2022 Consolidated Annual Perfprmance and Evaluation Report

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Program year 2022 allocations aligned with the High Priorities listed in the 2020-2024 HCD Plan and emphasized rental housing development, homeownership and owner occupied repair, public services, and public facility improvements. These remained the broader community priorities in 2022 based upon a number of issues: • Community need exceeded available resources, particularly affordable rental housing options • High rate of underemployment meant homeowners lacked income to maintain housing • High foreclosure rate was still a relevant issue • Large elderly population living in homes they could not maintain • Many issues including unemployment, under employment, and foreclosures can take a toll on a person's emotional and mental health. Such issues could be a contributing factor to abuse, addiction,and homelessness. South Bend's neighborhood revitalization focus became more urgent in recent years with the onset of the national housing crisis and the resulting number of vacant and abandoned homes. That situation, coupled with an aging housing stock, created a challenging environment for neighborhoods and the community. Complementary responses including acquisition/rehabilitation, owner-occupied rehab, homebuyer assistance, and rental housing options were seen as necessary and critical to achieving revitalization and assuring other investment.Therefore, resources were directed toward programs that addressed those activities. Actions taken to reduce lead-based paint hazards. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) The City continues to work with numerous community partners through the Lead Affinity Group. Coordination with St.Joseph County Health Department, University of Notre Dame Lead Innovation Team (NDLIT) and the Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc.,as well as other local partners resulted in new and increased avenues for education, marketing, and testing for elevated blood levels in children,and increased awareness about available resources such as the ND LIT lead screening kit, City of South Bend lead remediation grant,and Department of Health resources. Over the past 5 years,the City has been the recipient of grant funds to address lead based paint hazards through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.The City currently has available approximately$3.3 million in funding through a FY21 HUD Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant for lead based paint mitigation work and healthy homes funding.The grant can assist owner-occupied and rental units with income qualifying occupants. It is anticipated that the funding will assist up to 120 housing units. The Housing Authority of South Bend maintained a Section 8 Landlord Assistance Program in which any resident living in a Section 8 unit identified as lead-contaminated, and where the owner refuses to bring the home into a lead safe status, has an absolute preference on the Public Housing waiting list for the first available unit. Additionally, any pre-1978 Section 8 home that was identified during the Housing Authority's Annual Housing Quality Standards Inspection as having chipped, peeling, or cracked paint CAPER 32 OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.09/30/2021)