City of Rochester
News Release
(Monday April, 4, 2022) – The City of Rochester is seeking community input regarding the use of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a provision of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) adopted in early 2021, the City is slated to receive $8,982,027 in additional Home Investment Partnership (HOME-ARP) funding to address issues of increased housing instability and homelessness that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. The additional funding will be added in the form of a substantial amendment to the 2021-22 Annual Action Plan, Consolidated Community Development Plan, which represents the budget for the City’s annual HUD allocation.
The draft plan amendment allocates 85% of the above-referenced new HOME-ARP funding amongst four new projects to be added to the 2021-22 Annual Action Plan. These include: (1) Development and Support of Affordable Housing HOME-ARP; (2) Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) HOME-ARP; (3) Provision of Supportive Services- HOME-ARP; and (4) Acquisition and Development of Non-Congregate Shelter Units HOME-ARP. The remaining 15% of funds will be added to the existing project Program Administration to reimburse City staff costs in overseeing implementation of the grant. Projects will primarily serve the needs of persons who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, persons fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, veterans and other vulnerable populations, including those identified to have the greatest risk of housing instability.
The draft plan amendment is available for public download here: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/ConsolidatedPlan2020/.
Printed copies of the draft plan will be made available for review at the following locations:
- City Hall room 224B, 30 Church St.;
- Northeast Neighborhood Service Center, 500 Norton St.;
- Northwest Neighborhood Service Center, 71 Parkway, first floor;
- Southwest Neighborhood Service Center, 923 Genesee St.;
- Southeast Neighborhood Service Center, 320 N. Goodman St.
The City is providing a 30-day public comment period on the proposed amendment which begins today, Monday, April 4, and will conclude with a public hearing of the Rochester City Council to be held at 5 p.m. May 5, 2022.
Comments on the amendment can be delivered by email to Henry Fitts at HUDFunding@cityofrochester.gov or by U.S. mail to Henry Fitts, c/o HOME-ARP Plan Amendment, City Hall Room 224B, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614.
The City will hold a virtual public input meeting on April 20 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. to present the draft plan and solicit feedback from attendees. Information on how to participate in the public meetings can be found here: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/ConsolidatedPlan2020/.
City Council will also hold a public hearing in advance of final approval of the plan. In order for a comment to be presented at the City Council public hearing, it must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 and be prefaced by the name and address of the commenting individual or organization.
Each comment submitted in this manner will be read into the record for up to three (3) minutes of time on the live cast of the public hearing that begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 5. The full text of the comment will be shared with each member of the Council prior to the hearing.
In addition, comments may also be submitted during the City Council public hearing as described below:
The hearing format may be changed from on-line video conference to in-person format at City Hall. The present plan is to conduct the public hearing remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic and pursuant to Chapter 1 of the 2022 Laws of New York State and the Governor’s disaster declaration issued and renewed by Executive Orders 11 and 11.3.
However, if, prior to the hearing, the Governor terminates the disaster declaration or if Council decides that an improvement in health conditions justifies it, the public hearing will be conducted in-person at the Council Chambers in City Hall. Please check the Council’s public meeting access website at https://www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmeetings/ on or after April 13 to find out which format will be used.
Hearing participation via video conference will be streamed live for public viewing on City Council’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/RochesterCityCouncil/videos ) and shared on the Council’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/RochesterCityCouncil).
Those who wish to have their comments read into the record at the hearing can do so by sending them for receipt no later than 1 p.m. on the hearing day. To email, send to Council@Cityofrochester.gov. By U.S. Postal Service, mail to: City Council Public Hearing, City Hall Room 301A, 30 Church St., Rochester, NY 14614.
In order to be shared at the hearing, comments must include the individual's name, address and the name of the legislation on which they wish to comment.
If Council chooses the in-person format, the public may attend, observe and present oral comments in-person at the Council Chambers, room 301A, in City Hall, 30 Church St.
Assisted listening devices and/or alternative formats, including American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, are available upon request. To arrange for these services, please telephone the City Clerk at (585) 428-7421 (voice) or (585) 428-7600 (TTY) during regular business hours by 4 p.m. on the day before the meeting. Later requests will be accommodated to the extent feasible.
The City provides bilingual services to the Hispanic community. To make arrangements for these services, please telephone (585) 428-8662 during regular business hours, at least three (3) business days prior to the City Council meeting.
###
News Media: For more information, contact Communications Director Barbara Pierce at Barbara.Pierce@cityofrochester.gov.