ITEM TITLE:
#24-31 - Authorizing the Submission of a 2024 US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Program Grant Application for the Valdez Mobile Home Replacement Program
SUBMITTED BY: Kate Huber, Community Development Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: Not to exceed $1,900,000
Unencumbered Balance: $1,900,000
Funding Source: 350-8000-55000.585
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution #24-31 Authorizing the Submission of a 2024 US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Program Grant Application for the Valdez Mobile Home Replacement Program.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Community Development Department staff is prepared to submit a grant application for the HUD Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) program in advance of the deadline on July 10, 2024.
The PRICE program will provide $235 million in funding for communities across the country to preserve and revitalize manufactured housing units and support accessibility modifications, repairs, and replacement of deteriorating manufactured housing units - especially to increase accessibility and access for persons with disabilities, facilitate aging in place for older adults and increase access to affordable housing for low-income households.
Another important focus of the program that is relevant to Valdez is to increase resilience to extreme weather, natural hazards, and disaster events, support energy efficiency, and protect the health and safety of manufactured housing residents.
Due to the age of most mobile/manufactured housing units in Valdez, and the HUD eligibility requirements, the city’s application will focus on replacement of local units. If funded, the first part of the program will allow no interest loans to qualifying applicants to purchase manufactured homes that will be shipped in by the city. The manufactured homes will be more suitable for local conditions and hazards including snow, wind and seismic events. Preference will be given to low-income applicants and will consider the condition of the mobile home being replaced.
A second part of the program will make manufactured homes available to low-income applicants seeking housing. This element is being designed with the intention of filling vacant spaces in existing manufactured home parks within Valdez.
The draft application was posted for a public comment period from May 17, 2024 and comments were received through June 7, 2024. Additionally, Community Development staff hosted 3 public open houses to provide information on the draft application and receive questions and comments in person on May 22 and 23, 2024 in City Council Chambers and on May 24, 2024 at the Valdez Airport Pioneer Field.
Additionally, the city council held a work session on May 28, 2024 to discuss the application and provide feedback to staff.
Attached is a record of the public comments received with responses from city staff. Also included is a summary of changes made to the application in response to feedback received from the public and at the City Council work session.