Draft plan for the HOME-ARP grant is available for public view and comment from December 28 to January 11; Public hearing scheduled on January 10

The City of Austin is eligible to receive $11.4 million of HOME-American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds and asks the community to review the City’s proposal—referred to as an allocation plan—and provide comments on the recently revised draft. In order to ensure congruency with federal regulations, the HOME-ARP allocation draft plan has been revised subsequent to the October 2022 public comment period. The third public comment period for the revised allocation plan draft will be open from December 28 through January 11 with a Community Development Commission public hearing scheduled for January 10.  

The public input survey is now online here.

The American Rescue Plan allocated $5 billion to assist people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other populations experiencing housing insecurity. This one-time funding—up to $11.4 million for Austin— can be spent on various projects with the goal of reducing homelessness and increasing housing stability. The following activities are eligible for funding by HOME-ARP- 

• Supportive services; 
• Acquisition and development of non-congregate shelters;  
• Tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA);  
• Development of affordable rental housing; 
• Non-profit operating expenses; and 
• Non-profit capacity building. 

To comply with federal funding requirements, the city must submit an allocation plan to the Housing and Urban Development department via an amendment to the FY2021-2022 Action Plan, which states how the city plans to use the $11.4 million grant and describes the process to gather community feedback.

On December 28, 2022 through January 11, 2023, the revised HOME-ARP allocation plan draft and a description of the proposed use of the $11.4 million grant will be available to the public through the City of Austin’s public engagement hub, Public Input, also known as Speak Up Austin (view HERE). The public will be able to view the revised HOME-ARP allocation plan and submit comments on the proposal.

The public is also invited to testify at a public hearing with the Community Development Commission on January 10. Public comment will be accepted in-person or remotely by telephone, and speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. Pre-registration is not required for in-person participation. To register, call or email the board liaison at 512-974-1606 or jesse.gutierrez@austintexas.gov 

ADA and Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement 
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.  Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters, translation services, or alternative formats, please give notice by calling 512-974-1606 at least 2 days prior to the meeting date. TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Community Development Commission, please contact Jesse Gutierrez at 512-974-1606.   
CDC Commissioners may contact CTM for email/technology assistance: 512-974-4357. 

About Housing and Planning Department 
The Housing and Planning Department provides resources related to planning, zoning, housing, and community development to enhance the quality of life of all Austinites. Equitable, efficient, and comprehensive planning with displacement prevention as a prioritized focus is the Department’s core charge in delivering housing services to the community.