City Seeking Input on Evaluating Community Needs and Resources Through Focus Groups

[image:13580,right]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 25, 2014

For more information, please contact:

Dan Niederman, Program Manager, City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, 349.3512, niedermd@bloomington.in.gov

City Seeking Input on Evaluating Community Needs and Resources Through Focus Groups

Bloomington, Ind. - The City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development Department (HAND) is seeking public participation and input to assist in developing the next Consolidated Plan for 2015 - 2019. Five topic-guided focus groups will be offered as a means of engaging the public in this task. The focus groups will be held at various times and locations during the month of October.

The City of Bloomington is an entitlement community as designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This designation entails that the City is the administering agency for federal programs, such as the HOME Partnership Investment Program (HOME) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). HAND is the lead agency in the Consolidated Plan process and must outline its plans to distribute funding based upon an analysis of community needs and resources.

The current Consolidated Plan is expiring and HAND is evaluating Bloomington's community needs and resources to develop the next plan. Various local organizations will act as host sites for five topic-based focus group meetings. The topics, dates, times and locations for the focus group meetings are as follows:

• Community Development: Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m., First Christian Church Gathering Space, 205 E. Kirkwood Ave.

• Affordable Housing: Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m., Banneker Community Center, 2nd Floor, 930 W. Seventh St.

• Homelessness: Thursday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m., Monroe County Public Library Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.

• Economic Development: Monday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., Community Kitchen, 1515 S. Rogers St.

• Social Services: Monday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m., Bloomington Housing Authority Community Room, 1007 N. Summit St.

For more information, please contact HAND, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., at 349.3401 or hand@bloomington.in.gov, or in person at 401 N. Morton St., Suite 130.

###