The 2019 to 2023 Consolidated Plan is a five year planning document that addresses housing and community development needs of Reading. This summary is designed to give citizens, local governments, and interested organizations of the City an opportunity to comment on the City’s Action Plan for Federal Fiscal Year 2021.
THE 2021 ACTION PLAN: The City proposes to adopt its Action Plan for Federal Fiscal Year 2021. The City anticipates receiving approximately $2,560,000 from the CDBG Program, $82,000 in CDBG program income, $981,000 from the HOME Program, $77,000 in HOME program income, and $224,371 from the ESG Program.
Projects proposed for funding include:
- CHDO Set-Aside – $150,000
- CHDO Operation – $30,000
- Code Enforcement – $325,000
- Demolition – $450,000
- Facade Improvements – $70,000
- Homeless Prevention – $35,500
- Homeless Essential Services – $23,310
- Homeless Rapid Rehousing – $35,500
- Homeless Shelter Operations and Maintenance – $108,241
- Homeless Street Outreach – $5,000
- Homeownership Assistance – $200,000
- Housing Acquisition, Rehab, Resale – $579,900
- Public Facilities and Improvements – $790,830
- Planning and Administration – $626,920
- Public Services – $384,000
- Section 108 Loan Payment – $110,170
The estimated amount to benefit low and moderate income persons for the CDBG Program is 74%.
The City expects no displacement of families, individuals, or businesses to occur as a result of the activities. Should displacement occur as a result of any project or activity, the City will follow the regulations of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended.
The Action Plan has been developed using an estimate of the amount of 2021 CDBG, ESG, and HOME entitlement funding that the City anticipates receiving from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Funding amount revisions will be made to projects in the Action Plan should the exact amount of funding awarded by the HUD differ from this estimate. The projects with the highest funding amounts are high priority. Those priorities will remain the same regardless of the amount of funding received from the HUD. Project funding amount revisions will be based on the priorities and each entitlement program’s funding caps. The City will adhere to the Citizen Participation Plan amendment requirements if a project will be added to or cancelled from the Action Plan. The City may also use unprogrammed CDBG and HOME monies to fund 2021 CDBG and HOME projects as needed or/or until the 2021 funds are made available from HUD.
PUBLIC REVIEW: This summary is designed to give citizens, local government officials, and interested parties of the City an opportunity to comment on the Plans. Please submit written comments to the Community Development Department Director, City Hall – 3rd Floor, 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601 by November 8, 2020. The Summary is also available on the City’s website www.readingpa.gov
PUBLIC HEARING: A public hearing will be held on October 8, 2020 at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 815 Washington Street, Reading PA 19601. Due to the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, members of the public are prohibited from attending the meetings in person. However, the meetings will be live-streamed and recorded, and can be viewed from the City’s website at https://www.readingpa.gov/content/city-council-video. Public comment can be offered during the meeting via telephone or video conference. Those who wish to participate must submit a request to the Community Development Office by 4 p.m. on October 7, 2020 via email to [email protected] or via phone to (610) 655-6211. Requests must include the participant’s name, address, phone number (if participating by phone), and email address (if participating by video). Persons requiring assistance due to hearing, speech, or vision impairments should notify the Community Development Office at 610-655-6211 or (610) 655-6442 (TDD).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The City will be undertaking an evaluation of the activities to be funded in an effort to identify historic and archeological resources that may be affect by the activities. By this Notice, the City invites interested parties who may have an interest in activities which may impact historical and archeological resources to make themselves known. Parties should contact the Community Development Office, 815 Washington Street, Reading PA 19601 Phone 610-655-6211 or (610) 655-6442 (TDD). The City will involve such parties in the notification and review process of the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as set forth in 36 CFR Part 800.
