Amended 2021 CDBG Annual Action Plan

Proposed Substantial Amendment to the City of Warwick’s
CDBG Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2021

March 17, 2022

Notice is hereby given that the City of Warwick proposes to amend its Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2021 (Fiscal Year 2021/2022).

In accordance with the Consolidated Plan requirements at 24CFR91.505(a) and the City’s Citizens Participation Plan, the Office of Housing & Community Development (“OHCD”)  is publishing notice of its intent to substantially amend its Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2021 (Fiscal year 2021/2022) in order to provide opportunity for public comment.

Summary of Proposed Changes are as Follows:
Reason for Amendment: The OHCD proposes to amend the 2021 Annual Action Plan to add additional Projects/Activities that address the continuing impacts of COVID-19 and its many variants.  The OHCD proposes to add the following Public Service Activities that will help prevent the spread, prepare for the impact of, and assist in the recovery from COVID-19 and its variants. 

  • Westbay Can of Peas Home Delivery
    (CDBG-CV Request - $20,000   Total Activity Budget - $155,803)

The Can of Peas program provides meal delivery service to shut in and disabled adults and provides case management services.  The numbers of individuals impacted has continued to grow during the Pandemic. Funds will be used to expand the hours of a part-time community health worker.

 

  • Westbay Hording Assistance
    (CDBG-CV Request - $15,000   Total Activity Budget - $69,347)

The Hording Assistance program in partnership with RI Office of Healthy Aging, WPD, and Thrive, provides assistance to redmeiate homes that have been identified as having a hording issue that have been expanding greatly as a result of the Pandemic and individuals aren’t able to access mental health services .  Funds will be used for contracted clean-up services of the properties. 

 

  • Westbay Elder Protective Services Program
    (CDBG-CV Request - $45,000    Total Activity Budget - $110,954)

The Elder Protective Services program in partnership RI Office of Healthy Aging provides case management services for elders that are suspected of being abused by a household member or are self abusing due to isolation and fear of COVID.  Funds will be used to provide salary support for a full-time Protective Services Case Manager. 

 

  • Westbay Rent, Mortgage & Utility Assistance Program
    (CDBG-CV Request - $75,000   Total Activity Budget – $2,957,530 )

The Rent, Mortgage, & Utilies Assitance program provides funds to those households that are behind on their rent, mortgage, and utilities due to financial hardship tied to COVID.  The funds will be used to leverage additional funds provide through the State’s Rent Relief RI and Low Income Water Assistance Programs. 

The total amount funded with CDBG-CV funds for the propsed amendments is $155,000. The OHCD propses to utilize $115,000 of uncommitted CDBG-CV funds and $40,000 form the CDBG-CV Micro-Enterprise Grant Assistance Project.  The proposed amendment will reduce the CDBG-CV Micro-Enterprise Grant Assistance Project from $250,000 to a total project of $210,000.

A copy of the proposed PY 2021 Amended Annual Action Plan can be viewed at the Office of Housing & Community Development, 61 Hoxsie Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island 02886 (former Randall Holden Elementary School) Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.  Or on the Office’s web page at https://www.warwickri.gov/community-development.  

Written comments will be received for thirty (30) days from the publication of this notice.  Comments must be received by the City of Warwick, Rhode Island at the following address on or before April 21, 2022:  Office of Housing & Community Development, 3275 Post Road, Warwick, Rhode Island, 02886, Attention:  William R. Facente, Acting Program Coordinator / Housing Officer and (401) 921-9688.  Comments may also be submitted via email at william.r.facente@warwickri.com.

Frank J. Picozzi
Mayor