Press Release: City Seeks Community Input in Evaluating Housing Needs and Resources for Next Five-Year Plan

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 and Analysis of Impediments for 2020 - 2024.

The five-year Consolidated Plan will identify the affordable housing and community development needs in the city over the next five years.  As the administering agency for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), the City is required to identify and prioritize the community’s needs and resources, and explain how it will distribute funds to address needs through local projects.  HAND is the lead agency in the Consolidated Plan process.  The current Consolidated Plan expires this year.  

An appendix to the Consolidated Plan, the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice identifies the needs for and barriers to housing among members of the protected classes, including minorities, women, and the disabled.  In the new analysis, HAND will identify ways Bloomington is expanding choice and draft an Action Plan to include strategies to eliminate the barriers to housing.  

“The Consolidated Plan allows us to connect demographic and income information with an assessment of housing inventory and nonprofit partnerships in order best to provide safe and decent housing for all of our residents,” said Mayor John Hamilton.  “I encourage our residents to participate in these public sessions to bring your experience and expertise to bear in the development of the next five-year plan, so that we might best allocate resources.”

Six topic-guided stakeholder workshops will be offered as a means of engaging the public in developing the next Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments. The stakeholder workshops will be held at various times and locations during the month of June.  Two additional public meetings will be held to provide an overview of the planning process and share initial impressions.

The topics, dates, times and locations for the sessions are as follows:

Stakeholder Workshops:

• Housing Affordability – Tuesday June 11, at 1:30 pm, Bloomington Housing Authority, Community Room, 1007 North Summit Street

• Housing Equity – Tuesday June 11, at 3:00 pm, Bloomington Housing Authority, Community Room, 1007 North Summit Street

• Asset-building in Lower-income Neighborhoods – Wednesday June 12, at 9:00 am, Broadview Learning Center, Room 143, 705 West Coolidge Drive

• Development Pressures and Challenges – Wednesday June 12, at 10:30 am, Broadview Learning Center, Room 143, 705 West Coolidge Drive

• Public and Social Services – Wednesday June 12, at 1:30 pm, City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 115, 401 North Morton Street

• Healthy Households – Wednesday June 12, at 3:00 pm, City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 115, 401 North Morton Street

Public Meetings:

• Option 1 – Tuesday June 11, at 6 pm, Utilities Service Building, Board Room, 600 East Miller Drive

• Option 2 – Wednesday June 12, at 6 pm, Utilities Service Building, Board Room, 600 East Miller Drive

The sessions are open to any city resident desiring to participate.  For more information, please contact HAND, Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, at (812) 349-3420 or hand@bloomington.in.gov, or in person at 401 North Morton Street, Suite 130.

###