Agency: Community and Culture

Line Item: Housing and Community Development

Function

The Division of Housing and Community Development enhances quality of life for Utah citizens through the development of community infrastructure, affordable housing and assistance programs.

The Division manages a capital budget and provides administrative support and programmatic oversight to many boards and committees.

Statutory Authority

Statutory authority for the Division of Housing and Community Development is provided in UCA 9-4. The Division's responsibilities are to:

• Assist local government and citizens develop and maintain community infrastructure;
• Cooperate with and provide technical assistance to groups related to housing and community development;
• Coordinate development projects with the Governor and state agencies;
• Serve as a clearinghouse for data needed for state, local and federal development projects;
• Study and make recommendations related to community development projects;
• Assist in developing affordable housing and help in addressing the problems of homelessness;
• Provide grants, loans and other forms of public assistance;
• Assist local efforts related to community action programs, planning, development, home weatherization, energy efficiency and anti-poverty projects;
• Support volunteer efforts in the state.

Intent Language

All General Funds appropriated to the Housing and Community Development line item are contingent upon expenditures from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1, 111th United States Congress) not exceeding amounts appropriated from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in all appropriation bills passed for FY 2009. If expenditures in this line item from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act exceed amounts appropriated to this line item from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in FY 2009, the Division of Finance shall reduce the General Fund allocations to this line item by one dollar for every one dollar in Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expenditures that exceed Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriations.

The Department of Community and Culture is authorized to purchase three vehicles using federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to implement the weatherization program. These vehicles shall not be replaced.

The Legislature intends that $500,000 appropriated by this item to the Huntsman Cancer Center from Federal Funds - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 shall come from the General State Fiscal Stabilization Program.

Funding Detail

Most of the funding for Housing and Community Development is from federal funds. The General Fund is the second largest funding source. A history of the program is presented below.

Program: Community Development Administration

Function

Administration provides leadership to, financial management, and data management of Division programs.

Funding Detail

Funding for the Administration Program is mainly from General Fund and the Permanent Community Impact Fund.

Program: Ethnic Office

Function

The Office of Ethnic Affairs began as separate state entities representing four of the state's ethnic minority populations. They were established by executive order of the governor in 1996. In 2005, the four offices, along with the Martin Luther King Human Rights Commission were combined into one managerial entity, the Office of Ethnic Affairs. The office has specific representation from the four ethnic minority populations: Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino and Pacific Islanders.

The Governor appoints a director to oversee the Office of Ethnic Affairs and a representative for each ethnic minority community. The expectations of the program are outlined in the executive order:

1. that state government should be responsive to all citizens;
2. that close communications between these citizens and the governor is necessary to maintain a responsive government; and,
3. state government should advocate and promote cooperation and understanding between government agencies and ethnic citizens.

To ensure that these needs are met, the Office is mandated with the following:

• to meet with respective Advisory Councils on a regular basis to address the councils' findings and recommendations regarding the state government's responsiveness;
• to review state policy, agencies, programs, and projects to determine impact on the community;
• to inform and recommend to state agencies and other entities how they can increase or improve responsiveness;
• to develop a work plan that addresses identified state issues and set monitoring strategies;
• to inform each respective community about available state resources; and
• to report to the Governor's Office on an annual basis about the state government's responsiveness to the communities of Utah and other issues impacting these citizens.

Funding Detail

Funding for the Office of Ethnic Affairs is appropriated from the General Fund and dedicated credit revenues. Dedicated credit revenues for this program are generated by outside donations.

Program: Community Assistance

Function

The Community Assistance program administers the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and CDBG - ARRA (CDBG - R). It also provides staff leadership for and financial management of the Permanent Community Impact Fund, the Navajo Revitalization Fund, the Uintah Basin Revitalization Fund, and the Private Activity Bond Board.

The Community Development Block Grant

The Community Development Block Grant program provides funds in the state's non-entitlement communities for public facilities, infrastructure housing and economic development opportunities. (Non-entitlement communities are defined as those cities or counties with populations of less than 50,000 or 200,000 people respectively. Entitlement communities get their CDBG funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.) The Community Development Block Grant Policy Committee is made up of elected officials from each of the seven Association of Government offices and provides oversight of the program.

The Community Development Block Grant program and CDBG - R are programs funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. CDBG is authorized by Executive Order dated November 1, 1985. The programs are primarily tools for community development to create and maintain a suitable living environment. However, the programs also have a significant economic development component. CDBG has capitalized six regional revolving loan funds in the state and also offers interim loans to eligible businesses.

