City of Murfreesboro asking for public's help

Jan 22, 2015 at 09:41 am by bryan


The City of Murfreesboro Community Development Department is seeking help from the public in developing its Consolidated Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program priorities for the next five years (2015- 2020). Citizens can assist the City in developing strategic plans for dealing with homelessness, housing needs, and non-housing needs by responding to separate surveys on these critical needs in the community.

"Murfreesboro is required to develop a consolidated plan every five years, including a summary of the nature and extent of homelessness and housing needs in the City and Rutherford County," said Community Development Director John Callow. "In conjunction with the Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Homelessness Task Force the City's Community Development Department has prepared surveys to help gather information for strategic planning purposes."

ADVERTISEMENT

Residents can access the homelessness survey on the Action Plan webpage of the City website at http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/index.aspx?NID=122&ART=2082&ADMIN=1. The Survey Monkey questionnaire can also be accessed directly at

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9TNFZPX. By participating in the online survey, residents will help the City prepare a summary and develop a strategy for addressing homelessness and the priority needs of homeless persons and families in the City of Murfreesboro.

Residents can access the housing survey on the Action Plan webpage of the city website at

http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/index.aspx?NID=772 The Survey Monkey questionnaire can also be access directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGPS2C2. The primary objectives of the CDBG program are to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment and expand economic opportunities, principally for low and moderated income persons and neighborhoods.

Residents can access the non-housing needs survey on the Action Plan webpage of the City website at http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/index.aspx?NID=113. The Survey Monkey questionnaire can also be accessed directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L6RPVF8.

Since 1984, City of Murfreesboro has received Community Development Block Grant funding. CDBG rules require the City to develop a strategic plan every five years. HUD encourages the lead agency to consult with interested parties including agencies, groups, organizations, income-eligible persons and other interested parties. Murfreesboro is required to provide a concise summary of Homelessness needs, housing needs, non-housing community development needs.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently applauded the City of Murfreesboro for implementing housing and community development programs and policies in the 2013 Consolidated Planning Programs. HUD congratulated Murfreesboro and its Community Development Office following an assessment or Consolidated End-of-Year Review for 2013. The HUD Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) noted the following City accomplishments:

· Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) Benefit in which nearly 100 percent of CDBG funds expended during the reporting period benefited LMI persons.

· Housing Rehabilitation Program provided a total of $309,328.06 in CDBG affordable housing funding to rehabilitate five homes; reconstruct two homes, conduct emergency rehabilitation to one house; and provide sewer tape assistance to one house.

· Expanding Affordable Housing Opportunities in the form of no-interest loans of up to $10,000 to 15 income-eligible first-time home buyers for a total of $200,949.23 in CDBG assistance.

· Public Services grants totaling $117,557 were awarded to fourteen agencies to carry out services that included health care, adult day care, child abuse prevention, reading literacy assistance, financial assistance, and homeless assistance, benefiting 6,473 residents.

· Assistance to the Homeless was awarded to 10 member agencies in the Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Continuum of Care (CoC) totaling $600,865.

For more information on Community Development programs, residents are encouraged to call 615-890-4660 or visit http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/Index.aspx?NID=112.

Sections: News