Mostly housing and homelessness related today . . . most other immediate needs issues have been resolved or are on their way.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS MEETING CANCELLED, RFP DELAYED
Plan commission keeps meeting and Board of Public Works keeps meeting because it’s important for our economy to keep developments and projects moving forward, but Affordable housing, meh. (This isn’t a comment about the staff sending the email, its a comment about the city leadership and their priorities.)
At the recommendation of Public Health Madison & Dane County to mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) the City of Madison’s Community Development Division (CDD) is canceling both Listening Sessions and the Housing Development Partner breakfast scheduled for both Housing Development Request for Proposals. CDD will be looking at alternative ways to collect feedback from stakeholders prior to moving forward with a draft of the RFPs.
At this time, you should also expect the release of the RFPs to be postponed. We will be working closely with WHEDA to continue coordination for the Affordable Housing Fund- Low Income Housing Tax Credit deadlines. We will release updated information about the updated timeline and process for both RFPs in May 2020.
Community Development Division is not accepting any proposals for funding at this time. We are committed to providing emergency responses to our community partners. Questions can be directed to cdd@cityofmadison.com
Thank you and be well!
Linette Rhodes, Community Development Grants Supervisor
City of Madison
lrhodes@cityofmadison.com
608-261-9240
– – – –
From: Rhodes, Linette <LRhodes@cityofmadison.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 2:07 PM
Subject: Madison’s 2020-2021 Requests for Proposals- Housing Development & Financing
The City of Madison’s Community Development Division expects to release two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in 2020 focused on Housing Development and Housing Financing.
The first RFP seeks to improve the competiveness of development proposals seeking federal low-income housing tax credits from WHEDA and maximize the receipt of credits for projects proposed in Madison that promise to increase the supply or preserve and improve existing income- and rent-restricted rental housing. All development projects must request WHEDA’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) for 2021 in either the 4% or 9% LIHTC application process. This RFP will be labeled Affordable Housing Funds: Developers Seeking 2021 WHEDA Tax Credits for Rental Housing Development.
The second RFP seeks to offer funding for proposals that will support decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing opportunities for low-and moderate-income households in order to enhance neighborhood and community stability. The RFP will draw on several funding sources including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program and City Affordable Housing Funds (AHF). Eligible developments and programs may target homeownership or rental housing. The RFP will be labeled 2020-2021 Housing Development, Rehabilitation and Financing. Current Purchase of Service contracts with the City of Madison, funded with federal funds, will be required to re-apply during this RFP process.
CDD will be organizing listening sessions/workshops for potential applicants and will provide an opportunity for public input on the RFPs prior to posting. To avoid confusion, we will clearly title all correspondence with the RFP title so interested parties can respond to the appropriate RFP.
More information on the process will be sent out soon but please save the following dates if you are a potential applicant:
|
Affordable Housing Funds: Developers Seeking 2021 WHEDA Tax Credits for Rental Housing Development
|
March 24, 2020 1:00 – 3:30pm Madison Municipal Building Room 153 New Applicant Workshop/Listening Session CANCELED |
|
2020-2021 Housing Development, Rehabilitation and Financing
|
April 8, 2020 1:00 – 3:30pm Madison Municipal Building Room 153 Application Workshop/Listening Session CANCELED
|
|
Housing Development Partnership Breakfast
|
April 16, 2020 (TBD- AM) Warner Park Community Recreation Center CANCELED |
Should you have questions before the workshops, please contact Linette Rhodes, Community Development Grants Supervisor, at lrhodes@cityofmadison.com or 608-261-9240.
CITY COMMUNITY SERVICES/DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS ALL CANCELLED
From: Stoiber, Jennifer
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2020 3:54 PM
To: Verveer, Michael; Harrington-McKinney, Barbara; Whitt, Kathy; Kathleen Poi; Donna Bryant; Daryl Sherman; Ferington; Faisal Kaud; ‘obregonben1@gmail.com‘; Belinda Beason; ‘edmershart@gmail.com‘; ‘Alnisa Allgood’
Cc: Spaeni, Sally Jo; Flesher, Gary
Subject: Committee Meeting Notice to Members
On March 17, the Common Council acted to effectively cancel regularly scheduled City board, commission and committee meetings as part of a broader response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. The Common Council will continue to meet, though by electronic means rather than in person, and so will a handful of policy committees, including the Common Council Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Plan Commission, Police and Fire Commission, Board of Public Works, and Alcohol License Review Committee. This action is taken with an eye toward protecting the health and safety of committee members, committee staff and the public. Accordingly, all meetings of the CDBG, Community Services, Early Childhood, Education, City/County Homeless Issues Committee and the Committee on Aging are cancelled until further notice.
The Council’s action does authorize the Mayor and Common Council President to reinstate any committee meetings they deem necessary to provide essential functions and support to the operations of the City. Should that situation arise, City staff will contact you and make meeting arrangements. Any meetings that are scheduled will be conducted remotely. We will give you sufficient time to prepare and make sure that everyone has the ability to participate.