NSP is a federal program designed for emergency assistance to purchase and/or redevelop abandoned, forclosed, or residential properties. State grantees act directly to implement this program.

The Permanent Community Impact Fund

The Permanent Community Impact Fund is defined in the Community Development Capital Program. Administrative funding and costs for staff support and board expenses as well as staff time spent on Federal Mineral Lease and Exchanged Land Mineral Lease receipt analysis for the state are included in the Community Assistance program.

Navajo Revitalization Fund Board and the Uintah Basin Revitalization fund Board

The Navajo Revitalization Fund Board and the Uintah Basin Revitalization Fund Board are authorized in statute to maximize the long-term benefit of state severance taxes paid on oil and natural gas production. Revenue from these taxes fund grants and loans to agencies of the state, county or tribal government in San Juan County for the benefit of the Navajo Nation members and for Ute Indian Tribe members of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Duchesne and Uintah counties. Administrative costs for staff support are included in the Community Assistance program.

The Private Activity Bond (PAB)

The Private Activity Bond (PAB) is Utah's tax-exempt bonding authority creating a lower cost, long-term source of capital under the Federal Tax Act of 1986. Administrative costs for staff support are included in the Community Assistance program.

Funding Detail

Most of the funding for the Community Assistance comes from the federal government. The resources are then used to pass on to local communities to support infrastructure type projects.

Program: Housing Development

Function

The purpose of the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund (OWHLF) is to provide funding for acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of the highest quality housing possible at a reasonable cost to insure that low and moderate income residents of the state have access to affordable, safe, decent and sanitary housing. This year, the OWHLF program also includes implementation of the Governor's ARRA Foreclosure Remediation Program. Loans and other financial assistance are made for multiple family rental properties, single family rehabilitation and home ownership assistance and for special needs housing for the homeless. These and other activities assist in improving the availability and quality of housing for low income persons statewide.

Statutory Authority

Statutory Authority for the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund (OWHLF) is found in UCA 9-4-701 to 708. The statute sets up the requirements for distribution of state and federal funds. Funding is utilized for loans, grants, and education as provided in statute.

Funding Detail

Funding for housing development is from the federal government and General Fund.

Program: Special Housing

Function

The Special Housing program pays for utilities, building renovations and leased space for the homeless and those with low incomes. It also provides housing for the chronically mentally ill, disabled homeless and AIDS victims. All resources are federal funds but only one program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), is a formula grant. All other funding, including the Shelter Plus Care Program and Rural Development, are competitive grants.

Funding Detail

Funding for Special Housing comes from federal funds and is passed through to eligible entities.

Program: Homeless Committee

Function

The Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund was created in 1983. It is administered by the State Community Services Office under the direction of the State Homeless Coordinating Committee (SHCC). Programs include Critical Needs Housing, Emergency Shelter Grants, the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund, the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP), an ARRA funded program. Programs provide statewide funding to social service agencies for homeless services.

The SHCC was established to facilitate a better understanding of the concept of homelessness in the community and to assist in the allocation of homeless funds received from the state and federal government. Funds are disbursed in a competitive and/or formula-driven process to private and public non-profit providers of homeless services, local housing authorities, and associations of governments to support efforts to create affordable housing, shelter and support services for homeless individuals and families and victims of domestic violence.

The SHCC provides funds through the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund and other programs to public and non-profit entities that provide services to the homeless, poor, and victims of domestic violence across the state. More than 80 agencies provide services that assist these families and individuals to become self-sufficient. Methods used include, but are not limited to, rental assistance, temporary shelter, transitional housing, case management and mental health services.

The SHCC also coordinates the State's 10-Year Plan to end chronic homelessness. In concert with the Housing First model, the program coordinates permanent supportive housing with comprehensive integrated services such as mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, social security issues, veteran's issues etc. The 10-Year Plan was drafted in 2004 and local implementation continues.

Funding Detail

Funding from the Homeless Committee comes from the General Fund, federal funds, donations from the Utah State Individual Income Tax Form and other revenues. Most of the funding is passed through to homeless providers in the state to provide services.

Program: HEAT

Function

The federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which also operates under the state title of Home Energy Assistance Target (HEAT) Program, is a 100 percent federally-funded block grant program used to provide utility assistance to low-income households during the winter months. This program is administered in partnership with local agencies such as the Associations of Government (AOGs) and non-profit agencies.

