Austin City Council Approves Housing and Community Development Spending Allocation

Austin, TX: The Austin City Council approved the City's FY 2003-04 Action Plan today. Under federal law, the City of Austin must prepare an Action Plan each year describing how funds will be used to meet community needs and priorities for housing and economic development in Austin - activities funded primarily by grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Action Plan concludes that addressing Austin's affordable housing needs is the community's highest priority for Federal, state, and local resources. The City has responded by allocating nearly $23 million, for housing and community development programs, which will serve 30,450 Austinites.

Federal and State law require that the public participate in the development of action plans through two City Council hearings and a 30-day public comment period on the draft document. In accordance with the city's Citizen Participation Plan, written and oral comments from the public hearings were compiled and reviewed by NHCD staff. These comments, in addition to those received in the initial stage of planning for the Action Plan were considered while creating the final Action Plan.

Paul Hilgers, Community Development Officer says, "This plan is developed based upon input from our citizens. This council has shown its commitment to housing and community development and is providing leadership that the rest of the nation is using as a model. Working with our partners, we are excited to provide housing solutions and economic and community development programs to our city."

The Plan was prepared by the City's Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office and will be sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) no later than August 15, 2003. Once approved, it will be available to the public at the City's Main Library and at local neighborhood centers. Copies will also be available at the City's Neighborhood Housing and Community Development website.

The Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office's mission is to provide housing, community development, and small business development services to benefit residents so they can have access to livable neighborhoods and increase their opportunities for self-sufficiency.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call 974-3100 (voice) or 974-3102 (TDD) for assistance. This project is made possible by funding from HUD through the City of Austin.

CONTACT: Julie Beggs, 974-3121(voice) or 802-7108 (pager)