We will keep you informed as things change. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me if you have any questions.
DANE COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COUNCIL RESPONDS TO COVID-19 CRISIS
Through existing collaborations, public safety leadership is working together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We are actively developing mitigation strategies during this ever-changing situation.
Leadership from local law enforcement agencies, Courts, District Attorney Office, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Executive, Legislative, and community organizations, in partnership with public health officials, are conferring regularly to make needed interim policy changes to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19 in our facilities, institutions, and communities.
Criminal Justice leaders are committed to keeping all residents—including those involved in the criminal justice system—safe.
This commitment includes changing practices to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, limiting public exposure by limiting the number of individuals in the Courthouse, Jail, and other County buildings, and reviewing individual cases that are currently held in the jail to determine if release is possible. This, of course, is undertaken with careful consideration of public safety, victim’s rights, and individual situation.
Please see the summary list of initiatives designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
https://www.wicourts.gov/news/view.jsp?id=1170
https://countyofdane.com/coronavirus
The health and safety of our first responders, staff members, residents and justice-involved individuals and their families is our highest priority. We are dedicated to keeping our community healthy and safe, and are committed to take necessary steps to do so.
Please contact each individual agency with specific questions.
**Preparedness planning is fluid and ongoing. We are working to respond to emerging needs as the nature of Covid-19 response evolves. Please note the date stamp at the top of this document, as procedures will evolve.** Please go to agency website for specific information.
For the most up-to-date information on guidance from Public Health Madison Dane County, please visit their website: https://publichealthmdc.com/coronavirus
MOVE ALONG FROM THAT BUS STOP – CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS
As background, you can get a ticket for sitting in a bus stop if you are not actually waiting for a bus . . .
Dear Chief Wahl,
Edward Kuharski, Architect, AIA, LEED AP
CALL YOUR CONGRESS PEOPLE – HOMELESSNESS NOT INCLUDED IN FIRST TWO RELIEF PACKAGES
Thank you to everyone who took action this week to demand homelessness funding in the federal response to coronavirus. Nearly 3,000 people participated in the Alliance’s advocacy action, and we are grateful to every single person who expressed the urgency and importance of funding homeless services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Since my last email, two major things have occurred:
-
- The Trump administration has asked for $400 million in Homeless Assistance Grants in upcoming supplemental appropriations. While this does acknowledge the dire risk to people without a home during this pandemic, it is not a sufficient response.
- Yesterday, Congress completed work on its second installment of emergency supplemental spending. Congressional leadership determined that funding for homelessness would not be provided in that bill, but could be considered as part of a third spending bill, which they are working on now and which may come up for a vote as early as this weekend.
Homelessness must be included in this upcoming legislation.
If you weren’t able to take action before, please do now. If you took action before, we need for you to speak up again. And we need everyone to spread the word to their networks.
Local communities need at least $5 billion to serve people living on the streets or in shelters, and $5 billion more to divert people who are at immediate risk of becoming homeless during this crisis. We’re also calling for $50 billion to support housing stability.
The coronavirus pandemic will be devastating to our unhoused neighbors if we don’t include them in our national response.
We need you to contact your Senators and Members of Congress immediately to demand homelessness funding in the Coronavirus response. Our updated call to action reflects what’s at stake in this next phase of the legislative debate, as Congress takes up “Stimulus Phase Three” over the coming days.
With your help, we can make sure that Washington includes funds for homelessness in this bill. The success in our advocacy will save lives and protect some of the most vulnerable people in America from this dangerous pandemic.
Sincerely,
Steve Berg
VP for Programs and Policy
National Alliance to End Homelessness
Housing is Public Health!
We applaud Congress for passing the Families First CoronaVirus Response Act, which will provide immediate paid sick leave and paid family leave to millions of people, expanded unemployment insurance, vital nutrition aid, more Medicaid funds for states, and free COVID-19 testing. But they left out critical resources for people experiencing homelessness!
Our unhoused neighbors are more likely to have poor health, use spaces with congregate settings (public transportation, shelters, soup kitchens), be older than 50, have limited ability to follow public health advice, or suffer from stigma and discrimination in accessing basic services.
It is imperative that services, medical care, resources, and support for people experiencing homelessness is included in any further Federal Coronavirus responses.
We are asking for lawmakers to provide $5 billion to serve people who are homeless, and $5 billion more to prevent people who are at immediate risk from becoming homeless during this crisis. We’re also calling for $50 billion to support housing stability, through a program like the one proposed in the bipartisan Bennet-Portman Eviction Crisis Act (S. 3030). Finally, there must be a national call for a moratorium on evictions from housing or informal encampments.
These funds are absolutely imperative to the safety, wellbeing, and care of people experiencing homelessness, and we cannot wait. Contact your Legislator today.
