History: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the county to prepare and submit a Five-Year Consolidated Plan (Consolidated Plan) and an annual Consolidated Action Plan (Action Plan) in order to receive HUD entitlement funds for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program.

The 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan will be the sixth such plan developed by the Hennepin County Consortium (Consortium) pursuant to this HUD requirement.  The Consortium includes the HUD entitlement jurisdictions of Hennepin County and the cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Plymouth.  The 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan will include prioritized goals in specific housing and community development categories as required by HUD.  HUD expenditures for the 2020-2024 program years will be evaluated according to the success in meeting these goals.

Each year the county is required to submit an Annual Action Plan, consistent with the goals and priorities established in the Five-year Consolidated Plan, which constitutes the county’s formal application to HUD for its CDBG, HOME, and ESG allocation. The 2020 Action Plan covers the first program year (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021) of the Hennepin County 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan. The 2020 Action Plan identifies the proposed use of allocated funds.

In the CDBG program, nine communities receive direct allocations, conduct local public hearings and submit city council-authorized funding requests to the county. The balance of suburban Hennepin County communities (31 cities) participate in a Consolidated Pool, and compete for funding through Request for Proposals (RFP) processes. The HOME Program funding recommendations are the result of a competitive RFP process. ESG funding recommendations result from a competitive RFP process administered by Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department.

Funding proposals have been solicited for all programs. The CDBG Consolidated Pool and Public Services Selection Committees, the HOME Advisory Committee, and the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Funding Committee for the ESG Program will formulate funding recommendations.

Public comment will be solicited on the draft 2020-2024 Hennepin County Consortium Plan and the draft 2020 Hennepin County Consortium Action Plan for 30 days beginning April 9, 2020; during this time, the draft plan will be available at Hennepin County regional libraries and on the county's website.

The board will consider a resolution authorizing submission of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Action Plan to HUD and awarding 2020 HUD entitlement funds at the May 19, 2020 County Board Meeting.

Current Request: This request is for establishment of a public hearing to be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 1:30 p.m., in Room A-2400 of the Government Center, to obtain public comment on the on the 2020-2024 Hennepin County Consortium Consolidated Plan and the 2020 Hennepin County Consortium Annual Action Plan.  The Clerk of the Board will publish notice of the public hearing in the official newspaper of the county; the Community Works Department will publish notice of the public hearing in newspapers serving suburban Hennepin County and will distribute the notice to interested individuals, agencies and organizations.

Impact/Outcomes: The county is required to conduct a public hearing on the 2020-2024 Hennepin County Consortium Consolidated Plan and the 2020 Hennepin County Consortium Annual Action Plan in order to qualify for entitlement funding for the CDBG, HOME and ESG Programs.