The Citizen Participation Plan is designed to provide for and encourage citizen involvement in the development, implementation and evaluation of housing and community development programs in Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County, Tennessee.
The Consolidated Plan & Annual Action Plan
Every five years MDHA develops a long-term strategic plan called the Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan guides the programs that MDHA will undertake each year. In addition to the Consolidated Plan, MDHA must prepare an annual action plan that describes the actions to be taken in a specific program year. To ensure public participation in the development of the Consolidated Plan and annual action plan, MDHA will hold a public hearing, accept public comment, and issue public notices for the Consolidated Plan and for each annual action plan.
Public Notice & Publication
MDHA will publish a public notice in a non-legal section of The Tennessean and at least one weekly minority newspaper prior to the beginning of the public comment period and a minimum of 10 days before a public hearing. MDHA will also publish a notice on its website. The notice will include a general summary and the location where copies of the entire plan may be obtained. MDHA will also send the notice to all members of the Consolidated Plan contact list. Notices will also be distributed to local elected officials, affordable housing forums/groups, public housing Resident Associations, Continuum of Care membership, and other interested parties and groups. MDHA is required to publish each proposed plan in a manner that affords citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties a reasonable opportunity to examine its contents and to submit comments. MDHA will provide a reasonable number of free copies of the plan to citizens and groups that request it. The Consolidated Plan will be provided in alternate formats.
Public Hearings
MDHA will hold at least one public hearing per year during the development of the Annual Action plan. The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain citizens’ views, respond to proposals, and answer questions. The hearings will address housing and community development needs, proposed activities, and review of program performance. The hearing is held while the proposed plan is published for comment.
Upon request, MDHA will provide for translation services to meet the needs of non-English speaking residents. MDHA will also take whatever actions are appropriate to serve the needs of persons with disabilities.
Public Comments
MDHA will provide a period of at least 30 days to receive comments from citizens on each proposed plan.
MDHA will consider any comments or views of citizens received orally at the public hearings or in writing during the public comment period, in preparing the final adopted plan. A summary of these comments or views and MDHA’s responses shall be attached to the final adopted plan.
Plan Amendments
In the course of administering the four federal programs, MDHA may need to amend the Consolidated Plan or an annual action plan. When the amendment is significant and meets the criteria set forth below, the change will be considered a substantial amendment and MDHA will undertake additional actions to ensure citizens have an opportunity to comment. Records of all amendments will be maintained at MDHA for public review and will be fully described in the annual performance report submitted to HUD.
Criteria for Substantial Amendments
If a plan amendment meets any of the following criteria, MDHA will consider the amendment to be substantial and undertake the additional steps described in this section to ensure public participation:
- The addition of a goal not described or the deletion of an existing goal in the Consolidated Plan;
- A change in goal funding described in the Consolidated Plan that is increased or decreased by more than 35% of that goal;
- The addition of a new project not previously described in the current year’s annual action plan;
- A fiscal change to a project in the current year’s annual action plan to increase or decrease the project by more than 25% of the total allocation of CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA funds for the program year with the following exception:
- Funds that were made available through the process described in the Action Plan and could not be committed/expended due to lack of demand may be reallocated to other eligible activities; or
- A substantial amendment is required by HUD.
Public Notice & Publication
In the case of any proposed substantial amendment, MDHA will publish a public notice in The Tennessean and at least one weekly minority newspaper a prior to the beginning of the public comment period and a minimum of 10 days before a public hearing. The notice will include a summary of the amendment and a list of the locations where copies of the amendment may be examined. MDHA will also maintain a mailing list of interested parties and send information regarding the amendment to all members of the mailing list.
Public Comments
MDHA will provide a period of at least 30 days to receive comments from citizens on each proposed plan. MDHA will consider any comments or views of citizens received orally at the public hearings or in writing during the public comment period, in preparing the final adopted plan. A summary of these comments or views and MDHA’s responses shall be attached to the final adopted plan.
