Consolidated Plan

Introduction

The City's Consolidated Plan for FY2021 – FY2025 is mandated by federal law and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order for the City of Columbus to receive federal funding for affordable housing and community development initiatives benefiting primarily low- and moderate-income persons. The Consolidated Plan combines into a single document the planning and application requirements for the following federal grant programs:

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
• Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME)

The Consolidated Plan is designed to help the City of Columbus assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The Consolidated Planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the CDBG and the HOME grant programs.

The Consolidated Plan provides data on trends and conditions related to Columbus' current and future affordable housing and community development needs. The analysis of this data has been used to establish priorities, strategies, and actions that the City will undertake to address these needs over the next 5-years. The plan is guided by three overarching goals that are applied according to Columbus' needs. The goals are:

• To provide decent housing by preserving the affordable housing stock, increasing the availability of affordable housing, reducing discriminatory barriers, increasing the supply of supportive housing for those with special needs, and transitioning homeless persons and families into housing.
• To provide a suitable living environment through safer, more livable neighborhoods, greater integration of low- and moderate-income residents throughout the City, increased housing opportunities, and reinvestment in deteriorating neighborhoods.
• To expand economic opportunities through more jobs paying self-sufficient wages, homeownership opportunities, development activities that promote long-term community viability, and the empowerment of low- and moderate-income persons to achieve self-sufficiency.

Consolidated Plan Process

The Consolidated Plan for Columbus has a duration of 5-years, covering fiscal years 2021 – 2025. The Consolidated Plan describes community development priorities and multiyear goals based on an assessment of housing and community development needs, an analysis of housing and economic market conditions and available resources.

The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan. The City of Columbus provides an assessment on these accomplishments and progress toward Consolidated Plan goals in annual documents known as the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).

The lead agency for the Consolidated Plan document is the Columbus Consolidated Government Department of Community Reinvestment which also administers the CDBG and HOME programs. Several city departments are active stakeholders in community development projects and improvements, including Engineering, Inspections and Code, Parks and Recreation, the Planning Department, and Public Works.

In developing the Consolidated Plan, the City of Columbus conducted community outreach to engage the community both in the process of developing and reviewing the proposed plan, and as partners and stakeholders in the implementation of CPD programs.

By consulting and collaborating with other public and private entities, the City of Columbus can align and coordinate community development programs with a range of other plans, programs and resources to achieve greater impact. In addition, the Housing Authority of Columbus Georgia (HACG) plays a large role in providing and managing housing programs covered by this plan. Coordination with various non-profit organizations will also be important in meeting the goals outlined within the Consolidated Plan.

 

National Resources

• Consolidated Planning Information Page

https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/consolidated-plan/

• CDBG Program Fact Sheet

https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/About-the-CDBG-Program.pdf

• Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp

 

Analysis of Impediments Data Resources

• HUD Fair Housing Mapping Tool

https://egis.hud.gov/affht/

• US Census

https://data.census.gov/

• Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) Data

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/cp.html

• Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Data

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/hmda/

• A Picture of Subsidized Households

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/assthsg.html

The AI also incorporates state and local data on schools, transit, health, public housing, and environmental hazards.