New Bedford Residents Invited to Attend Public Meetings on U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Federal Funding

New Bedford, Massachusetts– The City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing & Community Development will hold two identical public meetings to discuss the best use of federal funding to improve the quality of life for New Bedford residents.

The public meetings will be held:

January 10th.2023      Tuesday at 6.00pm In Person

Carney Academy, 247 Elm Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 

January 11th.2023     Wednesday at 6.00pm via ZOOM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83041179361?pwd=NUsxQ2tSYTlGSUdzTXBQa1BwNUwyUT09
Meeting ID:  830 4117 9361   Passcode: 463504

These public meetings are hosted by the City and designed to gather critical input from New Bedford residents both with respect to the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding in Fiscal Year 2023 and relative to the development of the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) Allocation Plan.

CDBG/HOME/ESG Funding. The public’s input will assist the City in formulating a strategic plan for the utilization of federal funding to address needs and priorities in the areas of housing, public facilities, public infrastructure, parks and playgrounds, community services, homelessness resources, and economic development. Input from the community is integral in shaping the priorities of these federal programs.

The City of New Bedford anticipates receiving approximately $2.7 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), $975 thousand in HOME Investment Partnership Program, and $230 thousand in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding to serve low-and-moderate-income residents and neighborhoods in Fiscal Year 2023 which runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Anyone who intends on applying for funding is strongly encouraged to attend and participate in one of these two public forums.

HOME-ARP Funding.  In addition to discussion around CDBG, HOME and ESG funding, both public meetings will also feature information relative to HOME-ARP funding. The City of New Bedford was awarded $3.1 million in HOME-ARP funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to help individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. In keeping with HUD requirements, this funding will be presented as a “substantial amendment” to the City’s FY21 Annual Action Plan.

Discussion around HOME-ARP funding will be focused on soliciting resident and stakeholder input to help shape the program design in specific eligible areas:  Affordable Housing, Supportive Services, Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Homeless Prevention Services, Non-Congregate Shelter, and Housing Counseling. In light of this, public comment will be solicited during the meetings that will inform the city’s development of its HOME-ARP Allocation Plan.

The January 10th and 11th public meetings will include presentations by the City staff, an assessment of community needs and priorities, and a review the City’s recent Housing and Community Development accomplishments. Likewise, both meetings will overview HOME-ARP funding, qualified populations and potential eligible activities along with the anticipated timeframes for the different funding sources.

These meetings will be an excellent opportunity for citizens to voice their opinions about how the city can best use its federal money to improve the quality of life in New Bedford and to suggest specific additions or improvements to facilities and services in its neighborhoods.

The Office of Housing & Community Development will also conduct two virtually based RFP Workshops on Friday, January 13th at 9:00 a.m. (CDBG) and at 10:30 a.m. (ESG) to assist potential applicants with the CDBG and ESG Request for Proposal (RFP) process.  Those interested in attending one or both of these proposal-based workshops are asked to check out the OHCD website that provides the necessary ZOOM access information for these workshops at: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/housing-community-development/.

Questions regarding the public meetings or the Annual Action Plan process may be directed to Joshua Amaral, Director, or Jennifer Clarke, Deputy Director, Office of Community Development at (508) 979-1500 or by email at Joshua.Amaral@newbedford-ma.gov or jennifer.clarke@newbedford-ma.gov.