survey. The City will be holding a series of public planning meetings and a community survey for the Consolidated Plan. There will be a mandatory potential sub-recipient meeting on Friday, January 30 th at 2:00 PM for not-for-profit agencies wishing to apply for CDBG funds. Participation in this meeting is absolutely mandatory for an agency to apply for funds. The application will be distributed during this meeting, and questions about the application process will be answered. Please be aware that resources are limited and not all applications will be funded. Two public meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 3 rd at 2 PM and Thursday, February 5 th at 10 AM. Background information about the CDBG program and what types of activities the City is eligible to undertake through the program will be presented. Interested participants will have this opportunity to guide community development planning by letting City staff know what types of programs are important to them. The City s regularly scheduled Congress of Neighborhoods meeting will be held on Saturday, March 14 th at 9 AM. This agenda will include the CDBG planning process and public input on community priorities. A community needs survey is available via Survey Monkey at the link below or from the City s website on the Community and Redevelopment page. (Spanish Version) A paper copy of the survey is included and additional copies are available upon request. The survey results will be incorporated into the plan document and will help provide specific information regarding community needs and priorities. Please complete the survey by February 23 rd. Whether you are able to attend these events or not, please take the opportunity to complete the attached survey or go to the link to complete the online version. Please share the survey with others to ensure an accurate reporting of community s preferences. All meetings will be held in the Common Council Chamber of the Municipal Building at 229 S. 2 nd Street, Elkhart. If you wish to participate but cannot attend these events please crystal.welsh@coei.org for more information or to make comment. Sincerely, Crystal Welsh, Community and Redevelopment

2 Proposed Community Development Block Grant Public Participation Schedule for Consolidated Plan and Program Year 2015 January 21, 2015 January 22, 2015 January 22, 2015 January 30, 2015 February 3, 2015 February 5, 2015 February 27, 2015 March 14, 2015 March 23, 2015 March 27, 2015 March 31, 2015 April 14, 2015 April 23, 2015 April 27, 2015 May 1, 2015 May 4, 2015 May 6, 2015 Send Notice of Planning Meetings to Elkhart Truth Mail and public planning meeting letters and survey, post on City website Public Notice of meetings to run in the legal section of the Elkhart Truth Annual Action Plan Subrecipient 2 p.m. Annual Action Plan Public Planning 2 p.m. Annual Action Plan Public Planning 10 a.m. Subrecipient Applications Due Congress of 9 a.m. Send Notice of Draft Plan Availability to Elkhart Truth Mail and notice of Draft Plan Availability and public comment meetings, post on City website Annual Action Plan Draft Notice to run in the legal section of the Elkhart Truth 30 Day Public Comment Period Begins Public Comment Meeting for Draft Plan 4 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers Public Comment Meeting for Draft Plan 10 a.m. in the Common Council Chambers Annual Action Plan Resolution to Common Council Secretary End of 30 day Public Comment Period Annual Action Plan Resolution to Common Council Meeting 7 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers Submit Annual Action Plan to US Department of Housing and Urban Development Please note dates are subject to change please check the City of Elkhart s website for information at under the Community and Redevelopment page.

3 Public Comment Meetings for the 2015 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan Update to the Consolidated Plan Tuesday, February 3 rd at 2 PM and Thursday, February 5 th at 10 AM. City of Elkhart Common Council Chambers Community Development Block Grant Information AGENDA CDBG What is it and how can the City of Elkhart use it. Consolidated Planning Process Subrecipients of CDBG funds who is eligible and how are they selected Comments Subrecipient Meeting for the 2015 Annual Action Plan Update to the Consolidated Plan Friday, January 30 th at 2:00 PM City of Elkhart Common Council Chambers AGENDA Introductions Community Development Block Grant Information CDBG What is it and how can the City of Elkhart use it. Consolidated Planning Process Community Input on activities and programs for Program Year 2013 Subrecipients of CDBG funds who is eligible and how are they selected Application Process how do I get an application and when is it due? Human Relations Department- Fair Housing

