9978-09 Appropriating $2,463,435 from Community Development (Fund 212), defraying expenses of CED

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St. Joseph County Housing Consortium recommendations to the Mayor and the Redevelopment Commission. Recommendations regarding HOME funds are made to the Consortium Board. Community Development Block Grant -City of South Bend For the CDBG Program, the City of South Bend carries out its projects by contracting with two types of entities: City Departments and nonprofit organizations, some of which are community development corporations, or CDC's. The Recovery Act CDBG-R and NSP funds allocated to the City of South Bend also include partnerships with City departments. City Departments The City of South Bend will establish contracts for delivery of specific services with the appropriate City departments. These departments may include the following: Department of Community & Economic Development: The Department directly, or acting as staff for area nonprofits, uses CDBG funding for a wide variety of housing programs for the South Bend community, including rehabilitating owner-occupied homes, providing mortgage subsidies for new home-buyers, and offering home- buyer education classes with a financial incentive for those who complete the course and buy a home in South Bend. The Department also undertakes infrastructure improvements and other slum/blight projects. ' . Police Department /Crime Prevention: To strengthen South Bend's Neighborhood Watch Program and pay for overtime for police to patrol crime challenged areas on foot and bike during the warmer months. • Department of Code Enforcement: To complete demolition activities that complement housing activities. • Human Rights Commission: To further fair housing in South Bend and investigate claims of discrimination. Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofit organizations usually address two basic purposes: providing a particular kind of service (such as day care, home rehabilitation, aid to the elderly, etc.) to any client who meets the eligibility requirements and lives in the jurisdiction; or concentrating on neighborhood revitalization, where the "client" is, in a very real sense, the neighborhood itself. The first purpose is fairly straightforward and needs I'sttle explanation. The second purpose involves bidding and contracting with private companies to carry out the activities. The primary activity of affordable housing construction is done by community development corporations (CDC's). CDC's work with, but distinctly apart from, local government agencies and departments to obtain improvements in services and to effect change in policy and legislation on housing and public work issues. Locally, CDC's have rehabilitated owner occupied homes; acquired and rehabilitated. vacant houses for resale; rehabilitated rental units; constructed new single-family units as well as apartment complexes. In addition, they have been equally active on commercial structures, as needed to assist the neighborhood. The primary areas in South Bend where CDC's operate are described below. • Near Westside: The South Bend Heritage Foundation (SBHF) has been working in the Near Westside neighborhood for more than 35 years. They have been instrumental in making significant changes in this neighborhood. • Near Northwest Neighborhood: The Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc (NNN), founded in 1974, supports the revitalization and preservation of the neighborhood through the improvement of housing, organizing and empowerment of neighbors, and promotion of the neighborhood's interests. . Northeast Neighborhood: The Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization (NNRO), staffed by South Bend Heritage Foundation, uses CDBG and HOME funds for rehabilitating older homes and constructing new ones for sale to new homebuyers in the redevelopment area. NNRO is dedicated to increasing homeownership in this 2010-2014 Housing and Community Development Plan 19