RESOLUTION NO. 240893

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Sponsor:  Director of Housing and Community Development Department

RESOLUTION - Expressing the Mayor and Council’s support of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Planning and Development FY24 Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) Round 2 Grant FR-6800-N-98; and directing the City Manager to submit a grant application in the amount of $7,000,000.00 for the HUD Community Planning and Development FY24 PRO Housing Grant.

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WHEREAS, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 210235 on May 6, 2021, establishing the Housing and Community Development Department to create and preserves homes, empower community members, and build Kansas City neighborhoods under its Vision for Housing Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Housing and Healthy Communities Goal Area within the Citywide Business Plan Goals list objectives to:

1.                     Maintain and increase affordable housing supply to meet the demands of a diverse population.

2.                     Broaden the capacity and innovative use of funding sources for affordable housing.

3.                     Invest in neighborhood stabilization and revitalization to reduce blight, ensure sustainable housing, and improve the well-being of residents while sustaining their diverse cultures.

4.                     Ensure all occupants of residences have quality efficient and healthy housing with minimal economic or regulatory barriers.

5.                     Address the various needs of the City’s most vulnerable populations; and

WHEREAS, on September 15, 2022, Resolution No. 220743 directed the City Manager to develop a plan to expedite affordable housing development by clearing titles on City, Land Bank and Homesteading Authority-owned vacant properties intended for sale and/or development; and

WHEREAS, on August 13, 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a $100,064,100.00 FY24 Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) Round 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite eligible participants, including local governments actively taking steps to remove barriers from affordable housing and seeking to increase housing production and lower housing costs over the long term; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City plans to use the award ceiling of $7,000,000.00 HUD FY24 Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grant funding to address significant local barriers which are hindering the development of new affordable housing units:

KC Land Bank Property Environmental Investigation and Remediation:                                               $3,000,000.00

Creation of a Revolving Loan Fund for Environmental Remediation:                                   1,000,000.00

Process Improvements and Property Assessment and Development:                                                    3,000,000.00                    

                                                                                                                                                    $7,000,000.00

These barriers include environmental investigation and remediation, permitting, voucher access, legal support for title clearance, and property planning; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the City Council hereby expresses support of the HUD Community Planning and Development FY24 Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) Grant application and the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s intent to provide matching local funds, as encouraged by the grant obligations.

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