The HEAT program provides the following services:

1. home heating assistance during the winter to low-income, elderly, and disabled households;
2. home weatherization to improve energy efficiency and decrease utility costs for low-income, elderly, and disabled households;
3. utility crisis intervention assistance to low-income, elderly and disabled households to prevent utility services from being disconnected;
4. administration and coordination of the utility moratorium program;
5. certification of eligibility for the Home Electric Lifeline Program (HELP).

Benefit funds that are unused at the end of the heat season (typically, November through March), can be sub-awarded for home weatherization activity (between 15-25 percent of the total original award).

The Utah Telephone Assistance Program (UTAP) provides low-income families at 135 percent below the poverty level and/or families receiving public assistance with a discount on their monthly telephone bill and/or and installation rebate.

Funding Detail

Funding for the HEAT program is federal funds; funding for UTAP and HELP are provided through dedicated credit revenues. Dedicated credit revenues are generated by outside donations.

Program: Weatherization Assistance

Function

The Weatherization Assistance program helps reduce energy consumption and utility bills for low-income households. Priority is given to the elderly, disabled, families with pre-school age children, those with very high heating bills, and other at-risk households. Utah residents who are below 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for a one-time non-cash grant to make energy efficient improvements to their homes. In addition to energy efficiency, the program seeks to increase health and safety through heating system improvements and to increase the overall comfort of the occupants.

The Division administers the program through local government and non-profit agencies. Primary funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Local agencies conduct a computerized energy audit on each home to identify the most cost effective improvements to make. They then implement a wide variety of improvements including: insulation air leakage testing and sealing, comprehensive heating system evaluations and tune-ups, client education, and electrical base load reduction measures. As a result of weatherization, participating households realize an average annual savings in excess of 25 percent. The Utah Weatherization Program has been very successful in leveraging its appropriation of State funding to gain large amounts of federal, private and utility funding. Utah Power, Questar Gas and the Utah Public Service Commission are contributing financial partners in the funding of the Weatherization Program.

This year, in accordance with the President's priority to decrease the country's dependence on fossil fuels, the Weatherization Program received a substantial increase in funding through the Federal Economy Stimulus Legislation (ARRA).

To meet the demand for energy auditors and weatherization contractors, the program has developed a permanent training center in Clearfield, Utah, and has expanded it's role as a trainer in weatherization activity.

Funding Detail

Most of the funding for Weatherization is allocated from federal funds and dedicated credit revenues. The $15,500 General Fund provides the state match for the federal appropriation. The appropriation is passed through to eligible entities.

Program: Community Services

Function

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and CSBG - ARRA (CSBG - R) programs are federal formula-based appropriations administered by the State Community Services Office for community action programs (CAPs) across the state. The community action programs provide local leadership and support to combat the causes, as well as the effects of poverty.

There are nine community action programs serving all 29 counties in Utah. Community action programs implement a self-help philosophy through a process of innovative, practical and timely programs and services that emphasize self-sufficiency while addressing the immediate financial crisis needs of low-income people. Community action programs serve as a catalyst to coordinate efforts, to mobilize resources and to encourage other organizations to deliver needed services.

Funding Detail

Community Services primarily uses federal funds and some state revenues to provide services to eligible populations.

Program: Commission on Volunteers

Function

The mission of the Utah Commission on Volunteers is to improve communities through service and volunteering in Utah.

Statutory Authority

Statutory authority for the Utah Commission on Volunteers is provided in UCA 9-1-803. The Commission is charged with finding innovative and creative ways to increase volunteerism in the state.

Funding Detail

Funding for the Commission on Volunteers is mainly federal funds. This year, the Commission also began administering federal stimulus funding with a small portion attributable to the General Fund and dedicated credit revenues. Dedicated credits from this program come from outside donations and fees for services provided. Most of the funding is passed through to the community organizations.

Program: Emergency Food Network

Function

Funding provided to the Emergency Food Network (EFN) is administered by the State Community Services Office for distribution to emergency food pantries statewide. The funds assist local food banks and other providers with the storage and distribution of emergency and supplemental nutrition to households in poverty. Emergency food pantries utilize a variety of resources. These are mostly state and local funds leveraged with in-kind resources that include food and volunteer support.

Funding Detail

Funding for the program is from the General Fund with resources being passed through to eligible entities.