The City Commission meeting canceled on May 7 due to severe weather is now rescheduled to happen tomorrow - Tuesday, May 14 - starting at 7 p.m.
Part of that agenda is a public hearing for our Community Development Division’s 2024 Annual Action Plan. They will collect all public comments during this time about that plan. If you are interested in participating in that hearing, we want to let you know that you can still do so on the 14th, during the rescheduled meeting and public hearing.
We complete this plan each year to describe the activities we will do to address the needs in our current five-year Consolidated Plan. These required documents outline how we will spend the federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership funds we receive to have positive impacts on low- to moderate-income housing in our community.
Here’s how we propose to use our $1.23 million in CDBG funds in 2024-2025:
- $122,811 for general administration
- $122,811 for management for studies related to our overall program, and the development of the Consolidated Plan, involving Neighborhood Planning Councils, civic organizations, individuals, and other boards and committees
- $210,000 for code enforcement, to help especially in blighted and distressed areas with issues like housing code violations, vacant and abandoned properties, public complaints around garbage and weed control, and rental property health and safety issues
- $502,489 for minor home repair grants to homeowners, focused on outside repairs for cited code violations and health/safety issues
- $90,000 for minor home repair activity delivery costs, related to intake, documenting income eligibility, conducting home inspections, working with contractors, and more
- $180,000 for public service grants for a broad range of social services to low- and moderate-income neighbors, including housing case management and eviction diversion
Here’s how we propose to use our $267,572 in HOME Investment Partnership funds for 2024:
- $26,757 for general administration
- $85,338 for in-fill housing, built by Battle Creek Habitat for Humanity as a Community Housing Development Organization, to create new housing and resell it to a low- to moderate-income homebuyer.
- $155,477 for short-term rental assistance administered by Neighborhoods, Inc. for three to six months for eligible low-income households experiencing a housing emergency, and also participating in housing case management, employment training, or another self-sufficiency program
You can give your comments in person at the public hearing on May 14, or send them to Community Development Supervisor Helen Guzzo at 269-966-3267, hhguzzo@battlecreekmi.gov, or Battle Creek City Hall, Room 104, 10 N. Division St., Battle Creek, MI 49014
Learn more on our website at battlecreekmi.gov/181.