Community Development

The Planning Division administers the Erie County Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partner

About:

The Planning Division administers the Erie County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Consortiums. These comprise 34 and 37 communities, respectively, in Erie County that have banded together to receive federal funds. These monies are used for a variety of community planning/improvement projects, housing programs, and economic development programs. The Community Development program year runs from April 1st through March 31st.

News:

June 13, 2017: 2016 Draft Consolidated Annual Performance Report (CAPER) and Public Notice. Click here for the featured summary.
April 21, 2017: National Community Development Week Press Event

Housing Programs:

Housing Rehabilitation Program
Rental Rehabilitation Program
Mobile Home Repair Program
Housing Accesibility Program
Utility Connection Program
Fair Housing Program

Reports & Documents:

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin. Persons who are protected from discrimination by fair housing laws are referred to as members of the protected classes. Equal and free access to residential housing (housing choice) is a fundamental right that enables members of the protected classes to pursue personal, educational, employment or other goals. Because housing choice is so critical to personal development, fair housing is a goal that government, public officials and private citizens must embrace if equality of opportunity is to become a reality.

HUD defines an impediment to fair housing choice as any actions, omissions or decisions that restrict or have the effect of restricting the availability of housing choices, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.

The Analysis of Impediments (AI) serves as the basis for fair housing planning, provides essential information to policy makers, administrative staff, housing providers, lenders, and fair housing advocates, and assists in building public support for fair housing efforts. The governmental bodies of the five jurisdictions will review the AI and use it for direction, leadership and resources for future fair housing planning. The AI will also serve as a point-in-time baseline against which future progress in terms of implementing fair housing initiatives will be evaluated and recorded.

The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice report will be reviewed by the members of the Consortium in June.

Program Year Community Development and Housing Highlights:

2017:

Nine Community Projects will be funded in 2017. This represents a total of $1,198,290.
Projects funded are as follows:
- Town of Orchard Park, Burmon Drive Road Reconstruction: $150,000
- Town of Alden, Update Kitchen Facilities at Town Senior/Community Center: $43,116
- Village of Gowanda, Hollywood Theater Façade Restoration: $135,000
- Village of Orchard Park, ADA Parking Improvements: $142,496
- Village of Akron, Marshall Avenue, Morgan Street, Cedar Street Waterline Loop: $150,000
- City of Lackawanna, Demolition of Former Friendship House Building: $150,000
- City of Lackawanna, Environmental Remediation of Former Friendship House Building: $150,000
- Town of Newstead, Newstead Senior Center Computer and Technology Project: $10,207
- Various Communities, Rural Transit Service: $267,471
Infrastructure improvements within low/moderate-income areas of the Consortium will continue to be a focus. Projects include sidewalk replacements, water/sewer work, and street improvements.
The Rural Transit Service (RTS) Program operates within 25 of the 34 Consortium municipalities. It is a popular and successful human service for low/moderate-income residents as well as senior citizens.
The Housing Rehabilitation, Rental Rehabilitation, and Mobile Home Repair programs continue to be very successful with wait lists in effect for each program. Priority is given to those residing in target areas and older housing stock, as well as having lower incomes. The Rental Rehabilitation Program will assist in improving more homes this year.
Six economic development projects will be funded this year. This represents a total of $849,264, as well as a Smart Growth project in the Village of Angola for $116,442. This project will fund construction of a sidewalk on Mill Street and the installation of ADA accessible playground equipment in Herman Park.
A significant smart growth project was underway in 2016 within the Village of Springville. This project included streetscape improvements on Factory Street within the central business district with improved walkability, enhanced pedestrian safety, improved corridor aesthetics and pack accessibility from Factory Street. The project utilized over $606,000 in federal and local funds.