HomeMy WebLinkAboutROBIN WILLIAMS, VETERANS LEGAL INSTITUTE (ITEM 7) From: noreolvCabaran icusideas.corn
To: City Clerk;Yasuda.Erica;Woodward.Carrie; E-Comments
Subject: New eComment for Regular Meeting of the City Council/Closed Session at 5:30 pm/Regular Meeting at 7:00 pm
Date: Monday,April 18,2022 12:20:23 PM
SpeakUp
New eComment for Regular Meeting of the City
Council/ Closed Session at 5:30 pm/Regular
Meeting at 7:00 pm
Robin Williams submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: Regular Meeting of the City Council/Closed Session at 5:30 pm/Regular Meeting at
7:00 pm
Item: 7. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN
FOR PROGRAM YEAR 2022-23 The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as
amended, established the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to return
federal funds to local communities for the purpose of developing viable urban communities by
providing decent housing, creating suitable living environments, and by expanding economic
opportunities, specifically for low and moderate-income persons. To participate in the CDBG
program, the City is required to prepare a Consolidated Plan that identifies needs for affordable
and supportive housing, community development, public services, and economic opportunities.
The Consolidated Plan is required every five years, and was most recently adopted by the City
Council on April 21, 2020. Annually, the City is also required to prepare a one-year Action Plan
that implements the goals and objectives contained in the Consolidated Plan. The proposed
2022-23 Action Plan set forth in Resolution No. 22-13 (Attachment A) fulfills this annual
requirement. On March 1, 2022, the Tustin City Council held a public hearing for the 2022-23
Action Plan preparation process. The purpose of the hearing was to inform interested citizens
about the CDBG program, obtain citizens' views on CDBG priorities, and receive a report on the
performance of the current public service CDBG fund recipients (also known as non-profit
subrecipients). During this meeting, the City Council recommended continued funding to all
existing non-profit subrecipients.
eComment: I serve as the Grants Manager for Veterans Legal Institute (VLI), which is a nonprofit
legal aid based in Tustin providing free legal services to low income and/or homeless veterans of
the US Military. VLI is a sub-recipient of Tustin's CDBG program receiving funding for fiscal
years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23. This three-year funding contract has improved VLI's
ability to plan long-term programs serving Tustin residents through the CDBG grant. Planning for
long-term programs is most preferred for VLI as it improves resource utilization and strengthens
ties with our partner organizations. If CDBG funding commitments are moved from a three-year
plan to an annual basis, it will disadvantage VLI's ability to plan accordingly, leading to
decreases in effectiveness. Therefore, it is my recommendation that Tustin continues funding
CDBG programs on a three-year basis opposed to an annual one. Thank you.
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