Sponsor: Community & Economic Development
Title
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2025-2029 Community Development Block Grant - HOME Investment Partnerships Act Consolidated Plan and 2025 Annual Action Plan
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the 2025-2029 Community Development Block Grant - HOME Investment Partnerships Act Consolidated Plan and 2025-2026 Community Development Block Grant - HOME Investment Partnerships Act Annual Action Plan.
2. Authorize the County Manager to accept the 2025-2026 estimated entitlement award amount of $1,178,031 of Community Development Block Grant and $511,510 of HOME Investment Partnerships Act funds.
3. Authorize the County Manager to execute documents with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, related to the submission and execution of the 2025-2029 Community Development Block Grant - HOME Investment Partnerships Act Consolidated Plan and 2025-2026 Community Development Block Grant - HOME Investment Partnerships Act Annual Action Plan.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County has directly received Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding as an “urban county” for more than 30 years. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides these annual grants to “develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.” The Dakota County Consortium is the “participating jurisdiction” for Ramsey County’s receipt of HOME Investment Partnerships Act Program Funds (HOME), which are limited to projects constructing affordable housing in suburban Ramsey County. The Consortium consists of Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington Counties, as well as the city of Woodbury.
The Consolidated Plan, required by HUD, guides the investment of entitlement CDBG and HOME funds over a five-year period. The Consolidated Plan is designed to help local jurisdictions assess their affordable housing and community development needs, market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for community members and organizations to provide input and identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding. The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified in the consolidated planning process. Ramsey County reports on accomplishments and progress towards Consolidated Plan goals in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. The 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan will be the first annual plan of the new five-year Consolidated Plan.
The 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan/Proposed Use of Funds addresses the needs of low and moderate-income persons in the suburban Ramsey County service area. Overall priorities for this year’s funding include public services related to housing instability and housing rehabilitation, after consultation with suburban municipalities and community partners. The plan addresses the statutory requirements for receiving annual entitlement funds from HUD and is consistent with department strategies to foster prosperity and access to opportunities.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
In Ramsey County, a higher proportion of Black/African American, American Indian and other residents of color are renters when compared to White residents. A higher proportion of renters of color and American Indian residents are cost-burdened by housing costs compared to White residents. According to the Mapping Prejudice Project and the Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan, Ramsey County also has one of the largest homeownership gaps between White residents and Black residents in the nation. Strategic investments in affordable rental and owner-occupied housing by the county can help reduce these racial disparities in housing. Furthermore, HOME-funded units are 100% affordable and subject to rigorous fair housing requirements. This prohibits discrimination by direct providers of housing who make housing unavailable to persons because of race or color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Goals and objectives for CDBG and HOME funds were set during the consolidated planning process, which includes community consultation and participation activities. Community involvement and consultation started in Fall 2024 and was completed in Spring 2025. Engagement activities included one-on-one interviews with key stakeholder groups, presentations to local cities and departments, and a survey to collect additional feedback. As required by federal statute two public meetings were held to gather community input on community needs, priorities and the proposed use of funds. The meetings occurred October 28, 2024, at a local grocery store and April 17, 2025, at the Roseville Library. Furthermore, a public notice for a 30-day public comment period was published in the Pioneer Press.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
In a typical federal fiscal year CDBG and HOME entitlement communities are notified of their funding awards prior to the approval of an annual action plan as part of the congressional budget process. Due to delays in the federal budget as well as federal staffing changes, local communities have not been notified of their entitlement awards. This has delayed the annual CDBG solicitation process in which eligible applications are reviewed by staff and specific eligible activities with specific award amounts are recommended to the HRA. This year’s board action is atypical because specific activities are not recommended for approval. If Ramsey County receives an entitlement award in 2025 then staff will coordinate a solicitation process and complete a substantial amendment to the 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan. The amendment will require HRA approval. Ramsey County anticipates receiving a 2025 allocation of $1,178,031 in CDBG funding and $511,510 in HOME funding based off the amounts received in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. If the actual entitlement awards from HUD are smaller or larger than the anticipated award amounts, then all proposed funding amounts will increase or decrease proportionately.
Last Previous Action
On February 18, 2025, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority received a policy presentation on 2025-2029 Housing and Urban Development Consolidated Plan Updates.
On May 14, 2024, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved the 2024-25 Community Development Block Grant-HOME Investments Partnerships Act Annual Action Plan/Proposed Use of Funds (Resolution H2024-006).
Attachments
1. CDBG-HOME Public Notice, Affidavit and 2025-2026 CDBG-HOME Annual Action Plan
2. 2025-2029 CDBG-HOME Consolidated Plan