TITLE
RESOLUTION OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT A PATHWAYS TO REMOVING OBSTACLES TO HOUSING (PRO HOUSING) GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) NOT TO EXCEED $7 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CITYWIDE.
BODY
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) is making available $100 million in grant funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-12242, approved March 9, 2024), for the identification and removal of barriers to affordable housing production and preservation through the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) initiative; and
WHEREAS, communities across the nation, including the City of New Haven (the “City”), face significant challenges in providing affordable housing, due to shrinking land availability, outdated zoning and land use policies, deteriorating infrastructure, and redevelopment pressures that threaten the preservation of existing affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that housing affordability is crucial for its residents' well-being and the overall economic health of the community, and that the production of new housing units, particularly affordable units, is a key strategy for addressing this need; and
WHEREAS, the City is committed to updating land use policies, improving housing strategies, and implementing anti-displacement measures to ensure that new housing development occurs in a manner that promotes long-term community stability and protects vulnerable residents, particularly in historically marginalized communities; and
WHEREAS, the City’s proposed scope of work for the PRO Housing Grant includes three key elements: neighborhood engagement and planning, policy development and zoning improvements, and direct investment into anti-displacement strategies, all organized around the theme of “development without displacement,” to balance the need for more housing units citywide with the protection of existing communities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8-169f of the Connecticut General Statutes, HUD is authorized to provide financial assistance for economic development projects under Section 107 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, provided that certain conditions are met, including approval by the municipality's legislative body; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest for the City to apply for and accept a PRO Housing Grant from HUD in an amount not to exceed $7 million, in order to implement these strategies and remove barriers to the creation of affordable housing citywide.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City’s Board of Alders that:
1. It is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for financial assistance imposed by Section 8-169f of the Connecticut General Statutes.
2. That the filing of an application by the City for financial assistance from HUD under the PRO Housing initiative in an amount not to exceed $7 million is hereby approved and that Justin Elicker, as Mayor of the City, is hereby authorized and directed to execute and file said application with the HUD, to provide such additional information as may be required, to execute such other documents as may be required in connection with the application process, to execute an Assistance Agreement with 4m or for such lesser amount (if any) as may be offered by HUD (which Assistance Agreement may include an indemnification of HUD and/or the Federal Government and/or other relevant federal agency), to execute any amendments, rescissions, and revisions thereto, and to act as the authorized representative of the City in connection with all other matters pertaining to said application, and that the Grant Agreement and/or any ancillary document may contain an indemnity of two and/or any other appointee subdivision of the federal government.