Sound off on federal housing programs

A public comment period is now open for the approximately $14 million in federal grant-funded housing programs at the city of Austin. Each year, the city receives money through four grants administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and, each year, the city creates a performance and evaluation report assessing the effectiveness of those programs. That report is now available for review by the public. The four programs this year, according to a news release from the city, are:

• $7,362,354 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), administered by the Department of Housing, Austin Public Health and the Department of Economic Development, funded child care services, senior services, mental health services, child development assistance, affordable housing, home repairs and tenant rights assistance.
• $3,601,868 in the Housing Investment Partnership HOME Program, administered by the Department of Housing, funded rental assistance for tenants, down payment assistance and financing for Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs).
• $658,196 in the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), administered by Austin Public Health, funded rapid rehousing programs for homeless people, as well as the operation and maintenance of shelters.
• $2,670,278 in Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA), administered by Austin Public Health, funded housing and supportive services for low- and moderate-income people living with HIV/AIDS.

The public comment period will remain open through Dec. 5. The consolidated plan for this year is available for online review and comment at www.SpeakUpAustin.org/CAPER or in print at: Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St. (Central); Austin Central Public Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St. (Central); Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, 500 E. Seventh St. (Central); St. John’s Library Branch, 7500 Blessing Ave. (Northeast); and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, 1124 S. I-35 (South). In addition to SpeakUp Austin, comments can be submitted via mail (Housing Department Attn: FY 2021-22 CAPER P.O. Box 1088 Austin, Texas 78767), email (Housing@austintexas.gov) or phone (512-974-3100) by Dec. 5.