Performance Reports
Each year MDHA must submit a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to HUD. This report is due 90 days after the close of the program year. To ensure public participation in the review of the performance report, MDHA will hold a public hearing, accept public comment, and issue public notices.
Public Notice & Publication
MDHA will publish a public notice in The Tennessean and at least one weekly minority newspaper prior to the beginning of the public comment period and at least 10 days before a hearing. MDHA will also maintain a mailing list of interested parties and send information to all members on the mailing list. MDHA will provide a reasonable number of free copies of the performance report to citizens and groups that request it. Copies of each report will be available for review at MDHA and here on the website.
Public Hearings
MDHA will hold at least one public hearing per year during the preparation of the annual report. The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain citizens’ views, answer questions, address housing and community development needs, and review program performance. Upon request, MDHA will provide for translation services to meet the needs of non-English speaking residents. MDHA will also take whatever actions are appropriate to serve the needs of persons with disabilities.
Public Comments
MDHA will provide a period of at least 15 days to receive comments on the annual report before the report is submitted to HUD. MDHA will consider any comments or views of citizens received orally at public hearings or in writing during the public comment period, when preparing the final report. MDHA will attach a summary of these comments and MDHA’s response to the final annual report.
Program Information
In addition to providing participation in the development of plans and the review of the annual report, MDHA will provide citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties with reasonable and timely access to information and records relating to the Consolidated Plan and the use of federal funds. MDHA will provide access to records for the current program year and previous five program years. This information includes, but is not limited to, the citizen participation plan, the Consolidated Plan as adopted, annual action plans, performance reports, and any substantial amendments. MDHA will make these records available in a form accessible to persons with disabilities, upon request. Most records are maintained at MDHA in the Community Development Department, located at 712 South Sixth Street. Records may be reviewed by appointment during regular business hours. MDHA will also provide citizens with reasonable and timely access to local meetings held in regard to the Consolidated Plan and the activities undertaken as part of the Consolidated Plan.
Technical Assistance
MDHA will provide for technical assistance to groups representative of persons of low- and moderate-income that request such assistance in developing proposals for funding assistance under any of the programs covered by the Consolidated Plan. To request technical assistance, contact the Community Development Department. MDHA hosts pre-proposal conferences when a Request for Proposal is issued to award funding for a project. The purpose of the pre-proposal conference is to answer questions from potential respondents.
Complaints
MDHA will maintain a file that documents all citizens’ complaints and MDHA’s response for any complaints related to the Consolidated Plan, amendments, and performance report. MDHA will provide a substantive written response to every written citizen complaint within 15 working days of receipt of the complaint. In addition, MDHA will consider these complaints when evaluating program performance as part of the annual report to HUD. All complaints should be addressed to the Community Development Department using the address given in the Introduction.
Displacement
Displacement occurs when an individual, family, partnership, association, corporation, or organization moves from their home, business, or farm, or moves their personal property as a direct result of a federally funded acquisition, demolition or rehabilitation. Generally, displacement does not include persons displaced temporarily from their dwelling for less than 12 months while it is being rehabilitated. Displaced persons and entities are eligible for relocation assistance under federal law.
As part of this plan, MDHA is required to describe its plans to minimize displacement of persons and to specify the types and levels of assistance MDHA will make available to persons displaced. To minimize displacement, MDHA will avoid the acquisition and demolition of occupied structures. When displacement is necessary and unavoidable, MDHA will offer the following types of assistance.
For Residential Displacements
- Provide relocation advisory services to displaced tenants and owner occupants
- Provide a minimum 90 days written notice to vacate prior to requiring possession
- Reimburse for moving expenses
- Provide payments for the added cost of renting or purchasing comparable replacement housing.
For Nonresidential Displacements (businesses, farms, and nonprofit organizations)
- Provide relocation advisory services
- Provide a minimum 90 days written notice to vacate prior to requiring possession
- Reimburse for moving and re-establishment.