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Deputy mayor outlines $120M Program Year 52 Consolidated Plan; committee seeks CLA report on timeliness, CDBG drop and HOME uses
Summary
Deputy Mayor Brenda Shockley presented the mayor's Program Year 52 Consolidated Plan, citing roughly $120 million in HUD entitlement grants and a proposal to use $30.6 million in HOME funds for multifamily acquisition; councilmembers pressed staff about a $1 million CDBG reduction, displacement, HOME's permitted uses and implementation timeliness and instructed the CLA to report back.
Deputy Mayor Brenda Shockley told the Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging and Disability Committee that the Program Year 52 Consolidated Plan combines the city's HUD entitlement grants (CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA) into an integrated strategy for affordable housing, homelessness reduction, business support and community development and that the plan allocates roughly $120,000,000 to city projects.
Shockley highlighted priorities including Family Source Centers, domestic violence and human trafficking shelter operations, the Handy Worker program and an acquisition proposal that would dedicate about $30,600,000 in HOME funds toward multifamily property acquisitions to expand housing capacity by up to an estimated 250 beds. She said the plan will be leveraged with other local sources, such as United to House Los Angeles, to maximize housing investments.
Councilmembers asked whether projects in the plan could meet federal timeliness and expenditure requirements. Program staff Rebecca Ronquillo described staff's vetting process: about 55 applications were reviewed and color-coded (green/yellow/red) based on eligibility and expected ability to spend in a timely manner. She said funded projects are those staff believe can meet federal compliance and spending timelines.
Councilmember Nazarian raised a question about a roughly $1,000,000 reduction in the city's CDBG entitlement from the prior year. Staff said the federal HUD allocation fell partly because HUD's calculations showed fewer low-to-moderate-income households in Los Angeles; staff said their assessment suggests displacement and being priced out of the city are likely contributors and offered to follow up with more analysis.
Councilmember Jurado asked whether HOME funds can be used for interim housing; counsel and staff responded that HOME regulations permit acquisition, preservation and interim housing in some circumstances, and staff said the current mayoral proposal focuses on acquisition of multifamily units to increase beds. Jurado asked the CLA to provide a report clarifying the Home Investment Partnerships program's legal purpose and how the city intends to allocate and program those dollars.
Councilmember Padilla asked for an update on the sidewalk vending cart program and Daisy Hernandez of the Economic Development Commission said the city is prepared to deploy cards and that the application is open; additional PY52 funding would support technical assistance and deployment of more carts.
The chair instructed the Chief Legislative Analyst, with assistance from CIFD and the City Administrative Officer, to report back on the Program Year 52 Consolidated Plan, including timeliness feasibility, potential CDBG-funded projects that may not meet timely expenditure tests, proposed HOME acquisition allocations (interim vs permanent housing), and other administrative allocations. The committee continued the item pending that CLA report.
