Politics & Government

Council Considers Continuation of Senior Housing Rehab Program

The council is set to vote on the recommended action plan for the city's Fiscal Year 2014-2018 Community Development Block Grant.

More senior housing rehabilitation is on the table at Monday’s council meeting, when city staff will present their action plan recommendations for the next five years of Bowie’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

The city of Bowie meets federal funding requirements for the CDBG program, meaning it is eligible for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds for projects that benefit low to moderate income residents, fulfill an urgent need or eliminate urban blight and slums. Every five years, the city is required to submit and action plan prior to receiving funds.

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This year marks the third time the city has utilized the CDBG program. For the first five years of grant, Fiscal Years 2004-2008, the city used all the funds to rehab Old Town Bowie.

The Fiscal Year 2009-2013 grant was used for the Senior Citizens “Green” Housing Rehab Program, which gave approximately 120 seniors living in single-family, owner occupied homes Bowie $10,000 for energy efficient improvements.

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According to the staff report, program participants received “energy audits, new roofs, windows, HVAC systems, stair lifts, ceiling insulation and other improvements.”

This year, staff recommends that the city continue the senior rehab program for the first two years of the Fiscal Year 2014-2018 grant, and then reevaluate city needs before designating funds for the third through fifth years of the grant.

Staff came to the decision about recommending the extension of the senior rehab program after holding several community input meetings over the past three months. A final community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 11 at the Cornerstone Assembly of God Church. All residents are welcome.

For the past two grant cycles, HUD has given the city $165,000 per year in CDBG funds based on Bowie’s demographics, size and revenue. City Manger David Deutsch said in a report that HUD has advised that there will be a 5 percent decrease in funding due to the sequestration.

The Bowie City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed CDBG action plan following a public hearing at Monday's 8 p.m. council meeting in city hall. 


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