Chandler deciding how to allocate $2 million in HUD funds

• Money includes funds for social service agencies
• Variety of housing and rental assistance programs also would receive money
• Money to address blight and park upgrades in some areas proposed

Chandler is in the process of deciding how to allocate about $2 million in federal funds provided to assist low and moderate-income residents and neighborhoods.

The city will have more than $1.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funds available for its 2015-16 fiscal year, which begins July 1. That money can be used to fund a variety of community agencies that assist residents in need, as well as finance improvements to public facilities in low- to moderate-income areas as determined by the U.S. Census.

Another $508,000 will be available as part of the federal HOME Investment Partnership Program, which can be used to fund a variety of programs such as affordable housing, rental assistance, housing rehabilitation or assistance in helping lower income residents purchase a home.

Money from both programs is provided through the U.S. Bureau of Housing and Urban Development.

For the 2015-16 fiscal year, Chandler has been designated an "exception area'' by the federal government, which will allow more areas of the city than in the past to qualify for the federal assistance funds, said Jennifer Morrison, director of Chandler's Community and Neighborhood Services department, during a presentation to the City Council on April 16.

Previously, funds related to public facility improvements, blight and housing rehabilitation and assistance had to be directed in Census blocks where at least 51 percent of households were low- to moderate-income. However, as an exception area, the city will be able to expand that to areas where about 35 percent of households meet that threshold.

Morrison said the age of many Chandler neighborhoods, coupled with the city's demographics, qualified the city as an exception area. Parts of the city that will qualify for the housing and public improvement funds generally are north of Pecos Road, with the highest concentration about a mile east and west of Arizona Avenue. Several pockets also extend into west Chandler north of Chandler Boulevard, with a few south of the Loop 202 freeway.

"This makes it that much easier to do (projects) in those areas that are from the 1970s and '80s and are a real focus of the Council,'' she said.

Some of the funds available for next year were carried forward from last year's allocation, and the city likely will set aside some again next year.

Allocations include money for several social service agencies that provide assistance to Chandler residents, and money for a variety of housing and rental assistance programs. Money also will be used for neighborhood improvement projects.

The City Council will have additional public discussions before voting on the allocations.

Federal grant funding

The city of Chandler has about $2 million in federal funds available for its 2015-16 budget to allocate to a variety of programs to assist low- to moderate-income residents and neighborhoods through the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership programs. Here is a list of recommended allocations, which are subject to City Council approval.

Public Service grants:

A New Leaf-East Valley Men's Shelter — $27,500

A New Leaf-La Mesita — $24,000

Chicanos Por La Causa Housing Education & Counseling — $8,542

City of Chandler Public Housing Youth Program — $37,414

Chandler Christian Community Center rental assistance program —$35,515

Community Legal Services — $6,021

Labor's Community Service Agency, transitional housing — $12,557

Save the Family — $35,000

Public Facilities, Housing and Code Enforcement:

Chandler Code Enforcement, blight elimination — $50,766

Chandler Parks, Gazelle Meadows lighting and fencing — $398,200

Chandler Parks, Navarette Park restroom replacement — $160,900

Chandler Neighborhood Resources, housing rehabilitation — $200,000

Chandler Housing & Redevelopment, shade structures — $126,000

Habitat for Humanity, emergency home repairs — $180,000

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, home accessibility — $37,333

HOME Investment Partnership Program:

Chandler Housing and Redevelopment — $235,000

Habitat for Humanity housing reconstruction — $60,000

Newtown Community Development Corp., community land trust — $196,147

Administration costs:

CDBG funds: $239,389

HOME funds: $17,076

More information:

In addition to the funding proposals, the city is developing a five-year plan setting priorities for use of future federal grant monies. To view more details about the long-term plan, along with the 2015-16 proposal, including a map showing areas of the city that qualify for public improvement and housing rehabilitation funds, visit: https://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=43