City plays waiting game on housing funds

GAINESVILLE - The City of Gainesville could be able to use more than $470,000 to upgrade its low-to-moderate housing needs by October.

Frances Williams of the city's Housing and Neighborhood Development department said right now they are in the public comment phase.

"The public can tell us what they like and give us feedback for the next 30 days beginning (Monday) and running through July 28th," Williams said. "After that, there's a 45-day review by HUD, and if they approve it, we can start drawing down the ($470,000). I figure that both of those processes should take to about October."

Williams said the program will go for housing rehabilitation and repair, handicapped accessibility modifications, and elderly housing.

The first public hearing on the application will be held Monday at 5:30 at the Carol Lunday Center on Prior Street.

Written public comments concerning the plan and proposed CDBG activities will be received from through July 28, and should be submitted to the office of Housing & Neighborhood Development, 430 Prior Street, SE, Suite 500, Gainesville, GA 30501.

Copies of the proposed Consolidated Plan and Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds will be available for public examination at the office of Housing & Neighborhood Development and the Main Branch of the Hall County Library during normal business hours. The Plan will be posted on the City of Gainesville website at www.gainesville.org. Comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected].

HUD has allocated $470,000 to the City through the Community Development Block Grant Entitlement program. A minimum of 70 percent of these funds must be used for activities that benefit low and moderate income persons. Each activity must meet one of three following National Objectives of the CDBG program: 1) Benefit to low and moderate income persons, 2) Elimination of slum and blight, and 3) Meeting a particular urgent need.

According to Gainesville Non-Profit Development Foundation Director Frances Williams, the programs and activities planned for FY2004 are as follows:

CLEARANCE AND DEMOLITION