HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 17548-05-2007Ordinance No 17548-05-2007
AN ORDINANCE INCREASING ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND APPROPRIATIONS IN
THE GRANTS FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $165 000 FROM AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING SERVICES IN THE
HOUSING DEPARTMENT PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, MAKING THIS
ORDINANCE CUMULATIVE OF PRIOR ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
SECTION 1
That in addition to those amounts allocated to the various City departments for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 and
in the Budget of the City Manager there shall also be increased estimated receipts and appropriations in the
Grants Fund in the amount of $165 000 from available funds, for the purpose of funding Homeownership
Counseling Services in the Housing Department.
SECTION 2
That should any portion, section or part of a section of this ordinance be declared invalid inoperative or void
for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision, opinion or judgment shall in no way
impair the remaining portions, sections, or parts of sections of this ordinance, which said remaining
provisions shall be and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of Ordinance No 17142 and all other ordinances and appropriations
amending the same except in those instances where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict
with such other ordinances and appropriations, in which instance said conflicting provisions of said prior
ordinances and appropriations are hereby expressly repealed.
SECTION 4
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
S ~~,~~~
Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE. May 15, 2007
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
COUNCIL ACTION Approved on 5/15/2007 Ordinance No 17548-05-2007
DATE Tuesday May 15 2007
LOG NAME. 05GRANT 07-08 REFERENCE NO G 15725
SUBJECT
Authorize Application for and Acceptance of a Grant from the U S Department of Housing and
Urban Development for Housing Counseling Services Approve and Accept Private Donations
Authorize Inter-Fund Loan and Approve Appropriation Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council
1 Authorize the City Manager to apply for and accept, if awarded a grant up to $150 000 00 from the
U S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the City's housing counseling services
2. Certify that the activities to be funded with the HUD Housing Counseling Grant are consistent with the
City's Consolidated Plan
3 Authorize the City Manager to accept private donations up to a total of $15 000 00 to further support
the housing counseling program
4 Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing the estimated receipts and appropriations in the
Grant Fund by up to $165 000 00 from available funds,$150 000 from the HUD Grant and $15 000 from
donations, and
5 Authorize anon-interest bearing inter-fund loan from the General Fund to the Grants Fund in the
amount of $50 000 for interim financing of this grant program pending contract execution
DISCUSSION
HUD issued a competitive Notice of Fund Availability for its Housing Counseling Grant Program The
Housing Department desires to apply for $150 000 00 under the HUD grant program, the maximum amount
an applicant may seek.
The Housing Department was initially certified by HUD as a Local Housing Counseling Agency on
December 19 1997 This certification is effective through August 2007 and will be renewed prior to its
expiration.
The Housing Department is competing for this HUD grant to continue support for the City's housing
counseling services available to residents of Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. This program includes
homeownership training in a classroom setting as well as one-on-one counseling sessions on topics such
as budgeting credit repair how to shop for a mortgage loan, how to select a home caring for and
maintaining a home following purchase reverse mortgages, refinancing foreclosure prevention and
education on avoiding predatory lending practices. In FY 2005-2006 the City's program served a total of
1 605 housing clients. It is complementary and supportive of the City's down payment and closing cost
assistance program which helped 70 first-time homebuyers purchase homes. It also provided the required
Logname• OSGRANT 07-08 Page 1 of 2
housing counseling and education components required of participants in the Fort Worth Housing
Authority's (FWHA) Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program The City has a contract with
FWHA to provide this service. The Housing Department also partners with the Community Relations
Department in providing information on predatory lending practices to approximately 1 000 clients each
year It collaborates with local housing nonprofits lenders, real estate agents and other entities in reaching
out to residents who need housing counseling services, particularly first-time homebuyers, low-income
households, minorities, persons with disabilities, homeless persons in transitional housing programs and
other underserved populations.
The Housing Department has successfully competed for this HUD grant over the past several years,
receiving $218 000 last year and $57 000 for the current year To leverage the HUD grant, the Housing
Department has also received contributions and grants from lenders and other private donors for outreach
and training activities. Last year these donations amounted to approximately $9 000 00 The Housing
Department plans to intensify efforts to increase that amount in the coming year No match is required
The housing counseling program is available in ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION
The Finance Director certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations, and adoption of the
attached appropriation ordinance funds will be available in the current operating budget, as appropriated of
the Grants Fund Upon execution of the grant contract, interim funding will be returned to the General Fund
TO Fund/Account/Centers
GR76 220001 00020619000
GR76 451727 005206190000
FE72 488100 005539000000
FE72 539120 005539000000
GR76 SXXX)CX 0050206190010
FROM Fund/AccountlCenters
$50.000.00 GG01 136076 0000000
$150.000.00
$15,000:00
$15,000.00
$150:000.00
$50.000.00
Submitted for City Manager's Office b~ Dale Fisseler (6140)
Originating Department Head. Jerome Walker (7537)
Additional Information Contact: Susan Fite (7322)
Logname: OSGRANT 07-08
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