Community Development Block Grant

A minor amendment to the City of Goshen's CDBG Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2021 has been prepared and is available for public review and comment. The proposed amendment is available for review for 3 days beginning June 8, 2021, and continuing through June 10, 2021. According to the City’s Citizen Participation Plan, budgetary changes less than or equal to 30% of the CDBG budget are considered minor amendments. Only the affected sections of the 2021 Annual Action Plan are included, and changes to the document can be found in red.

The CDBG Annual Action Plan for Program Year (PY) 2021 will be revised to update the PY 2021 budget to reflect a corrected entitlement allocation, an increase of $4,140 which is an approximate 1.2% change to the existing budget. On May 14, 2021, the City of Goshen was notified of the entitlement allocation error by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In the interest of expediting actions to respond to the error whilst still providing opportunity for public participation and comment, HUD has issued a waiver to reduce the public comment period to no less than 3 days. The proposed use of funds increases the budget for the Multi-Unit Housing Rehabilitation activity to reflect the corrected allocation. The update is shown as follows:

Comments may be submitted to Meaghan Bylsma, Goshen City Planning, 204 E. Jefferson, Suite 4, Goshen, IN 46528; 574-533-9370; meaghanbylsma@goshencity.com, on or before 3 days after and including June 8, 2021 and no later than June 10, 2021. A summary of comments and responses will be submitted to HUD.

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The Planning Department manages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds received by the City of Goshen from the federal government.

Funds are provided to help limited income homeowners maintain their properties, for infrastructure reconstruction, and for grants to public service agencies.

Each Annual Action Plan is prepared following the priority needs and specific objectives for community and neighborhood development in the City of Goshen for the CDBG Five-year Consolidated Plan (2020-2024):

1) Housing Opportunities

• Improve owner-occupied housing through rehab
• Increase quality of rental housing
• Increase transitional housing options
• Reduce housing cost burden through higher wage job opportunities and job training
• Provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless
• Support affordable housing creation and preservation
• Provide emergency shelter for homeless individuals and families
• Expand housing options and assistance
• Maintain and facilitate use of Housing Choice voucher program

2) Access to Services

• Increase access to affordable healthcare
• Increase services for mentally ill
• Support programs for youth
• Increase access to affordable childcare and early childhood education
• Support services for elderly and the disabled
• Support public transportation
• Provide emergency shelter for homeless individuals and families
• Provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless
• Support counseling/advocacy for underserved populations
• Increase access to substance abuse prevention and treatment
• Support life skill development
• Support nutrition programs and food assistance

3) Neighborhood Revitalization

• Improve owner-occupied housing through rehab
• Remove blighted residential properties
• Address issue of vacant/foreclosed houses
• Increase quality of rental housing
• Support public infrastructure projects
• Repair/replace existing sidewalks
• Support neighborhood parks

For any questions regarding the CDBG program, please contact Meaghan Bylsma in the Planning Department at:

Mailing Address:
204 E. Jefferson St., Suite 4
Goshen, IN 46528

Phone: 574-533-9370

Email: meaghanbylsma@goshencity.com