4 CDBG Public Needs Assessment Survey Where is your primary residence located? a. City of Elkhart b. City of Goshen c. Rural Elkhart County outside city limits d. Other incorporated town in Elkhart County (Name here: ) What is your current Zip-Code? In the following areas of funding, please rank from 1-5 which of these should receive the highest priority in local government planning. For the following, please rank from 1-5: 1= Highest priority/most needed to be addressed - 5= Lowest priority/least needed to be addressed 1. Housing: (Rank 1 to 5) Single-family homes Affordable housing complexes (For example: Subsidized housing for those with disabilities, those with fixed incomes, those suffering from chronic homelessness) Multiple family units (For example: Houses with several apartments, apartment complexes, duplexes) Transitional housing for those suffering from domestic abuse Other: 2. Facilities: (Rank 1 to 5) Parks and Recreation Free or subsidized health care clinics Public parking Preservation of commercial buildings Other: 3. Infrastructure: (Rank 1 to 5) Solid waste disposal Water/sewer/flood drain projects Street improvements (For example: Streetscapes, repaving, new traffic signals) Sidewalk construction or reconstruction Other: 4. Public Services: (Rank 1 to 5) Public transportation services Services that assist disabled or elderly citizens Substance abuse rehabilitation programs Veterans affairs Other: 5. Community Programs: (Rank 1 to 5) Neighborhood watch and other crime prevention programs Youth Centers/Adolescent development programs Child care facilities/before and after school programs for elementary aged children Senior Centers/Elderly living assistance programs Other:

5 For the following, please rank from 1-5: 1= Highest priority/most needed to be addressed - 5= Lowest priority/least needed to be addressed 1. In the area of Economic Development, which of these types of activities should receive top priority from the city? (Rank 1 to 5) Commercial infrastructure improvements (For example: more water and sewer lines and street improvements for industrial sites) Commercial/industrial rehab (For example: assistance for site improvements for currently operating businesses) Technological improvements (For example: faster and more available internet access) Brownfield redevelopment or other environmental impact improvements Other: 2. Of the agencies that serve those who experience the following special circumstances, which should receive the most support from local municipalities? (Rank 1 to 5) Mental illness Substance abuse HIV/AIDS Domestic violence Other: 3. Of the following segments of our local population, which should receive highest priority in funding programs that would benefit them? (Rank 1 to 5) Homeless Disabled Elderly (65 and over) Youth (18 and under) Other: For the following various areas of community programs, please rank from 1-5 the importance of funding by local government: 1 = Highest priority/most needed to be addressed - 5= Lowest priority/least needed to be addressed Area #1 (Rank 1 to 5) Alcohol/Drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation programs Counseling/Advocacy programs Law/code enforcement programs Legal aid/assistance programs Other: Area #2 (Rank 1 to 5) Life skills (For example: Budgeting, home maintenance, job training) Mobile healthcare clinics Mortgage/Rental assistance Street outreach/homeless assistance programs Other: Area #3 (Rank 1 to 5) Utility assistance Soup kitchen/food pantry programs Prescription assistance for Elderly on fixed incomes Child care or educational assistance programs Other:

6 For the following list of housing options available to our community, please indicate whether the city should place a High, Medium, or Low priority on the types of projects that benefit these populations or whether you believe there is no need to address the type listed: (Place an X in the space provided) Type of Household Household Income of $0 to $29,650 Household Income of $29,650 to $47, 450 Household Income of $47,450 or more Homeless Homeless Veterans Mentally Ill Developmentally Disabled Physically Disabled Persons with Addictions Persons with HIV/AIDS Individuals 1 Bedroom Units Small families 2 Bedroom Units Large families 3-4 Bedroom Units Very large families 5 or more Bedrooms Elderly High Priority Medium Priority Low Priority No Need to Address What do you believe is the greatest obstacle to affordable housing in Elkhart County? (choose one) a. Overall costs (For example: monthly payments/utilities/ongoing maintenance) b. Accessibility for marginalized populations (For example: those with disabilities, fixed incomes, homeless) c. Not enough housing stock available d. Distance issues (For example: not enough easily accessible public transportation, housing too far from jobs) e. Discrimination in the rental or sale of housing. f. Other: Have you experienced any of these situations in your neighborhood recently? (Circle all that apply.) a. Dissatisfaction with local services (For example: Trash pick-up, street maintenance, sidewalk repairs needed) b. Overcrowding c. Signs of abandonment or unkempt houses d. Vandalism e. Other: Please indicate below any community or housing needs that were not addressed in this survey that you believe should receive priority attention from your local municipality: