KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The City of Kalamazoo is asking for public commentary on a draft of the proposed 2020 action plan, which is meant to address housing needs.
The action plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development once it has been finalized.
“Each year the City of Kalamazoo is required to submit an Action Plan to HUD,” officials stated in the draft. “The intent of the plan is to identify how federal grant funds received by the City will be utilized during that program year to address the priority needs acknowledged in the City’s Consolidated Plan.”
The City is applying to the HUD for use of its its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding allocations, “which are the primary resources for addressing Kalamazoo’s housing and community development needs.
According to the draft, the complete available budget includes unallocated funds for PY2020 totaling out at $2,489,683.
The full Action Draft plan can be viewed online at this link.
Additionally, the Consolidated Plan is also available to view, as the City must submit both forms in order to qualify. This plan outlines what areas the city will focus on over a five-year plan.
According to the document, focus will be placed on addressing homeless needs in the area. Organizations such as Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, Kalamazoo Gospel Mission and Ministry With Communities are all listed for various housing needs.
The goals of the city to address such needs are listed below:
- Increasing housing stability/sustainability as measured through an increase in income.
- Increasing the percentage of homeless persons staying in permanent housing over six months to at least 77 percent.
- Increasing the percentage of homeless persons moving from transitional housing to permanent housing to at least 65 percent.
- Increasing the percentage of persons employed at exit to at least 20 percent.
- Reducing the average Length of Stay in shelters to less than 30 days.
The consolidated plan is available to view online at this link.
City officials say that all feedback on the Action Plan can be submitted via email to Venessa Collins-Smith, Community Investment Compliance Specialist at collins-smithv@kalamazoocity.org.
Feedback can also be submitted by mail to this address:
“City of Kalamazoo Community Investment
415 Stockbridge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI
49001
Attn: Community Development Coordinator.”
Feedback will be accepted until April 2.
