HOME-ARP 

City of New Bedford  |  Office of Housing & Community Development

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”) appropriated $5 billion to communities across the United States in order to provide housing, services, and shelter to individuals and families experiencing homelessness as well as other vulnerable populations. These funds were allocated by formula to jurisdictions that qualified for funding through the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME Program) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD Notice CPD-21-10 available here issued September 13, 2021 set forth the requirements for the use of funds in this program.  This special round of funding is called the “HOME-ARP” program.  A summary is available here: HOME-ARP Summary

In September 2021, HUD awarded the City of New Bedford $3,175,399 in HOME ARP funding.  To access that funding the City was required to develop a HOME-ARP Allocation Plan as a “Substantial Amendment” to the City’s FY21 Annual Action Plan.  The process during which this HOME-ARP Allocation Plan is developed included multiple public meetings and outreach.  An overview of these efforts is highlighted in the City’s HOME-ARP Community Engagement Plan available here:

HOME-ARP Community Engagement Plan 

The City Council voted to adopt the final HOME-ARP Allocation Plan at its March 9, 2023 meeting.

Final HOME-ARP Allocation Plan

As part of the public outreach process, the City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) hosted two (2) identical public meetings in January to discuss its HOME-ARP Allocation Plan, one of which was held in person and the second of which was held virtually via Zoom. A Press Release was issued on January 3, 2023 and copies of the flyers advertising the two meetings (which were held the same night as the City’s Annual Action Plan meetings) were posted on the city website and distributed via email throughout the community in addition to being posted at City Hall, the New Bedford Housing Authority, the Main Library and on Facebook. Cable television also ran advertising of the public forums in three languages in addition to filming and presenting the initial public forum on government cable tv. Copies of the press release and flyers are available here:

Press Release HOME ARP Meeting
Public Forum Flyer. English
Public Forum Flyer. Portuguese
Public Forum Flyer. Spanish

A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation used during the public forums is available for review here as is a copy of the zoom recording from the January 11, 2023, public meeting:

FY23 Community Forums January PowerPoint Presentation
FY23 Community Forums January Zoom Recording

Watch this space for information on future opportunities
to apply for funding through HOME-ARP.

Please contact Jennifer.Clarke@newbedford-ma.gov  with any questions or comments relative to the HOME-ARP Plan.