HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 24-1809INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1809
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 5, 2024
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r YA 4 SUBJECT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT — DISASTER
RECOVERY ACTION PLAN
The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an update on the Community Development Block
Grant — Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, including the approved Action Plan, budget, and
impact on housing in Fort Worth.
The City of Fort Worth received CDBG-DR funds due to the impact of the 2021 winter storm, Uri. The
unprecedentedly low temperatures led to treacherous travel conditions and extensive electricity and
water outages statewide, significantly impacting residents, homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
Consequently, in response to this crisis, President Biden declared the storm a major disaster on
February 19, 2021.
The City of Fort Worth received an allocation of $27,420,000.00 in CDBG-DR funds from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). An initial allocation of $16,614,000.00 was
awarded on March 22, 2022, and an additional allocation of $10,858,000.00 was awarded on
September 30, 2022. These funds are designated to support disaster relief efforts, long-term
recovery, infrastructure restoration, housing initiatives, and economic revitalization endeavors. To
ensure transparency and community engagement, Neighborhood Services conducted public hearings
on August 31, 2022, and December 28, 2022, providing the community with information about the
program, including the proposed plan, and soliciting feedback regarding funding allocations. The
CDBG-DR Action Plan was submitted to HUD on February 15, 2023, and approved on May 8, 2023.
Neighborhood Services took proactive steps to collaborate with various departments and community
partners in assessing the impacts of Winter Storm Uri. All funded activities must be directly or
indirectly linked to the storm event. Data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
and the Small Business Administration (SBA) were used to assess the extent of impact across the
city, including insights into residents and businesses that may have received assistance from these
resources. The City received reports indicating that two apartment complexes, The Reserve at
Bellevue, 7301 Ederville Road (263 units in Council District 5), and Bellevue Chase, 9200 N.
Normandale (264 units in District 3), experienced damage during the storm, leading to a reduction in
available units for low to moderate -income tenants due to water pipe bursts on both properties.
The following programs and activities were approved:
Single -Family (1-4 units) Housing Rehabilitation and reconstruction of units impacted by the storm
Multifamily (5+ units) Housing Rehabilitation and reconstruction of properties impacted by the
storm
Mitigation Initiatives to address potential hazards to which the city is
susceptible, enhancing its resilience in the face of adversity
Infrastructure Assistance in development and/or repair of City -owned buildings
and land improvements due to damages caused by storm then
In the CDBG-DR Action Plan, $8 million has been allocated for multifamily rehabilitation and
development, which may encompass permanent supportive housing (PSH). If a prospective developer
can provide evidence of adequate funding for supportive services and operating expenses, then City
staff will assign priority to projects including PSH units in the allocation of funding for multifamily
projects. It is important to note that, in compliance with federal regulations, CDBG-DR funds cannot
be used for supportive services, vouchers, or general operating expenses.
Please contact Neighborhood Services Director Victor Turner at 817-392-7540 for additional information.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS