State of Georgia FFY 2011 annual action plan for the consolidated plan July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

3

Citizen Participation

8

Sources of Funds

9

Annual Objectives TABLE 3A

11

Outcome Measures TABLE 3C

17

Geographic Distribution/Allocation Priorities

20

Annual Housing Goals TABLE 3B

21

Programs

HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)

22

Method of Distribution

22

Compliance Criteria

24

Tenant-Based Rental

29

Affirmative Marketing/Minority and Women Business Outreach

29

Refinancing

33

Monitoring

33

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Method of Distribution

36

Proposed Programs

37

Compliance Criteria

38

Program Income Policy

55

Reallocated & Recapture Funds

56

Loan Guarantee Program (Section 108)

56

Monitoring

64

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)

Purpose

65

Eligible Activities

65

Homeless Definitions

68

Method of Distribution

69

Monitoring

72

Housing Opportunities for People With Aids (HOPWA)

Method of Distribution

73

Proposed Programs

74

Compliance Criteria

74

Monitoring

77

Homeless and Special Needs Activities

78

Other Actions

Obstacles to Meet Underserved Needs

87

Maintain Affordable Housing

87

Barriers of Affordable Housing

88

Reduce Lead-Based Paint Hazards

88

Anti-Poverty Strategies

89

Develop Institutional Structure

90

Enhance Public & Private Partnership Coordination

91

Public Housing Initiatives

92

Consolidated Plan Updates

92

Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

93

Appendices

Certifications

I

Forms 424

II

Summary of Public Comments

III

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is the lead agency overseeing the implementation of the Consolidated Plan and is responsible for the administrative oversight of the State's federal funded programs. This Action Plan is for the receipt of Federal Fiscal Year 2011 funds during the State Fiscal Year 2012 beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2012.
The plan focuses on the use of funds from HUD's four consolidated formula programs Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA). It includes information about the overall goals and objectives for the coming year with a description of available resources and proposed actions to address the identified needs. In addition, the Plan includes information about the specific activities and allocation of available resources for the federal funded programs covered in the Action Plan.
The data collected from the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) on each performance measure is reported annually in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and submitted to HUD by September 30. The CAPER is available on DCA's web page at:
www.dca.ga.gov/communities/CommunityInitiatives/programs/ConsolidatedPlan.
Annual Objectives
The State's priorities are divided into two categories based on function: (1) to directly benefit low- and moderate-income households and (2) to improve the production capacity of affordable housing providers. A summary of the objectives for the program year is located in the HUD TABLE 3A STATEMENT OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL OBJECTIVES.
Direct Benefit Priorities
To increase the number of Georgia's low- and moderate-income households who have obtained affordable rental housing which is free of overcrowded and structurally substandard conditions.
To increase the number of Georgia's low- and moderate-income households who have achieved and are maintaining homeownership in housing free of overcrowded and structurally substandard conditions.
To increase the access of Georgia's homeless to a continuum of housing and supportive services which address their housing, economic, health, and social needs.
To increase the access of Georgia's special need populations to a continuum of housing and supportive services which address their housing, economic, health, and social needs.
To increase the access of Georgia's Hispanic population to a continuum of housing and supportive services that address their housing, economic, and social needs.
To increase the access of Georgia's elderly population to a continuum of housing and supportive services that address their housing, economic, and social needs.
To provide assistance to local governments to meet their community and economic development needs.

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

3

Production Improvement Priorities
To increase coordination, strengthen linkages and encourage the formation of partnerships between Georgia's private sector housing developers, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, public sector agencies, foundations, and other providers.
To increase the capacity and skills of local nonprofit organizations and other providers to offer housing assistance.
To improve the responsiveness of state and local policies to affordable housing issues.
The State recognizes that its efforts to improve the production of housing and supportive service providers will be reflected in the number of households, which directly benefit from their assistance. Therefore, the state has not established separate, quantifiable objectives for its production improvement goals within its Strategic and Action Plans.
Performance Outcome Measurement
The State's program goals and objectives for the upcoming program year are consistent with and support these HUD goals identified in Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (as amended). The three basic objectives of these formula programs will include the provision of (1) providing decent housing, (2) providing a suitable living environment and (3) proving an economic opportunity.
The outcome categories include: (1) availability/accessibility, (2) affordability, and (3) sustainability; promoting livable or viable communities. The combination of objectives and outcome categories results in a matrix of nine possible outcome statements that encompass the various possible program activities.
Accessibility for the Accessibility for the Accessibility for the purpose purpose of creating suitable purpose of providing decent of creating economic living environments (1,1) affordable housing (1,2) opportunities (1,3)

Affordability for the Affordability for the Affordability for the purpose

purpose of creating suitable purpose of providing decent of creating economic

living environments (2,1) affordable housing (2,2)

opportunities (2,3)

Sustainability for the Sustainability for the Sustainability for the purpose

purpose of creating suitable purpose of providing decent of creating economic

living environments (3,1) affordable housing (3,2)

opportunities (3,3)

Decent housing: The provision of decent housing assists both the homeless and persons at risk of becoming homeless in obtaining housing; retains the existing units in the housing stock; increases the availability of permanent housing in standard condition and at affordable cost to low- and moderate-income families. Decent housing also increases the supply of supportive housing with services needed to enable persons with special needs to live independently, and provides housing affordable to low to moderate-income persons that are accessible to job opportunities.

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

4

Suitable living environment: The provision of a suitable living environment improves the safety and livability of neighborhoods; increases access to quality public and private facilities and services; reduces the isolation of income groups within a community or geographical area by offering housing opportunities for persons of lower-income and revitalizes deteriorating or deteriorated neighborhoods; restores, enhances, and preserves natural and physical features of special value for historic, architectural or aesthetic reasons; and conserves energy resources.
Provide economic opportunity: The provision of expanded economic opportunities creates and retains jobs; establishes, stabilizes, and expands small businesses (including micro-businesses); provides public services concerned with employment; provides jobs to low income persons living in areas affected by those programs and activities; makes available mortgage financing for low-income persons at reasonable rates using nondiscriminatory lending practices; provides access to capital and credit for development activities that promote the long-term economic and social viability of the community; and provides empowerment and self-sufficiency opportunities for lowincome persons to reduce generational poverty in federally-assisted and public housing.
The State's annual outcome measures for the upcoming program year are described in the HUD TABLE 3C OUTCOME MEASURES.
Past Performance
The State continues to address its priorities and objectives related to affordable housing and community development issues and the administration of related HUD-funded programs. While production results have sometimes exceeded or fallen short of stated goals within the Consolidated Plan, the State concludes that significant progress has been made to address the priorities and objectives outlined in its Consolidated Plan document. Overall, and in spite of fluctuations in federal program funding, changes in program features, and the generally challenging economic climate, production was consistent.
DCA continues to evaluate and refine its efforts in respect to program implementation. Internally, work groups have been established within DCA to address issues that may influence capacity and service delivery. DCA also regularly receives feedback from our external partners to improve the delivery of our housing and community development programs. These partnerships may include other state agencies, advocacy groups, governmental and quasi-governmental organizations, nonprofits, housing authorities, individuals and from the private sector such as banks, mortgage companies, credit unions, real estate professionals, and attorneys.
Below is a summary of the State's past performance to meet the objectives identified in the adopted Consolidated Plan.

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

5

Exhibit A: FFY2010/SFY2011 Achievements

OBJECTIVES

GOALS

ACTUAL

Rehabilitate or construct affordable rental housing units for low and moderate-income households

780 units

444 units

Provide rental assistance to low or moderate-income

16,000

households

households

17,532 households

Assist low or moderate-income households with rehabilitation or construction of housing so that they may achieve and maintain homeownership in housing free of overcrowded and structurally substandard conditions.

57 households
and/or individuals

138 households
and/or individuals

Assist low or moderate-income households with down payment assistance so that they may achieve and maintain homeownership in housing free of overcrowded and structurally substandard

1,605 households
and/or individuals

1,075 households
and/or individuals

Make funding awards to organizations that provide housing and supportive services necessary to break the cycle of homelessness.

7,000 homeless persons assisted daily

7,280 homeless persons assisted
daily

Make funding awards to organizations that provide housing and supportive services necessary for Special Need households to achieve decent, safe and sanitary living conditions.

500 households

6,288 households

During the SFY2010, the State reported that 37,931 low- and moderate-income households were assisted through the HOME, CDBG, ESG, or HOPWA programs. Housing Choice Voucher Programs beneficiaries are not included in the above total; therefore, the total number assisted will not equal the total beneficiaries.
Approximately 27% of the renters and homeowners assisted were extremely low income (0 - 30% MFI), 31% were low income (31% - 50% MFI), and 42% were moderateincome (51 - 80% MFI). Seventy-six (76) percent of the recipients of the federal funds were of a minority racial or ethnic group. Non-Hispanic households comprised 91% of all the households assisted with the federal funds.
During the SFY2010, the State administered several program to benefit the homeless, including the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and the Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Program. The State collected the data from IDIS and documented that 30,565 clients received emergency services, 5,422 clients received transitional housing assistance and 67,680 clients received supportive services.
The Balance of State Continuum application resulted in the renewal of 56 projects and the funding of seven new projects. The total amount awarded was $11.7 million dollars.

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

6

The State administered $1,726,278 in HOPWA funds and assisted seven (7) project sponsors specialized in working with persons affected by HIV/AIDS. During the FFY2010, the project sponsors awarded the funds assisted 409 households (413 persons with HIV/AIDS and 327 other family members).

The State is working hard to further the primary national CDBG objective of developing viable urban and rural communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environments, and expanding economic opportunities, principally for low-and moderateincome persons. In general, the State is making significant progress in meeting this objective. The State achieved this goal by awarding 75 CDBG grants for all categories totaling $41,846,985. This included carryover and reallocated funds from FFY2009. Twenty-six (26) percent of the awards were allocated to urban communities and the remaining awards designated to rural areas.

Exhibit B describes the type of projects awarded based on the low-moderate income demographics.

Exhibit B Analysis of CDBG Annual Competition

FFY2010/SFY2011

LM

Type of Projects

Projects

Award

People People

Multi Activity

Multi Activity Programs

3

$2,400,000

309

280

Housing

Housing

6

$2,996,863

202

195

Public Facilities:

Developmental Disability Center

1

$ 500,000

36

34

Domestic Violence Solutions

1

$ 500,000

185

185

Drainage Improvements

1

$ 500,000

80

57

Drainage/Street Improvements Head Start Facility Health Center Multi Infrastructure Improvements Multi Purpose Center Senior Center Sewer Improvements Street Improvements Water Improvements Water/Sewer Improvements

10

$ 4,740,323

1,126

978

1

$ 451,713

162

162

1

$ 500,000

1,750 1,750

3

$ 1,500,000

556

536

1

$ 500,000

4,200 4,116

5

$ 2,300,000

1,673 1,673

27

$12,632,335

7,704 6,779

1

$ 470,538

53

49

11

$ 4,326,725

3,910 3,207

3

$ 1,324,908

970

899

LM %
91%
97%
94% 100% 71%
87% 100% 100% 96% 98% 100% 88% 92% 82% 93%

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

7

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
In 1996, the State adopted a citizen's participation plan to establish the policies and procedures used to solicit citizen's input for the Consolidated Plan process. The objective is to encourage participation in the planning process from low- and moderateincome persons, particularly those living in underserved areas that are affected by the proposed community and housing developments.
Public Hearings
Citizen participation and public input played an important role in establishing the content of the FFY2011 Annual Action Plan. A comprehensive effort was undertaken to solicit public input before developing the Action Plan. The meeting notices were distributed to various major newspapers throughout Georgia to alert the citizens that the State request their participation is structuring the Plan. The major newspapers that published the notices included Albany Herald, Athens Banner-Herald, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Augusta Chronicle, Dalton Citizen News, Gainesville Times, Macon Telegraph, Rome News Tribune, Savannah Morning News Press, and Valdosta Daily Times. In addition, the public notice was posted on DCA's web page and a programmatic email was distributed to the division's members list.
During the input public meeting, DCA's staff provided the citizens with an overview of the FFY2010-2012 Consolidated Plan, Strategic Plan, and the Annual Action Plan. The amount of federal assistance that the State expects through the CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA programs was discussed as well as recent CAPER accomplishments.
Citizen Comments
The State followed the same procedure described above to release the draft document for the public to review and comment for thirty-days. All public comments received through the citizen participation process are included the final Annual Action Plan in Appendix III.

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

8

SOURCES OF FUNDS

The State expects to utilize a variety of federal and non-federal resources to address its housing and community development needs during the planning year. These resources are allocated to carry out the activities performed by the state and local governments. Local government and other agencies awarded funds are encouraged to use match funding to make a greater impact in the community. CDBG, HOME, and ESG require a match contribution to generate additional investment in planned activities.

Local government applicants for the CDBG Program can receive additional points for providing evidences of other resources (i.e. local general revenue, other federal and state loans or grant funds, and private commitments) for the proposed project. Those other resources are used to reach our matching requirements.

ESG recipients are required to match the HUD funds with an equal amount from another resource. However, HOPWA recipients are not required to match federal funding but leveraging other funds is encouraged to ensure sustainability of supportive services.

Federal Resources

The State receives annual allocation from HUD's federal housing resources. The FFY2011 funding allocations are based on the HUD estimates of funds available release April 2011, which is subject to change. The State will adjust the final HOME funding allocation using the percentage method across the program activities. The CDBG funding allocation adjustments will be to the set asides for administration, technical assistance, and the Annual Competition activities.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)

$36,631,109 $21,491,880 $ 2,277,822 $ 2,019,428

Non-Federal Resources

Mortgage Revenue Bond Proceeds - provide loans from the bond proceeds at low interest rates for qualified home buyers. First mortgage loans are available statewide through a participating lender. The program offers five rate categories based on the loan type and/or credit score along with the loan-to-value ratio.

State of Georgia Housing Tax Credit provides a state housing tax credit as an incentive for the development of affordable housing projects. The purpose of this credit is to encourage the investment in affordable rental housing projects, which will in turn increase the availability of rental housing units for Georgians.

Georgia Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless provides funding assistance for emergency shelter, essential services, rental assistance, and stabilization services. The program is the first step in a continuum of assistance to enable homeless individuals and families to move toward independent living as well as to prevent homelessness.

Re-Entry Partnership Housing Program (RPH) provides housing to convicted felons who remain in prison after the parole board has authorized their release due solely to having no residential options. The RPH providers offer the parolee a stable housing environment and the essential supportive services to help stabilize their lives to remain crime free using resources made available by the Department of Corrections.

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

9

OneGeorgia Authority provides grants and loans to local government primarily in rural areas for economic development with 1/3 of the state's tobacco settlement of $1.6 billion to assist the state's most economically challenged areas. Financial assistances include financial equity, emergency telephone services, internet high-speed services, infrastructure improvements, business development, airport improvements, and venture capital financing.
Georgia Home Access Program provides accessibility and home modifications for individuals or families with a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. The State formed a collaborative agreement with the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission to provide the service through the approved network of contract administrators.
Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities Community Services Program provides new services to individuals by 2015 with serious and persistent mental illness that are transitioning from state hospitals, jails, prisons, and homelessness who have no other funding source to attain housing and for whom other housing benefits are not available.

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

10

STATEMENT OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL OBJECTIVES
The State plans to accomplish the following production summarized in Table 3A during SFY2012 (FFY2011) using its allocation of federal HOME, CDBG, ESG and HOPWA monies ("Consolidated Funds").

HUD TABLE 3A - SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL OBJECTIVES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

Specific Obj. #

Outcome/Objective

Sources of Funds

Specific Annual Objectives

Performance Indicators

Program Expected Actual Percent Year Number Number Completed

DH-1.2

Accessibility for the purpose of providing decent affordable housing

DH-1.2.1.1 Construct affordable rental

Number of

2010

148

housing units for extremely low- HOME

affordable rental 2011

148

income households.

housing units

Program

2012

148

Income

GOAL

444

DH-1.2.1.2 Construct affordable rental

Number of

2010

223

housing units for low-income

HOME

affordable rental 2011

223

households.

Program

housing units

2012

222

Income

DH-1.2.1.3

Construct affordable rental housing units for moderateincome households.

GOAL

668

Number of

2010

58

HOME

affordable rental 2011

57

housing units

Program

2012

57

Income

GOAL

172

DH-1.2.2.1 Assist extremely low-income

HOME Number of

2010

3

households with the construction

affordable

2011

3

of housing so that they may achieve homeownership.

Program

housing units for 2012

3

Income

GOAL

9

DH-1.2.2.2 Assist low-income households

HOME Number of

2010

9

with the construction of housing

affordable

2011

8

so that they may achieve

housing units

homeownership.

Program

2012

8

Income

GOAL

25

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

11

HUD TABLE 3A - SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL OBJECTIVES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

DH-1.2

Accessibility for the purpose of providing Decent Affordable Housing

DH-1.2.2.3 Assist moderate-income

Number of

2010

9

households with the construction HOME

affordable

2011

of housing so that they may

housing units

8

achieve homeownership.

Program

2012

8

Income

DH-1.2.3.0
DH-2.2 DH-2.2.1.1

Assist Hispanic households to access the continuum of housing and/or supportive housing.

HOME
CDBG HOPWA

GOAL
Number of Hispanic households assisted

2010 2011 2012

ESG HCV

GOAL

Affordability for the purpose of providing Decent Affordable Housing

Provide extremely low-income households with rental assistance.

HOPWA
HCV

Number of households assisted

2010 2011 2012

25 1,640 1,640 1,640
4,920
8,874 8,874 8,873

DH-2.2.1.2 DH-2.2.1.3

Provide low-income households with rental assistance.
Provide moderate-income households with rental assistance.

S+C
HOPWA
HCV

GOAL
Number of households assisted

S+C
HOPWA HCV

GOAL
Number of households assisted

2010 2011 2012
2010 2011 2012

26,621 7,867 7,867 7,866
23,600 35 34 34

S+C

GOAL

103

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

12

HUD TABLE 3A - SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL OBJECTIVES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

DH-2.2

Affordability for the purpose of providing Decent Affordable Housing

DH-2.2.2.1 Assist extremely low-income

Number

2010

87

households with down payment HOME

receiving down 2011

87

assistance so that they may

payment

achieve homeownership.

Program

assistance

2012

87

Income

GOAL

261

DH-2.2.2.2 Assist low-income households

Number

2010

318

with down payment assistance HOME

receiving down 2011

318

so that they may achieve

payment

homeownership.

Program

assistance

2012

317

Income

GOAL

953

DH-2.2.2.3 Assist moderate-income

Number

2010

520

households with down payment HOME

receiving down 2011

519

assistance so that they may

payment

achieve homeownership.

Program

assistance

2012

519

Income

DH-2.2.3

Assist households with home buyers education so that they may achieve homeownership.

HUD Housing Counseling

GOAL
Number of households receiving home buyers education.

2010 2011 2012

1,558 7,615 7,615
7,615

DH-2.2.4

Make funding awards to organizations or households that assist Special Needs households with housing and supportive services.

HOME HOPWA
HCV

GOAL
Number of Special Needs households assisted

2010 2011 2012

22,845 5,585 5,585 5,584

DH-2.2.5 DH-2.2.6

Provide housing assistance and information to Special Needs households in order to enable them to transfer from institutional to community living situations.
Provide housing assistance and services to break the cycle of homelessness

HCV

GOAL
Number households assisted

2010 2011 2012

16,754 34 33 33

GOAL

Number

ESG

households that

received

emergency

financial

assistance

GOAL

2010 2011 2012

100 0 1,100 1,100
2,200

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

13

HUD TABLE 3A - SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL OBJECTIVES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

DH-3.2

Sustainability for the purpose of providing Decent Affordable Housing

DH-3.2.1.1 Rehabilitate affordable, rental

Number of units 2010

47

housing units for extremely

HOME

rehabilitated

2011

46

low-income households.

Program

2012

46

Income

GOAL

139

DH-3.2.1.2 Rehabilitate affordable, rental

Number of units 2010

55

housing units for low-income HOME

rehabilitated

2011

55

households.

Program

2012

54

Income

GOAL

164

DH-3.2.1.3 Rehabilitate affordable, rental

Number of units 2010

12

housing units for moderate-

HOME

rehabilitated

2011

12

income households.

2012

11

GOAL

35

DH-3.2

Sustainability for the purpose of providing Decent Affordable Housing

DH-3.2.2.1 Assist extremely low-income

Number of

2010

59

households with rehabilitation HOME

affordable units 2011

59

so that they may achieve

sustainable and affordable homeownership.

CDBG

2012

59

GOAL

177

DH-3.2.2.2 Assist low-income households

Number of

2010

72

with rehabilitation so that they HOME

affordable units 2011

72

may achieve sustainable and

affordable homeownership.

CDBG

2012

72

GOAL

216

DH-3.2.2.3 Assist moderate-income

Number of

2010

17

households with rehabilitation HOME

affordable units 2011

17

so that they may achieve

sustainable and affordable homeownership.

CDBG

2012

17

SL-1.1 SL-1.1.1.0

GOAL

Accessibility for the purpose of creating Suitable Living Environments

Provide housing necessary for



Georgia's homeless to break the ESG

cycle of homelessness to

provide housing to homeless individuals (transitional and

HOME

Number of homeless given overnight shelter

2010 2011 2012

shelter)

CDBG

GOAL

51 35,000 35,000 35,000
95,000

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

14

HUD TABLE 3A - SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL OBJECTIVES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

SL-1.1 SL-1.1.2
SL-1.1.3
SL-1.1.4

Accessibility for the purpose of creating Suitable Living Environments

Enhance the availability and accessibility of suitable living environments through the construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of public facilities to benefit residential areas with a LMI percentage of 51 or greater.

CDBG

Number of people assisted
GOAL

2010 2011 2012

Enhance the availability and accessibility of suitable living environments through the construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of buildings to benefit residential areas with a LMI percentage of 51 or greater.

Number of people

CDBG

assisted

GOAL

2010 2011 2012

Provide supportive services necessary for Georgia's homeless to break the cycle of homelessness to individuals.

ESG Number of homeless
individuals
assisted

2010 2011 2012

16,200 16,200 16,200
48,600 15,500 15,500 15,500
46,500 65,000 65,000 65,000

SL-1.1.5

GOAL

Provide emergency housing for

Number of beds

Georgia's homeless seeking

ESG

created in

overnight accommodations in

overnight shelter

shelters and transitional to

or emergency

break the cycle of homelessness

housing

2010 2011 2012

75,000 4,500 4,500 4,500

SL-3.1 SL-3.1.1.0

GOAL

Sustainability for the purpose of creating Suitable Living Environments

Make funding awards to local governments, or organizations that assist elderly persons with housing and/or supportive services.

HOME CDBG

Number of elderly persons assisted

2010 2011 2012

13,500
2,502 2,501 2,501

SL-3.1.2.0

Enhance the sustainability of suitable living environments through the construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of public facilities to benefit residential areas with a LMI percentage of 51 or greater.

HCV
CDBG

GOAL Number of people assisted
GOAL

2010 2011 2012

7,504 1,800 1,800 1,800
5,400

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

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HUD TABLE 3A - SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC ANNUAL OBJECTIVES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

SL-3.1 SL-3.1.3.0

Sustainability for the purpose of creating Suitable Living Environments

Enhance the sustainability of suitable living environments through the reconstruction or rehabilitation of buildings to benefit LMC at a percentage of 51 or greater.

CDBG

Number of people assisted

2010 2011 2012

15,500 15,500 15,500

EO-1.3 EO-1.3.1.0

GOAL

Accessibility for the purpose of creating Economic Opportunities

Provide economic opportunity by providing new job opportunities via loans to businesses, grants for public infrastructure and funds for training centers.

Number of new

CDBG

jobs created

2010 2011 2012

46,500
1,600 1,600 1,600

EO-3.3 EO-3.3.1.0

GOAL

Sustainability for the purpose of creating Economic Opportunities

Provide economic opportunity by retaining jobs via loans to businesses, grants for public infrastructure and funds for training centers.

Number of jobs

CDBG

retained

2010 2011 2012

4,800
1,600 1,600 1,600

EO-3.3.1.1

Provide economic opportunity



by assisting businesses grants to CDBG

create or retain jobs

GOAL
Number of businesses assisted

2010 2011 2012

4,800 16 16 16

GOAL

48

Water and sewer projects, drainage/street improvements, health and learning centers, etc.
Neighborhood facilities, multi purpose centers, etc. This is the same number for both indicators. These categories have significant overlap.

Note: For the State CDBG Program, funds are distributed based on applications from local governments. The state does not require under its Method of Distribution that local governments apply for particular types of grants based on specific outcome performance measures, rather a range of eligible activities and eligible outcome measures is allowed. Local governments therefore determine the expected number of beneficiaries and the applicable outcome measures.

Annual Action Plan FFY2011/SFY2012

16

HUD TABLE 3C OUTCOME MEASURES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

Program Area
CDBG

Objective and Outcome

Performance Indicators

Funding Source

Annual Competition: Public Facility Grants

Objective: Creating/Enhancing Suitable Environment Outcome: Availability/Accessibility (1,1)

Living

Number of people served
Grants made to units of local government for locally identified new or improved public facilities, such as water and sewer facilities, street and drainage facilities or other needed facilities.

CDBG

Annual Competition: Housing Grants for Rehabilitation and Down Payment Assistance

Objective: Creating Decent Affordable Housing Outcome: Sustainability (3,2) Affordability (2,2)

Number of households and people served
Grants made to units of local government for locally identified new or improved housing.

CDBG

Redevelopment Fund

Objective: Creating/Enhancing Suitable Living Environment (Slum and Blight Removal) and Creating Economic Opportunities Outcome: Sustainability (3,3) Availability/Accessibility(1,3) Affordability(2,3)

Number of businesses assisted and funds leveraged
Grants will be made to units of local government for projects which eliminate slums or blight (on a spot basis)

CDBG

Employment Incentive (EIP)
Immediate Threat and Danger

Objective: Creating or sustaining opportunities. Outcome: Availability/ Accessibility (1,3) Affordability
Objective: Creating/Enhancing Suitable Environment Outcome: Availability/Accessibility (1,1)

economic Living

Number of businesses assisted Number of funds leveraged Number of jobs created or retained
Grants made to units of local government for projects which create or retain employment
Number of people served
Grants made to units of local government to respond to threats to health or safety including new or repairs to public facilities, such as water and sewer facilities, or other needed facilities

CDBG CDBG

Allocation Amount
$25,432,176
$ 1,500,000 $ 8,000,000 $ 500,000

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HUD TABLE 3C OUTCOME MEASURES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

Program Area
HOPWA

Objective and Outcome

Performance Indicators

Funding Allocation Sources Amount

Housing Assistance Supportive Services
ESG

Objective: Providing Decent Affordable Housing Outcome: Affordability (2,2)

Number of households served

HOPWA

Provide decent and affordable housing for persons

with HIV/AIDS and their families.

$ 2,019,428

Homeless and Special Needs Housing Assistance

Objective: Creating suitable living environments Providing Decent Affordable Housing Outcome: Accessibility/Availability (1,1) Affordability (2,2)

Number of homeless persons assisted with housing
Number of homeless person assisted with supportive services
Provide a suitable living environment and supportive service assistance for persons who would otherwise be living in unstable environments or living on the street.

ESG/ State Housing Trust Fund

$ 2,277,822

HOME

Permanent Supportive Housing

Objective: Providing Decent Affordable Housing Outcome: Accessibility (1,2)

Rental Housing Loan

Objective: Providing Decent Affordable Housing Outcome: Affordability (2,2)

Number of rental units developed Number of households with disability
assisted
Provide financial assistance in the development of rental units for homeless, special needs households
and the provision of tenant-based rental assistance.
Number of rental units constructed or rehabilitated
Provide affordable rental housing for low to moderate households

HOME/ Program Income/ State HTF
HOME/ Program Income

$15,615,211 $16,662,686

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HUD TABLE 3C OUTCOME MEASURES
FFY2011/SFY2012 Year 2

Program Area
Georgia Dream Homeownership
CHDO Operating Assistance
CHDO Predevelopment Loan
Community HOME Investment Program
(CHIP)

Objective and Outcome
Objective: Providing Decent Affordable Housing Outcome: Affordability (2,2)

Performance Indicators
Number of first-time home buyers assisted
Number of home buyers receiving education and counseling
Provide home buyers with access to homeownership with down payment assistance, closing cost and educational services

Funding
Sources
HOME/ HOME Program Income/ HUD Housing Counseling Fund

Objective: Providing Decent Affordable Creating economic opportunity Outcome: Affordability (2,2) or (2,3)

Housing-

Amount of financial assistance provided to CHDOs
Provide funding to maintain and implement housing development opportunities.

HOME/ Program Income

Objective: Providing Decent Affordable Creating economic opportunity Outcome: Affordability (2,2) or (2,3)

Housing

Amount of financial assistance provided to CHDOs
Provide funding to develop affordable housing.

HOME/ Program Income

Objective: Providing Decent Outcome: Affordability (2,2)

Affordable

Housing

Objective: Providing Decent Affordable Housing Outcome: Sustainability (3,2)

Number of home buyers assisted
Provide first mortgage loans for Habitat affiliates and down payment assistance to home buyers
Number of units rehabilitated Provide homeowner rehabilitation assistance

HOME/ Program Income

Allocation Amount
$ 6,497,296
$ 150,000 $ 150,795
$ 4,306,583

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GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION & ALLOCATION PRIORITIES
The geographic area for allocating investments goes to the entire State of Georgia. Because Georgia's priority needs are broadly distributed throughout the state, the allocating of funds is not generally based on geography alone. Each program has a unique method of geographic distribution. The State's CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA programs are often competitive and all are demand-driven. The ultimate geographic distribution of assistance cannot be predicted.
The competitive allocation or "first-come, first-served" nature of the State's HOMEfunded programs prohibits any geographic predetermination for the use of HOME funds. As reported in its HOME Annual Performance Report for SFY2010 (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010), thirty-two (32) percent of the funds were used for completed projects in the state's urban areas. This value includes 12% of all HOME-funded projects in the state that are located in a local participating jurisdiction and 20% that are in urban areas outside of a local participating jurisdiction. The remaining 68% of HOME funds were utilized in rural areas of the state.
The State will continue to take additional steps to reduce its concentration of HOME resources in urban areas and increase the expenditure of HOME funds in the State's rural counties. Those steps include:
Expand homeownership-marketing efforts in rural areas utilizing full-time staff working with lenders, local officials, and other community leaders to increase the rate of homeownership in their area. Majority of the staff time is concentrated outside the Atlanta Metro area.
Evaluate and survey the existing program to determine the housing product needs of the Georgia residents and the availability of resources.
Utilize HUD-funded housing counseling program educates potential homebuyers on the home buying process through a network of nonprofit providers.
Partner with the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing - a joint program of DCA, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the University of Georgia's Housing and Demographics Research Center - provides a series of facilitated retreats and direct technical assistance to selected communities over a three-year period as the communities develops and implements affordable housing strategies.
Market the Community Housing Initiative program and provide technical assistance in rural areas to increase the housing activity in underserved communities.
Collaborate with the Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force to provide assistance to regional areas to develop housing strategies and implementation tactics.
The State does not anticipate any funding set-asides for specific geographic areas of Georgia for CDBG, ESG or HOPWA programs. These programs are unavailable to the HUD entitlement areas. The CDBG Annual Competition does give bonus points to applicants proposing activities in an approved Revitalization Strategy Area. Depending on the competition, funding may not be allocated to these applicants but only to the extent the bonus points affect the CDBG geographic distribution. HOPWA does have some geographic limitations; therefore, the State does not use allocation priorities on a geographic system, nor does the state dedicate specific percentages or amounts of funding to particular targeted areas.

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For HOPWA, absent extremely unusual circumstances, as determined by DCA, funding will be limited to programs located within the State's 127-county HUD-defined entitled area. This area excludes counties within the 28-county Atlanta (Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, and Walton) and the 4-county Augusta (Burke, Columbia, McDuffie, Richmond) non-entitlement areas.

HUD TABLE 3B ANNUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS

FFY2011 (SFY2012) Year 2

Expected Annual Number of Units To Be Completed

Resources used during the period CDBG HOME ESG HOPWA

ANNUAL AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING GOALS (SEC. 215 )

Acquisition of existing units

0

Production of new units

428



Rehabilitation of existing units

113





Rental Assistance

216



Total Sec. 215 Affordable Rental

757







ANNUAL AFFORDABLE OWNER HOUSING GOALS (SEC. 215)

Acquisition of existing units

0

Production of new units Rehabilitation of existing units Homebuyer Assistance Total Sec. 215 Affordable Owner

11 148 924 1,083















ANNUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS (SEC. 215)

Acquisition of existing units

0

Production of new units Rehabilitation of existing units Homebuyer Assistance

439



261





924





Rental Assistance Total Sec. 215 Affordable Housing

216 1,840





ANNUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS (SEC. 215)

Homeless households Non-homeless households Special needs households

4300

527



1,875











ANNUAL HOUSING GOALS

Annual Rental Housing Goal

757







Annual Owner Housing Goal

1,083





Total Annual Housing Goal

1,840







The State's Three Year Consolidated Plan outlines specific Priorities and Objectives for the State in the Strategic Plan. Under each priority and objective, specific activities are identified that are expected to be completed using funds made available to the State, including: Consolidated Funds, other HUD assistance, State monies, federal and state Tax Credits, and bond revenue. However, the production figures proposed to quantify the State's objectives are based on the use of HUD related funds, including federal formula funds, HOME program income, Housing Counseling Funds, and Housing Choice Vouchers. These resources represent all of the resources made available to the State as a result of HUD funding.

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HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (HOME)
The Georgia Housing and Finance Authority (GHFA) is the Participating Jurisdiction (PJ) and recipient of the State of Georgia's allocation of HOME funds. GHFA contracts with DCA to administer the programs funded by this HOME allocation.
Method of Distribution
The goal of the HOME Program, administrated and implemented through DCA, is to expand the supply of decent, safe, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. The State's HOME Program activities are directed in the areas of rehabilitation and new construction of rental and homeownership housing, homeowner rehabilitation, and down payment assistance. Entities eligible to apply for the State's HOME Program include local government, community housing development organizations (CHDOs) certified by DCA, public housing authorities (PHAs), nonprofit agencies, and for-profit developers.
The State anticipates receiving $21,491,880 in FFY2011 for the HOME program. The funds are distributed through competitive and non-competitive process.
Exhibit C: Anticipated Distribution Method of HOME Funding

Proposed Distribution Method Available Competitively Available First-Come, First-Served Program Administration
SOURCE: DCA.

Percentage Available 31% 59% 10%

As shown in the exhibit below, the State will utilize program income, reprogrammed administrative funds and carryover funds from prior years recapture funds, and matching funds as necessary to meet objectives. These amounts will be added to the federal allocations to derive the amount allocated to each activity. DCA reserves the right to amend its Action Plan in accordance with the Consolidated Plan rule, as production demand warrants or to facilitate the use of program income during the course of the program year. Any reallocations will be done in accordance with DCA policy, including the State's Citizen Participation Plan. DCA will give reasonable notice of and an opportunity to comment on substantial amendments.

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1Exhibit D: Total HOME Allocation by Activity

Program

Projected Remaining
funds 06/30/11

FFY2011
Federal Funds

SFY2012 State Funds

Program Income

Georgia Dream Second Mortgage

$ 6,000,000 $ 497,296 $0

$0

CHIP

$ 1,340,704 $ 2,965,879 $0

$0

CHDO

Predevelopment

$ 150,795 $ 0

$0

$0

Loans

CHDO Operating Assistance

$ 110,000 $ 40,000 $0

$0

Total Funds Available
$ 6,497,296 $ 4,306,583 $ 150,795
$ 150,000

HOME Rental Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing Program Administration DCA Administration CHIP Subrecipients
Total

$ 4,294,464 $ 7,909,013 $0

$ 7,684,707 $ 7,930,504 $0

$

0 $ 2,089,870 $0

$ 89,997 $ 59,318 $0

$19,670,667 $21,491,880 $0

$4,459,209 $ 16,662,686

$0

$ 15,615,211

$ 500,000 $ 2,589,870

$0

$ 149,315

$4,959,209 $ 46,121,756

Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO)
A minimum of 15% of the State's HOME funds are reserved to fund housing projects proposed by organizations that meet the CHDO definition. CHDO are certified as nonprofit housing organizations that meet or demonstrate the following minimum requirements:
Federal Requirements Organized under state/local law Certify that the organizational structure of the board meets the requirements of 24 CFR Part 92 IRS nonprofit status- tax-exempt ruling under Section 501(c) Provide a formal process for low income program beneficiaries to advise on the design,
location of sites, development and management of affordable housing Staff capacity and financial accountability One year experience serving the community Proposed project underway

1 The State will make commitments to CHDOs in the amount of at least $3,223,782 through the HOME Rental Housing Program and the Permanent Supportive Housing Program.

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Additional State Requirements:
In-State Nonprofits: 1) Financial viability of the nonprofit based on a review of audited financial
statements to ensure viability and capability of performing housing development functions. 2) CHDOs are allowed to have as their service area up to 1/3 of the State's counties.
Out-of-State Nonprofits: In addition to the requirements for in-state nonprofits, an out-of-state nonprofit must also have: 1) All In-State Requirements plus; 2) An office in Georgia 3) Paid staff located in Georgia; and 4) A board comprised of no less than 51% Georgia residents.
Compliance Criteria
Application Processes
DCA will directly administer the Georgia Dream Second Mortgage Program through a statewide network of participating lenders. Applications will be reviewed following standard underwriting criteria using DCA's applicable compliance guidelines. Requests are funded on a first-come, first-served basis according to the eligibility criteria established for each set-aside.
DCA will also directly administer its HOME Rental Housing Loan Program. All complete applications will be evaluated and competitively ranked according to criteria outlined in the State's Qualified Allocation Plan.
DCA will request applications for the Permanent Supportive Housing, CHDO Operating Assistance, and CHDO Predevelopment Loan through a Notice of Funding Availability. DCA will evaluate applications to these programs using criteria established in the applicable program description and accompanying program manual.
General Application Guidelines
Every application must meet certain minimum program requirements as outlined below to be considered for funding:
All applications must be eligible entities All activities undertaken with HOME funds must be eligible The minimum amount of HOME funds that can be invested in a project
involving rental housing or homeownership is $1,000 per unit The minimum amount of HOME funds that can be invested in a project
involving tenant assistance is an average of $1,000 per household per funding year The proposed project must be economically feasible The maximum award per project varies by program, ranging between $5,000 and $3.5 million All proposals must meet all HUD regulations for the HOME program as published in the Federal Register under 24 CFR Part 92 as amended

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Local governments applying for HOME funding must demonstrate their commitment to leveraging additional resources to housing activities. A proposed budget that indicates a level of funding consistent with assistance provided to housing over the last three years will be considered evidence of maintenance of effort
New construction must meet all applicable HUD standards
Within each of the State's HOME-funded programs, all requests must follow established program-specific application guidelines to be considered for funding.
Activities Descriptions
A) HOME Rental Housing Loan Program
The State distributes and evaluates the project financing resources through a competitive selection process and established by the State's approved Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP).
DCA will make the QAP, the associated application manual, and the electronic application available on its web site and all the contacts receives an email with the deadline dates. The copy of the QAP is on the State's website at:
http://www.dca.ga.gov/housing/HousingDevelopment/programs/housingTaxCredit.asp
B) CHDO Predevelopment Loan Program
Eligible CHDOs can receive interest-free loans for the preparation of complete and comprehensive applications for financing low- to moderate-income housing developments using DCA's HOME Rental Housing Loan or Permanent Supportive Housing Programs. Eligible activities may include the financing of predevelopment costs associated with the eligible project incurred up to the closing of the HOME Rental Housing Program or Permanent Supportive Housing (PSHP)-funded construction loan. These costs include, but are not limited to, an initial feasibility study, market study, consulting fees, associated expenditures with the preparation of preliminary financial applications to non-DCA funding sources, site control, title clearance fees and expenses associated with architectural, legal engineering and development services. The maximum loan amount is $30,000.
C) CHDO Operating Assistance Program
Eligible CHDOs can receive funding to maintain their operations and to develop their capacity to implement future HOME-funded CHDO activities. The maximum grant amount is $35,000.
D) Permanent Supportive Housing Program
The Permanent Supportive Housing program provides construction to permanent financing assistance developers for the construction or rehabilitation of permanent housing for eligible Homeless Tenants. Supportive services must be provided that are applicable to the needs of the targeted population. CHDOs may apply for assistance under this program. To implement this program, the State will use HOME funds in conjunction with an allocation of monies from the HTF. The State will also provide an allocation of project-based Housing Choice Vouchers for all units funded through this program that are located in the State's Housing Choice service area.

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E) Georgia Dream Second Mortgage Program (CHOICE and PEN)
A home buyer must apply for any of these deferred payment options through one of DCA's participating lenders located across Georgia. A borrower must have a sales contract to purchase a home before the application is accepted; however, a borrower is encouraged to contact a participating lender prior to signing a sales contract to review the borrower's credit history and to determine an affordable home price range. Once received, the participating lender and DCA will review the application according to lending industry standards and DCA guidelines established for each funding type. All borrowers are required to receive home buyer education prior to loan closing from one of the nonprofit housing counseling agencies to which DCA provides financial support or from another nonprofit or for-profit source meeting DCA's home buyer education requirements.
The State offers a deferred payment second mortgage of $5,000 for down payment, closing costs, prepaid expenses and principal reduction for low to moderate-income home buyers. Borrowers will be expected to contribute a minimum of $500 to the purchase transaction and must complete Home Buyer Education provided by a DCA or HUDapproved education counselor prior to closing. Furthermore, the State offers an enhanced amount of financial assistance beyond the $5,000 that is available to traditional Georgia Dream borrowers.
CHOICE (Consumer Homeownership of Independence, Choices and Empowerment), is for qualified individuals with disabilities and/or households with members who have a disability that, because of income considerations alone, cannot afford to purchase a home. The CHOICE option offers borrowers a loan amount of either $7,500 or $10,000. The loan amount is based on the household annual income and the location of the home.
PEN is designed to assist Georgia's heroes who help others in times of need. This program is available to those employed in career fields of Protection, Education and Nurses/Health Care Workers. The "protectors" program category includes police department, sheriff's office, corrections or other law enforcement agencies; local, state or federal fire departments; and active duty military personnel of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, the Army National Guard, and/or the Air National Guard. The PEN option loan amount is $7,500.
Homeownership Voucher, which provides homeownership opportunities for households, currently receiving Housing Choice Vouchers, wherein the head of household, spouse or dependent is disabled or the head of household is participating in the Family Self Sufficiency Program. This initiative enables a household to purchase a home utilizing the Housing Choice Voucher Program Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) as income for qualifying for a mortgage loan.
F) Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP)
CHIP provides funding to local governments and nonprofits to implement homeowner rehabilitation and down payment assistance activities in their respective communities and service areas. Local governments/nonprofits seeking HOME funding must apply directly to DCA in conjunction with the annual application process. Applicants are evaluated based on the rating and ranking criteria outlined in the CHIP application manual. Funds

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awarded to a local government/nonprofits cannot exceed $300,000. In addition, Habitat for Humanity Affiliates may apply for funding to provide first mortgage assistance to eligible home buyers with a credit score as low as 580 and provide $20,000 in second mortgage assistance to all eligible home buyers
Match Requirement
The HOME Program requires that the State contribute at least 25% of non-federal resources be allocated to affordable housing within a federal fiscal year. The State achieves this goal by the multiple public-private partnerships tailored to meet Georgia's housing needs while complying with applicable federal guidelines.
The State General Assembly dedicates proceeds of mortgage revenue bonds issued by GHFA and the Georgia Housing Tax Credit for affordable housing. Other non-federal resources are identified after the competitive application process is completed.
Home Buyer Recapture
Any funds loaned to eligible borrowers in conjunction to any of the State's homeownership programs are subject to recapture requirement. The homeownership programs include Georgia Dream Second Mortgage Program and Georgia Dream Habitat 580 First Mortgage Loan Program.
Period of Affordability
Georgia Dream Second Mortgage Program
The Period of Affordability for all the HOME Loans under $15,000 is six years and 11 years for all HOME Loans $15,000 or higher. If the home is sold before the ninth year of the loan closing, the borrower is subject to possible recapture tax and must report it on their annual tax return using IRS Form 8828, "Recapture of Federal Mortgage Subsidy." The HOME investment that is subject to recapture is based on the amount of HOME assistance that enables the home buyer to buy the dwelling unit.
In the event the borrower sells the property at fair market value either outright or through a pre-foreclosure sale, transfers the mortgaged property, or if the mortgaged property is foreclosed upon, and after the first lien holder (and any other higher priority liens) is satisfied, DCA will employ the shared net proceeds option. The remaining funds will be accepted based on the Settlement Statement as the net proceeds of the sale and as the amount of HOME funds subject to recapture. DCA will write-off the remaining balance. DCA will satisfy the security deed and will not pursue any further collection efforts.
CHIP
To ensure that CHIP investments yield affordable housing over the long term, DCA imposes occupancy requirements over the length of the Period of Affordability. Based on HUD requirements, the affordability period begins on the date the project is marked as completed in IDIS. The length of the affordability period depends on the amount of the CHIP investment in the property and the nature of the activity, including project delivery fees.
The State has adopted slightly longer affordability period in order to allow for sufficient administrative processing time following the closure of the loan and the completion of the activity in IDIS. CHIP funds that are invested in projects that do not meet the

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established period of affordability requirements will be subject to recapture based on policies outlined in the CHIP Administrative Manual.

CHIP Investment Per Unit Less than $15,000 $15,001 - $40,000 More $40,000

Affordability Period 6 years 11 years 16 years

Assumption of the First Mortgage:

DCA will allow an assumption of the HOME Loan by an income-eligible borrower who is assuming the first mortgage. DCA will charge the borrower a processing fee of $125 to cover the administrative cost of underwriting an assumption.

Subordination of the HOME Loan:

Under specific conditions, DCA will agree to subordinate the HOME Loan to a refinanced first mortgage or a home equity loan.

In order to determine the amount of the home equity loan or the new first mortgage, DCA will review the HUD-1 Settlement Statement or other documentation DCA determines is appropriate. DCA will charge the borrower a processing fee of $125 to cover the administrative cost of the subordination.

Recapture Guidelines - CHIP

The recapture policy for the HOME Program investments in cases where the borrower does not occupy the house for the full term of the affordability period is derived from the HOME program regulations at 92.254(a)(5)(ii)(A) and section 215(b)(3)(B) of the National Affordable Housing Act. DCA follows the Shared Net Proceeds options. If the net proceeds are not sufficient to recapture the full amount of the CHIP investment plus enable the homeowner to recover the amount of the homeowner's down payment and any capital improvement investment made by the homeowner since purchase, the community must share the net proceeds with the homeowner.

In this case, the net proceeds will be divided proportionally as set forth herein by mathematical formula. If there are no net proceeds, there is no repayment requirement.

HOME investment HOME investment + homeowner investment

x Net Proceeds

= HOME amount subject to recapture

HOME investment HOME investment + homeowner investment

x Net Proceeds = Amount to homeowner

In the event the net proceeds exceed the amount necessary to repay both the homeowner's investment and the HOME (CHIP) subsidy, the excess proceeds will be paid to the homeowner. The DCA recapture policy for the CHIP Program is the same for voluntary and involuntary sales.
A percentage of the loan amount is forgiven annually in equal installments over the affordability period for homeowner rehabilitation activities. Recaptured funds are repaid to the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority unless approved by DCA.

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Georgia Dream Habitat 580 First Mortgage Loan recapture provisions require that the homeowner return the HOME investment back to the State unless there is a sale deficiency. The State is subject to the limitation that when the recapture requirement is triggered by a sale (voluntary or involuntary) of the housing unit, and there are no net proceeds or the net proceeds are insufficient to repay the HOME investment; the State will recapture only the net proceeds, if any. If the homeowner sells the property during the affordability period, the State will recapture all or some of the HOME investment out of the net proceeds from the sale and reuse the funds for another eligible HOME activity. In the event of a foreclosure, Habitat for Humanity is permitted to identify an eligible low-income substitute mortgagor with a new affordability period.
In the event the State is required to allocate development subsidy only to a local government, developer, or a nonprofit organizations, the resale guidelines will be prepared for HUD's approval.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance
DCA does not propose to provide tenant-based rental assistance during SFY2012. However, if the State proposes such a program, tenant-based rental assistance will be implemented in accordance with applicable HOME regulations.
Other Forms of Investment
DCA will invest HOME funds as interest-bearing loans or advances, non-interest bearing loans or advances, interest subsidies, deferred payment loans and forgivable loans and grants. In addition, DCA will provide financial investment using HOME funds to private developers, nonprofit organizations, CHDOs and government agencies.
DCA does not intent to use any other form of investment. An applicant that proposes to use any other form of investment not described in 24 CFR 92.205(b) of the HOME Investment Partnership Final Rule regulations, must provide a description of the form of investment, a description of the proposed means of securing the investment, and a justification for the need for the investment when submitting an application. DCA will not permit other forms of investment without prior HUD approval.
Affirmative Marketing Program and Minority/Women's Business Outreach
DCA follows the process to develop the affirmative action marketing plan for the State of Georgia, in accordance with Section 281 of the National Affordable Housing Act and 24 CFR Part 92.352, HUD rules. The regulations specifies the steps that recipients of federal funds must take to ensure information and outreach to eligible person in the housing market area to accessibility to housing without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, familial status, or disability. DCA carries out the activities and procedures for the Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (MBE/WBE) Outreach Program to further the objectives of the Executive Orders 11625, 1232, and 12138.
Every program administered by DCA requires each grantee and owner with five or more units (rental or homeowner) to develop and implement an affirmative fair housing marketing plan minority business enterprise/women business enterprise outreach plan. DCA reviews and approves all marketing and outreach plans before any written

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agreements are executed or funds are disbursed. The affirmative marketing policy shall consist of the following elements:
Method for informing the public, owners, and potential tenants about federal fair housing laws and the participating jurisdiction's affirmative marketing policy requirements which may include, but are not limited to, providing a copy of this policy to be used in all media releases, using the Equal Housing Opportunity logo and slogan in all media releases, and explaining the general policy to the media, property owners, and tenants involved with the HOME program
Requirements and practices each owner must adhere to in order to carry out the affirmative marketing procedures and requirements. When advertising for a HOME property, recipients may use commercial media (newspaper or television) or local community contacts, but should utilize the Equal Housing Opportunity logo or slogan and always use caution when documenting affordable housing (income and rent restrictions).
Procedures used by owners to inform and solicit applications from persons in the housing market areas that are not likely to apply for the housing without special outreach. These persons most likely include those who are not the race/ethnicity of the residents of the neighborhood in which the unit is located.
Records that will be kept describing actions taken by HOME grantees and by owners to affirmatively market units and records to assess the results of these actions.
Steps taken to address the corrective actions to improve the affirmative marketing actions are unacceptable. DCA will review the records annually to ensure the grantee or owners are making the appropriate efforts pursuant to the regulations. An agreement must be binding for a period (during the affordability period of the units).
DCA has established goals to remove homeownership barriers and foster opportunities for housing accessibility for every Georgia resident. DCA accomplishes this by providing educational & training to educate home buyers on the federal and state fair housing law and enforcements, workshops on down payment assistance and other financial resources to purchase homes, housing training for housing professionals and developers, and publication of fair housing equal opportunity marketing materials.
Minority and Women Business Outreach
DCA makes every effort to encourage recipients to solicit the participation of minorityand women owned businesses (MBE/WBEs) in contracting under the HOME program. Recipients should include qualified MBE/WBEs on solicitation lists and solicit their participation whenever they are potential sources.
Through project monitoring and reporting, DCA staff review each recipient's documentation of efforts and results in securing contracts with MBE/WBEs. DCA staff also provides recipients with information during the various state sponsored workshops.

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Section 3
DCA will carry out activities and procedures in accordance with 24 CFR Part 135 to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain HUD financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing federal, state, and local laws and regulations, be directed to low- and very-low income persons who are recipient of government housing and to businesses.
Fair Housing Activities
DCA coordinates the affirmative marketing efforts with the Georgia Civil Right Commission. The GCRC conducts fair housing outreach, testing, education, and training to landlords, tenants, and developers.
DCA will continually seeking new ways to increase statewide participation in its programs. Additionally, through its compliance and monitoring activities, DCA ensures that all housing and community development projects are being implemented in a manner that provide benefits and opportunities to residents regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. DCA continues to implement policies and procedures in order to mitigate and eliminate the identified impediments to fair housing choice. DCA, in conjunction with other agencies, addresses these impediments in several innovative ways:
Continue to make available the Landlord Tenant Handbook to property owners and tenants about their rights and responsibilities.
Support the outreach and education activities of the HUD sponsored fair housing and lending financial literacy classes provided by Money Smart Financial and the state's housing counseling agencies in English and Spanish.
Disseminate the Fair Housing brochures and informational packets to the area housing counseling agencies supplies in collaboration by HUD, DCA and Metro Fair Housing Service, Inc.
Provide training to property owners on the IRC Section 42 regulations to increase understanding of key requirements of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the use of Housing Choice Voucher or certificate.
Provide fair housing certification training for the DCA Office of Affordable Housing staff.
Collaborate with Regional Commissions to develop fair housing marketing communication and materials to distribute to government entities on the available comprehensive planning workshops.
Participate in roundtable discussions with community leaders and affordable housing advocates to discuss topics surrounding fair lending practices.
Attend the Atlanta Regional Housing Forums to discuss regional housing issues.
The State does not allocate funding or have the available resources to meet the needs of all Georgians in need but provides direction for fair housing choice for continued fair housing activity. However, DCA is dedicated to the objective of promoting fair housing choice in an affirmative manner.
In 2008, DCA identified three impediments to fair housing choice that we plan to continue to address in the FFY2011 planning year:

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1. Lack of knowledge about fair housing. 2. People with disabilities have difficulty finding suitable and accessible housing 3. In the Hispanic communities of Georgia, language barriers and unfamiliarity with
the home buying process are catalysts for discrimination.
DCA has established goals to remove homeownership barriers and foster opportunities for housing accessibility for every Georgia resident. DCA accomplishes this by providing educational & training to educate home buyers on the federal and state fair housing law and enforcements, workshops on down payment assistance and other financial resources to purchase homes, housing training for housing professionals and developers, and publication of fair housing equal opportunity marketing materials.
Based on the AI, DCA has designed a plan of action in order to eliminate and mitigate the identified impediments to fair housing choice in conjunction with other agencies in several innovative ways.
i. Office of Homeownership (OHO) a. Disseminating the fair housing brochures or other promotional material in home buyer classes and in other housing workshops and conferences that DCA sponsors and increase the number of certified housing counselors in areas that are lacking capacity. b. Provide enhanced down payment assistance for units that have received the funding to assist individuals with disabilities in the purchase of a home.
ii. Office of Special Housing Initiatives (OSHI) a. Ensure that providers of services and shelter to homeless people have access to fair housing information and the programs of Georgia Legal Services; distribute fair housing information at Shelter Plus Care workshops; and provide the most recent requirements under the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. b. Provide an on-line resource, GeorgiaHousingSearch.org website, which provides property managers with a tool to market affordable rental units and offers a convenient resource to prospective renters to locate affordable and accessible housing and obtain additional community resource information. This website is free, searches are conducted in both English and Spanish, and the site is updated by owners/property managers at least bi-weekly with vacancy information
i. Office of Affordable Housing (OAH) will train property owners regarding IRS Code 26 U.S.C.A. 42(h)(6)(B)(iv) and 26 C.F.R. 1.42-5(c)(1)(xi), which prohibit property owners of low-income tax credit properties from refusing to lease to a holder of a Section 8 voucher or certificate.
Office of Community Development (CDBG) will distribute fair housing brochures, posters or other printed material to CDBG grant recipients with the request to display them in a prominent location for public access.

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Refinancing
Currently, DCA does not intend to use its HOME funds to refinance existing debt secured by multifamily housing rehabilitated with HOME funds.
Monitoring
DCA has established standards and procedures for monitoring the federal funded housing and community development activities. These standards and procedures ensure longterm compliance with the applicable regulations and statutes. These include compliance reviews of applications, monitoring during project implementation and formal procedures for closing projects. DCA reserves the right to conduct a compliance review at any time during the term of the grant.
DCA conducts homeownership and home buyer monitoring prior to the loan closing, during construction/rehabilitation, and throughout the period of affordability for all the State programs. During the planning stage and construction phase, DCA reviews the projects to ensure the applicant meets all the applicable accessibility requirements. During the pre-construction conference, the owner will receive a complete package of HOME compliance materials and information on training opportunities.
All HOME rental development receives on-site management review and physical inspection on an ongoing basis. Written reports are complied and distributed that summarized the four major areas of the monitoring visit: quality of housing and service, financial statements, recordkeeping and files, adherence to program policies and procedures as detailed in 24 CFR Part 92.
Rental Housing Monitoring
To facilitate this monitoring process for the state's HOME-financed rental housing programs, the State sponsors a compliance training seminar for HOME program participants, including such topics as: tenant applications, income limits, rent limits/utility allowance, income verifications, annual income and assets, income certifications/re-certifications, leases, occupancy status reports, annual reports, and the responsibilities of property owners.
The property owners are required to complete the Georgia HOME Annual Owner Certification each year validating the subject property meets compliance with all appropriate federal and state regulations. The owner submits a copy of the certificate to DCA prior to the beginning of lease-up or placing the first building in service. This certification process is continues throughout the life of the period of affordability, compliance period or the term of the loan, whichever is longest.
DCA conducts site visits annually for multifamily properties with 26 or more units and biannually for multifamily properties with 25 or fewer units. For conformance, the State inspects the properties with HUD's minimum Housing Quality Standards. In addition, DCA monitors each property for compliance with its executed land use restriction agreement.
a) Subsidy Layering - prior to the time of commitment for projects receiving tax credits from the state's low-income housing tax credit allocation to determine the amount of assistance needed for the project.

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b) Environmental Review - requires site-specific Phase I environmental assessment for all development proposals being considered for funding with HOME funds to address, asbestos, mold, lead-based paint, lead in drinking water, radon, PCBs, floodplains and wetlands. The Applicant, as outlined in the HOME/HUD Environmental Questionnaire, must complete additional requirements for HOME/HUD funded projects at the time of Application Submission, including, but not limited to, the Eight-Step process and HUD publication procedures.
c) Site and Neighborhood Standards - property must meet the requirements of site and neighborhood standards during the threshold review of information submitted (project location, racial composition of project area, visual review of area surrounding the site) and a physical site visit to determine any conditions present, which may be seriously detrimental to family life.
d) Labor Standards - projects involving the construction of affordable housing consisting of 12 or more HOME units requires that the labor standards regulations be followed: Davis-Bacon, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards, Copeland Anti Kickback, and all other applicable regulations identified in the HUD Handbook #1344.1. This information is discussed during the pre-construction conference.
e) Affirmative Marketing projects with 5 or more units the owners must adopt and conduct affirmative marketing procedures and requirements, provide information and otherwise attract eligible persons.
f) Uniform Relocation Act relocation requirements compliance is monitored during the construction and lease up phase of the project. Relocation plans and budgets are reviewed during the site visits. Voluntary acquisitions are also subject to the requirements outlined at 49 CFR 24.101, as outlined in HUD's implementing instructions found in Chapter 5 of Handbook 1378.
g) Fair Housing, Equal Opportunity and Accessibility Laws all federal, state and local laws relating to fair housing and equal opportunity, including but not limited to those listed below must be followed Minority Business Enterprise Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Americans with Disabilities
h) Rent and Income assist owners/property staff with understanding the federal requirements and the correct procedures to handle essential requirements: rent restrictions, income limits, and physical requirements. On-site visits are conducted during the leasing phase and tenant files are review during the visit. HOME properties are visited annually during the period of affordability.
Homeownership Monitoring
DCA's compliance underwriting decision is based on, but is not limited to, a review of the documentation in the underwriting package that documents satisfactory compliance for the homeownership programs. DCA reviews the lender's credit underwriting process before issuing an approval and commitment to purchase the loans.

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The lender's underwriting package must include ownership interest documentation, household annual income source documentation and acquisition cost certification, recapture disclosure and acknowledgement provisions, appraisal, lead based paint and environmental checklist, and lead, subsidy layering documents, and home buyer counseling certification.
The compliance responsibilities for the Permanent Supportive Housing Program is longer than the other HOME programs, which requires the compliance period to continue through either the end of the compliance period, the period of affordability, or the term of the loan, whichever is the longest.
Permanent Supportive Housing Program
A loan provided to applicants to the Permanent Supportive Housing Program is subject to compliance with all of the following requirements.
Environmental Review Site and Neighborhood Standards Uniform Relocation Act Federal Labor Standards Section 3/MBE/WBE Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan Subsidy Layering Rent and Occupancy Requirements Fair Housing, Equal Opportunity and Accessibility Laws
CHIP
State recipients and sub-recipients must constantly monitor their own performance to insure timeframes are being met and to control the quality of the product being delivered. Any problems, delays, or adverse conditions that will affect the state recipient's ability to meet its states goals should be reported to DCA immediately.
The majority of information required by DCA for its annual reporting requirements to HUD will be submitted at the activity level as projects are completed. However, the state recipient or sub-recipient must provide additional program reports or information to DCA on an "as needed basis."
Because of it program set up and draw requirements, DCA will continually monitor each state recipient and sub-recipient's progress in carrying out their program activities. DCA will issue a notice to any state recipient or sub-recipient is significantly behind on the program's implementation scheduled described in the program description. In addition, DCA will make site visits to state recipients and sub-recipients as frequently as necessary to provide technical assistance.
DCA will provide a start-up technical assistance review to state recipients or subrecipients that have not directly administered a CHIP-funded program and have not contracted with an entity that meets the Experience Administrator requirements. DCA will schedule at lease one formal site visit after housing activity has started with each state recipient or sub-recipient to review all aspects of record keeping, program and financial administration and construction quality. At it discretion, DCA may schedule additional site visits.

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
Method of Distribution
As outlined in Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act, the primary goal of the CDBG Program is the development of viable communities, by providing decent housing and suitable living environments and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate-incomes. In addition to the national program goals and objectives outlined by this Act, the State has designed its CDBG program to do the following:
Address community priorities; Ensure fairness in the treatment of all applications; Promote the development of affordable housing; Assist communities in preserving and developing basic infrastructure and
public facilities; and Support economic development activities that principally benefit low- and
moderate-income persons through job training and job creation.
The State does not intend to impose any geographic restrictions in the method of distribution. State CDBG funds serve communities throughout the state, excluding Georgia's entitlement communities that receive funds directly from HUD. Eligible applicants are units of general-purpose local government, excluding those cities and counties eligible to participate in the urban counties or metropolitan cities "CDBG Entitlement Program" of HUD.
Eligible activities must meet the national objectives for the program: benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or address community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community for which other funding is not available. Activities include public facilities (such as streets, water and sewer facilities, parks and community buildings), public services, housing rehabilitation, economic development and job training, and other activities eligible under the Housing and Community Development Act.
At least 70 percent of CDBG funds allocated to local governments will be used for activities that primarily benefit low- and moderate--income persons. The Georgia's CDBG program is comprised of the following:
(a) The Regular Annual Competition (b) The Immediate Threat and Danger Grant Program (c) The Employment Incentive Program (EIP) (d) The Redevelopment Fund

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National Objectives Requirements
Each activity funded under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program must meet at lease one of the three National Objectives and the applicant is responsible for selecting and documenting how each activity addresses a National Objective. The three objectives are:
1. Benefit to low and moderate income persons; 2. Prevention or elimination of slum or blight; and 3. Meeting community development needs having a particular urgency.
Proposed Programs
A) Annual Competition
In the Annual Competition eligible local governments may apply for either a SingleActivity or Multi-Activity Program. A Single-Activity Application must be structured to address problems within one of the following three areas: (a) housing, (b) public facilities, or (c) economic development. A Multi-Activity Application must involve two or more activities that address community development needs in a comprehensive manner within more than one of the areas listed above. Both the Single Activity and Multi-activity grant applications may qualify for Revitalization Area bonus points.
Revitalization Area Incentives
The State will continue the Revitalization Area Incentive for the development of comprehensive community revitalization strategies. The incentive rewards innovative local strategies and recognizes that no one strategy or design will work for Georgia's diverse communities. Applicants must show their commitment to targeted areas by developing a local investment program geographically aimed at census block groups of 20 percent or greater poverty and by incorporating a locally driven collaborative approach to community and economic development.
Communities opting to develop and implement these strategies will be given the opportunity to apply every year and receive bonus points for the Annual Competition. This incentive entitles the communities to obtain approval of budget line items for limited planning monies that will be used towards the assessment and remediation of blighted sites or brownfields. Revitalization strategies developed by applicants must demonstrate sustainable coordination with key stakeholders, businesses and community residents in the targeted areas.
B) Immediate Threat and Danger (ITAD)
The Immediate Threat and Danger Program must address an event or situation that has a particular urgency and uniqueness that adversely affects or affects a community and its citizens and where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs. The State certifies that the activity meets the immediate needs of the community because the existing condition pose a threat to the health or welfare of the community and other financial resources are unavailable. More information is available at this website: http://www.dca.ga.gov/communities/cdbg/programs/threatdanger.asp

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C) Employment Incentive Program (EIP)

The Employment Incentive Program (EIP) must provide for the creation and/or retention of jobs, or job training, principally for persons who are low- and moderate-income. Typically, this includes loans to private for-profit entities or the provision of infrastructure improvements. More information is available at this DCA website: http://www.dca.ga.gov/economic/Financing/index.asp

D) The Redevelopment Fund

The Redevelopment Fund is targeted to projects that will leverage private sector investments in blighted downtown commercial and industrial areas. Projects that the slum and blight national objective, either a spot or area basis, are investment opportunities the State will take into consideration for funding. More information is available at this DCA website: http://www.dca.ga.gov/communities/downtowndevelopment/programs/redevfund.asp

Grant Award Schedule

Maximum Grant Amounts

Annual Competition: Single Activity Annual Competition: Multi Activity Immediate Threat and Danger Program Employment Incentive Program The Redevelopment Fund

$500,000 $800,000 $ 50,000 $500,000 $500,000

Note that the maximum grant amount for the EIP or the ITAD Program may be increased. See specific program descriptions for details.

Compliance Criteria

Eligible Activities

The eligible activities under Georgia's CDBG program are those activities identified in the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. However, to be eligible for competition and/or award under the regular round CDBG competition, the State has determined that each activity must be eligible under the Act and not less than 70% of its CDBG cost must benefit low- and moderate-income persons. (This provision does not apply to the Immediate Threat and Danger Grant Program, the CDBG Loan Guarantee Program, the Employment Incentive Program, or the Redevelopment Fund).

Restrictions on Eligibility for Competition and Award

Regular Annual Competition Restrictions

A) Only one single- or multi-activity application per general purpose local government, whether individually or jointly submitted, shall be eligible for competition.

B) Only one single- or multi-activity award may be received by any general purpose local government.

C) No recipient of a single- or multi-activity award shall be eligible to apply for or receive another single- or multi-activity award from the next fiscal year's except for recipients applying for activities within a DCA-approved Revitalization Area who may apply annually.

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Local governments that receive designations for annual eligibility under item C above must show substantial progress in implementing and spending prior grants in order to receive subsequent awards. Criteria to be considered in measuring "substantial progress" include, but shall not be limited to, percentage of funds obligated and/or expended from prior grants.
D) This restriction under item C above does not apply to the Immediate Threat and Danger Program, the Employment Incentive Program, the CDBG Loan Guarantee Program, or the Redevelopment Fund. In addition, communities designated by DCA as a "Water First Community," or participating in the Communities of Opportunity program may apply annually as described in the Application Manual. Water First communities must propose water improvements as the primary purpose of the grant in order to apply annually.
E) Recipients of prior CDBG funding must resolve all outstanding audits, monitoring findings and/or other program exceptions that involve a violation of federal, state or local law or regulation prior to award of or submission of any application to the State. In addition, recipients who fail to substantially meet their proposed accomplishments in their current CDBG project or have missed significant deadlines imposed by the State or other applicable agencies may be penalized in the subsequent year's Annual Competition.
F) Paragraph C above shall not apply in the case of two or more counties applying together to carry out a project of regional impact. Such applications, however, which are not actually regional in nature (which could have been submitted by only one county), will be rejected.
G) All CDBG recipients are expected to expend one hundred percent (100%) of all funds within twenty-four (24) months from the date of the grant award. The State reserves the right to recapture all unobligated funds after the expired period and impose restriction on future applications to the State for funding.
I. Annual Competition
Rating and Ranking System for the Regular Annual Competition
Single- or Multi-Activity applications will be rated separately to assign points for feasibility, impact and strategy. Demographic scores will be calculated separately for cities and counties. For purposes of calculating the demographic score, joint or regional applications that include a county will be included in the county group and those including only cities will be included in the city group.
Applications will be rated and scored against each of the following factors, using any additional and/or supplemental information, data, analyses, documentation, commitments, assurances, etc. as may be required or requested by DCA for purposes of evaluating, rating, and selecting applicants under this program. The maximum score is 500 points.

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Categories
Demographic Need - absolute number in poverty Demographic Need - percent of poverty persons Demographic Need - per capita income Program Feasibility Program Strategy Project Impact Leverage of Additional Resources Bonus points for Revitalization Area Activities Bonus points for Readiness to Proceed Maximum Total Points

Maximum Points
40 40 40 110 110 110 25 20 5 500

A) Demographic Need - absolute number of people in poverty:

Applicants will be compared in terms of the number of persons whose incomes are below the poverty level. Scores will be obtained by dividing each applicant's number of persons in poverty by the greatest number of persons in poverty of any applicant in the group and multiplying by 40.

B) Demographic Need - percent of people in poverty:

Applicants will be compared in terms of the percentage of population below the poverty level. Scores will be obtained by dividing each applicant's percentage of persons in poverty by the highest percentage of persons in poverty of any applicant in the group and multiplying by 40.

C) Demographic Need - per capita income:

Applicants will be compared in terms of their per capita income. Scores will be obtained by dividing each applicant's per capita income into the lowest per capita income of any applicant in the group and multiplying by 40.

D) Program Feasibility:

Applicants will be compared in terms of project feasibility. The following factors are considered: an analysis of such items as 1) verification and reasonableness of cost; 2) documentation that all project financing sources needed for the project will be available; 3) where applicable, documentation that preliminary engineering, architectural and or site plans have been prepared and support the proposed project; 4) verification that any required property is available for the project; 5) where applicable, review of any proposed subrecipient's credentials to provide evidence of administrative capacity to undertake an approved activity; and 6) compliance with applicable state and federal laws, and 7) reasonable project timetables.

Points for feasibility will be awarded by a review panel, in accordance with the levels below, based on how well each applicant, compared to others, addresses the feasibility factors.

Level One (Unacceptable) Level Two (Poor) Level Three (Average) Level Four (Good) Level Five (Excellent)

0 27.5 55.0 82.5 110.0

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E) Program Impact:

Applicants will be compared in terms of program impact. The following factors will be considered: 1) the number of persons benefiting; 2) the cost per person benefiting; 3) the project's impact on the benefiting population's quality of life, living environment or opportunities for economic advancement; and 4) an analysis of the documented severity of need and the impact of the project on the identified need or problem.

Points for impact will be awarded by a review panel, in accordance with the levels below, based on how well each applicant, compared to others, addresses the impact factors.

Level One (No Impact) Level Two (Poor) Level Three (Average) Level Four (Good) Level Five (Excellent)

0 27.5 55.0 82.5 110.0

F) Program Strategy:

Applicants will be compared in terms of program strategy. The following factors are considered: 1) an analysis of alternative solutions to address the identified problems, 2) as appropriate, an analysis of the steps taken by the applicant to adopt policies or ordinances to prevent the reoccurrence of the identified problem within their jurisdiction; 3) an analysis of the ongoing financial effort that the applicant has made or will make to address the identified problem and to maintain and operate the proposed project, facility or system; 4) the extent of benefit to persons of low- and moderate income; and 5) multi-activity applications will also be compared in terms of the projects' support of comprehensive community or neighborhood conservation, stabilization, revitalization and the degree of resident's support and involvement.

Points will be awarded, in accordance with the levels below, by a review panel based on how well the applicant, compared to others, addresses the strategy factors.

Level One (Unacceptable) Level Two (Poor) Level Three (Average) Level Four (Good) Level Five (Excellent)

0 27.5 55.0 82.5 110.0

G) Leverage of Additional Resources:

Leverage includes additional resources committed to and directly related to the project, including cash above the required minimum cash match amount, the purchase of equipment and furnishings with non-CDBG funds, and additional grants and loans from other sources. Only items that would not otherwise have been provided will be counted. A "reasonable" value must be assigned to donated and "in-kind" items. Up to 25 points can be assigned for leverage of additional resources.

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The leverage score will be calculated as follows:
1) Total dollar value of leverage for each applicant will be calculated and then divided by the total population of the applicant in order to obtain a per capita leverage figure reflective of each applicant's relative effort.
2) Applications will be assigned to one of five groups: Multi-activity Housing Economic Development Water and/or Sewer Other Public Facilities
3) The applications will then be ranked within these groups, based on per capita leverage amounts, from no leverage (no points) to highest per capita leverage and points assigned based on the percentile ranking. If no applicant within any of the groups listed above has $0 leverage, a proxy score of $0 will be inserted to insure that if leverage is provided by the applicant a score greater than $0 will result.
4) Up to 25 points can be assigned for leverage of additional resources. The ranking will be established using the range of applicants' per capita leverage amounts (from 0 to the highest per capita leverage) and calculating a percentile score for each applicant's per capita leverage amount within the range. This percentile score will be multiplied times 25 to establish the points for per capita leverage. For example, if an applicant's per capita leverage amount is $300 and if $300 represents a percentile score of 50 percent, the leverage points will be 15 (.50 x 25= 12.5).
H) Bonus points for Revitalization Area Activities:
Points will be awarded for the utilization of existing state redevelopment programs, initiatives and incentives in eligible areas. Following receipt of a designation, a CDBG applicant may be awarded up to 20 points for activities occurring within a DCA-approved Area as follows:
Revitalization Area Threshold Requirement (5 Bonus Points): In order to be eligible for Revitalization Area designation and bonus points, a local government must establish a local redevelopment area and plan pursuant to O.C.G.A. 36-61-1 et seq. within a Census Block area with a poverty rate of 20% or greater. Additionally, the local government must describe the activities it will undertake to promote economic empowerment through meaningful job creation for the unemployed and low- and moderate-income residents as well as activities to promote the substantial revitalization of the area.
Local Redevelopment Tools: (5 Bonus Points) Points may be earned through the use of such tools as State Enterprise Zones, Tax Allocation Districts, Community or Business Improvement Districts, or other geographically targeted tax or investment programs within the eligible area. In order to receive these points, the applicant must provide as proof the resolution or ordinance creating the redevelopment tools for which bonus points are sought.
Investment Partnerships: (maximum of Five Bonus Points): Points may be earned through the incorporation into the local program of certain job

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creation/retention, revitalization, residential improvement or social service funding programs geographically targeted to the areas of eligibility. Various programs including public programs chartered by the State of Georgia, GHFA, the U.S. Department of Treasury, the SBA, the USDA, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the TVA, HUD, and DOL. The leveraging of private funds from various philanthropic, non-profit and/or faith-based organizations will also be rewarded. In order to receive these points, the applicant must provide documentation showing a firm, long-term commitment by investment partners or a long-term commitment by the applicant to use investment partners as part of their Revitalization Area strategy. A long-term commitment by the applicant may be demonstrated by past use of investment partners, plans to incorporate investment partners in its current CDBG project, and the necessary local capacity to use investment partners on an ongoing basis.
Collaboration: (maximum of Five Bonus Points): Points may be earned through the demonstration that initiatives will be created and/or undertaken within the eligible area by private for-profit and not-for-profit community stakeholders. Such stakeholders may include local lending institutions, community or neighborhood-housing organizations, community-based development organizations, community development corporations, community development entities, and other similar organizations. In order to receive these points, the applicant must show that the collaborative stakeholder organizations have a firm commitment to the community, have taken responsibility for carrying out one or more aspects of a Revitalization Area strategy, have sound financial and administrative practices, and the ability to carry out the functions for which they are taking responsibility. Such evidence will include letters of commitment, agreements, programmatic material, articles of incorporation and registration from the Secretary of State, audited financial statements or financial reviews, budgets, IRS determination letter for 501(c) 3 statuses, or other evidence of capacity and commitment. Nonprofits that receive $25,000 or more in direct or pass-through federal funding during a single fiscal year are usually required to have an audit.
Note: If approved by HUD and the State, applicants may pursue benefits under HUD's comprehensive revitalization approach [24 CFR Part 570.483(e) (5)] that confers certain benefits including the possibility that some additional activities will carry the presumption of low- and moderate-income benefit.
Revitalization Area Designation: Revitalization Areas will generally be designated or reauthorized prior to the regular-round application deadline through a separate designation process as outlined in the Revitalization Area Strategy Manual, on RAS Forms 1 and 2, and at www.dca.ga.gov. Communities may also request designation within an annual round application. However, communities seeking designation are strongly encouraged to meet with DCA as soon as possible to discuss their request for designation. Applicants who fail to obtain designation (and bonus points) will have their applications ranked and rated as either a regular single- activity or multi-activity competition as appropriate.

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1) Area Strategy Plan and Map A community that wishes to take advantage of the Revitalization incentives of the CDBG program must first submit a properly adopted Redevelopment Plan for the proposed area that meets the requirements of the Georgia Urban Redevelopment Act pursuant to O.C.G.A. 36-61-1 et seq. Such plan should include a map of the proposed revitalization area indicating that the area is composed of one of more census block groups with a 20 percent or greater poverty rate.
2) Map Requirements: Applications shall contain three copies of a map of the revitalization area. Such map shall be prepared in accordance with the minimum map standards and specifications as outlined in the CDBG Application Manual.
Strategy Plan Requirements:
1) Citizen Participation Along with the area map and description submitted, the locality must provide evidence that a local citizens' participation process was used that not only meets the requirements of 24 CFR 91.115 and 24 CFR 570.486(a), but also demonstrates that local residents fully support the proposed strategy. Such evidence may include, but is not limited to, minutes and advertisements of public meetings, advisory committee lists and minutes, letters of support from participating organizations and signed petitions from area residents.
2) An Opportunity Zone designated pursuant to O.C.G.A. 48-7-40.1 (c.) (4) will generally be assumed to meet the Local Redevelopment Tools Criterion at Section H (2).
3) Local Revitalization Area designation is valid for three years at which time the sponsoring entity must reapply for designation with DCA. If the community desires to alter the boundaries of an approved Revitalization Area in the interim, an amended map and any additional pertinent information must be submitted to DCA for approval.
4) Applications for designation must include an assessment of the economic conditions of the proposed area to include:
Taxable value of property for the most recent tax year available Unemployment rate Percentage of low- to moderate-income residents Number of business/occupational licenses issued Number and value of building permits issued Any other information deemed important to document economic
conditions
5) Each year, designated Revitalization Area managers must submit a performance report to DCA that includes the activities and projects undertaken in the area and information on the economic conditions of the revitalization strategy area that includes:
Taxable value of property for the most recent tax year available Unemployment rate Percentage of low- to moderate-income residents Number of business/occupational licenses issued

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Number and value of building permits issued Total number of jobs created Number of low- to moderate-income jobs created
6) There is no limit to the number of revitalization areas a community may designate, although parcels within a single designated area must be contiguous.
G. Bonus Points for Readiness to Proceed
A maximum of five bonus points may be earned through the demonstration of a project's readiness to proceed. Points may be earned through the documentation in the application that: 1) all engineering and architectural plans are finalized and have been approved by appropriate local, state or federal authorities; 2) plans and specifications are finalized and have been approved by appropriate local, state or federal authorities; 3) all environmental reviews (including the CDBG NEPA review) and environmental permitting have been completed; 4) procurement documents/processes are ready to proceed; and 5) all real-estate (including easements and right of ways) needed for the project has been acquired in accordance with applicable requirements and is available for the project. Other equivalent documentation may be provided for housing applications that demonstrate readiness to proceed upon project award.
Final Ranking and Grant Selection
The points received by each applicant on the rating factors will be totaled and the total scores ranked accordingly. Grant awards will be based on this final ranking to the extent funds are available. In case of ties, the applicant with the highest percentage of funds benefiting low- and moderate-income persons will be given priority.
Matching Requirements for the Regular Annual Competition
All awards under the regular annual competition (except for single-activity housing grants) have the following minimum match requirements.
0% for amounts up to $300,000 in CDBG funds 5% of amounts from $300,001 to $500,000, and 10% of amounts over $500,000.
The match amount must be cash (not "in-kind") and can be from any public or non-public source. Within certain limitations, applicants may count the costs of preparing their CDBG Annual Competition application towards their required cash match.
II. Employment Incentive Program
The Employment Incentive Program (EIP) is intended to facilitate and enhance job creation and/or retention, principally for low and moderate income persons, by providing a flexible and expedient funding cycle that is responsive to expanding economic opportunities at the local level.
Any activities identified in Section 105 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, are eligible. For purposes of the Employment Incentive Program, activities are eligible only to the extent that the funded activity creates tangible employment principally for low- and moderate-income persons. In addition, proposed activities must be based on firm written commitments from eligible subrecipients. The proposed activity may not be speculative in nature. NOTE: For purposes of the EIP program, the term "subrecipient" should generally be interpreted as "business." However,

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in some cases where EIP funds are to be passed through a local development authority, the development authority itself would also be a "sub-recipient" subject to the same rules and regulations as the benefiting business.
Examples of eligible activities, which may be funded, include, but are not limited to, the following:
1) Activities carried out by units of general local government or public or private nonprofit subrecipients including: a.) acquisition of real property; b) acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or installation of (except for buildings for the general conduct of government) public facilities, site improvements, and utilities, and c) commercial or industrial buildings, structures and other real property improvements.
2) Provision of direct assistance to private for-profit entities, when the assistance is appropriate to carry out an economic development project. However, unless such assistance has been approved by DCA for use in or in conjunction with a DCAapproved "secondary market" program that would fund CDBG-eligible activities with private rather than public funds, such assistance may not be in the form of outright grants, guarantees, or technical assistance. In addition, financial assistance to private for-profit entities must be made contingent upon firm commitments of financial participation from other private sources such as banks or the private for-profit entities themselves. Such assistance must also create or retain permanent jobs principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
3) Provision of assistance to local development entities and other local nonprofit corporations to fund facilities that assist low- and moderate-income persons to acquire employment, the employment skills, and/or basic educational training to become more effective participants in the local economy. Eligibility for such activities will be limited to "new" activities that have not previously been undertaken by the unit of general local government or local development entity.
For each activity funded under the Employment Incentive Program, at least 51% of all jobs to be created or retained because of the EIP project must be documented to be either "available to" or "taken by" or retained by persons defined as low- and moderate-income by DCA. Prior to project close-out, at least 51% of all jobs created must be documented to have been "taken by" persons defined as low and moderate income.
For an activity or project that retains jobs, the unit of local government and proposed subrecipient must document that jobs would actually be lost without the EIP assistance and that at least 51% of the total existing jobs are currently held by low- and moderateincome persons.
For employment skill enhancement and/or basic educational training activities/ services, at least 51% of the recipients of such services must be documented to have been low- and moderate-income persons at the time such services were provided. Grant amounts under this program will generally not exceed $500,000 per award. The maximum grant amount may be increased if warranted by extraordinary public benefit to be achieved by a particular project.
Administrative and closing costs paid with EIP funds shall be limited to 6% of the grant award amount. The administrative cost limitation is applicable whether costs are paid directly to the recipient or financed as a portion of an EIP subrecipient loan. In cases of loan foreclosure, DCA may, on a case by case basis, allow additional administrative and legal expenses to be paid out of loan and/ or foreclosure proceeds.

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Funds Set-aside for the EIP Program
Eight million ($8,000,000) dollars from the FFY2011 allocation to the State for the CDBG Program will be set-aside for this program.
Funds remaining in the set-aside at the end of the fiscal year may be returned to an "active status" and may be used to fund EIP applications under a subsequent fiscal year or transferred to any of the other funding categories or for State Administration, subject to the limitations of the Housing and Community Development Act. In addition, the Commissioner of DCA may adjust the EIP program set-aside periodically during the 2011 Program Year based on demand for the set-aside.
EIP Application Procedures
The application procedure for the Employment Incentive Program includes an initial project assessment and application phase. Local governments may submit applications for consideration at any time regardless of whether an initial project assessment has been approved. The purpose of the initial project assessment is to determine eligibility of a proposed project and the possible competitiveness under the funding criteria outlined below. While an initial assessment is not required, DCA strongly encourages potential applicants to contact DCA to arrange an initial project assessment meeting prior to submitting an application.
Applications may be submitted individually by one unit of general purpose local government, or jointly, by two (2) or more units of general purpose local government. Joint submissions must contain a copy of the Cooperating Agreement entered into by the cooperating units of government. The Agreement should designate the unit of local government that will serve as lead applicant. Applications for the EIP program must be submitted in conformance with the format and applicable instructions specified by DCA.
The locality submitting the EIP application must hold a public hearing in accordance with the requirements of Georgia's CDBG Program Regulations.
Rating and Review Procedures for the EIP Program
Upon its receipt, an application shall be rated against the rating and selection factors specified below, using any additional and/or supplemental information, data, analyses, documentation, commitments, assurances, etc. as might be required or requested by DCA for purposes of evaluating, rating, and selecting applicants under this program. Applications that contain insufficient information or documentation to be evaluated and rated may be returned to the locality for further information.
The staff may conduct site visits and hold discussions with applicants and proposed subrecipients for the purposes of confirming and evaluating information contained in the preapplication or application. Staff may also consult with other appropriate government and private entities in the course of reviewing and evaluating information contained in preapplications and applications.
The scores obtained for the various selection factors will be totaled and applicants with scores of at least 300 points that meet all appropriate funding criteria, that conform to the objectives of Title I of the Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and that can be carried out in compliance with all applicable federal, state or local law, regulations or requirements will be funded until funds are exhausted. In cases where fundable applications exceed available funds, the applicant with the highest number of jobs benefiting low and moderate-income persons will be given priority.EIP applications will be rated and scored against each of the following factors:

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Review Factor Maximum Points Available
Demographic Need Program Feasibility Program Impact Program Strategy Bonus (for Return of RLF Assets) Total Available Points

120 points 110 points 110 points 110 points
25 points 475 points

A. Demographic Need (120 points)
Absolute Number of People in Poverty (40 points)
All eligible local governments will be compared in terms of the absolute number of people whose incomes are below the poverty level. Individual scores will be obtained by dividing each government's absolute number of persons in poverty by the greatest number of persons in poverty of any eligible local government and multiplying by 40.
Percent of People in Poverty (40 points)
All eligible local governments will be compared in terms of the percentage of people whose incomes are below the poverty level. Individual scores will be obtained by dividing each government's percentage of persons in poverty by the highest percentage of persons in poverty of any eligible local government and multiplying by 40.
Per Capita Income (40 points)
All eligible local governments will be compared in terms of their per capita income. Individual scores will be obtained by dividing each government's per capita income into the lowest per capita income of any eligible local government and multiplying by 40. Demographic scores will be based on the latest available data, consistent as of the same point in time for each factor. Scores will be based on county data.
B. Program Feasibility (110 points)
The following factors will be considered:
Organizational status of the business The past credit history of the business The business' historical sales and financial performance Viability of the business model Management capacity The reasonableness of the business' financial and market projections and
assumptions An assessment of the business management and development team's ability to
carry out the project as proposed The proposed project's compliance with the federal appropriateness
requirements including underwriting and public benefit (For direct loans this requires the complete disclosure of sub-recipients' financial situation) Verification of project costs Verification of project financing sources Adequacy and reasonableness of the job commitment

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Completeness of any needed engineering plans and specifications Documentation that the project can be carried out in accordance with federal,
state, and local laws, regulations, and permitting requirements Verification of control of any required property

Points for feasibility will be awarded by a staff review panel, in accordance with the levels below, based on how well the applicant addresses the feasibility factors.

Level One: Poor

0

Level Two: Below Average

27.5

Level Three: Average

55

Level Four: Good

82.5

Level Five: Excellent

110

C. Program Impact (110 points)

The following factors will be considered:

Number of jobs created and/or retained EIP cost per job Availability of jobs to low- and moderate-income persons Quality of jobs and employee benefits Project's impact on local unemployment rates

A staff review panel will award points for impact, in accordance with the levels below, based on how well the applicant addresses the impact factors.

Level One: Poor

0

Level Two: Below Average

27.5

Level Three: Average

55

Level Four: Good

82.5

Level Five: Excellent

110

D. Program Strategy (110 points)

The following factors will be considered:

The ratio of private funds to EIP funds (To receive maximum points, a minimum ratio of at least 1 to 1 is generally required)
Documentation that the public benefits to be achieved are reasonable and, to the extent practicable, EIP funds will not substitute for other available funds;
Adequacy of financing strategy (adequacy of equity injection, collateral, and loan terms)
Relationship between the subrecipient's infrastructure needs and the size and capacity of any infrastructure to be provided
Validity of subrecipient's commitment to fulfill hiring and investment commitments (including whether the subrecipient has agreed to provide a letter of credit or other surety to "bond" its performance)
Local government's financial condition, as applicable Project's conformance to local planning and development strategy and
compliance with the Georgia Planning Act Project's conformance to federal, state, and local laws and regulations Relationship to overall objectives of the EIP and CDBG Program, including
the extent of benefit to persons of low- and moderate-income

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A staff review panel will award points, in accordance with the levels below, based on how well the applicant addresses the strategy factors.

Level One: Poor

0

Level Two: Below Average

27.5

Level Three: Average

55

Level Four: Good

82.5

Level Five: Excellent

110

E. Bonus for Return of RLF Assets (25 points)

Localities which have a local Revolving Loan fund (RLF) or loan receivable capitalized with EIP or CDBG proceeds may, at their discretion, return the RLF assets to the State in exchange for greater consideration and access to future EIP financing for eligible projects. The consideration will consist of an extra 25 points for use in any one EIP funding decision. In order to receive the points, a locality must return all RLF assets to the state to remove itself from the administrative requirements of the RLF program. This will generally require that a locality "sell" its loan receivables and return all cash on hand to DCA. For projects that would otherwise not score sufficient points to be funded, bonus points may be awarded at the discretion of the EIP application review panel.

Any assets returned to the state will be added to the state's existing CDBG allocation or used to capitalize a statewide revolving loan fund and used to fund additional economic development projects.

Special Provisions for EIP Capitalized Local Revolving Loan Funds

DCA may permit localities which have or will receive revenue (principal, interest or other payments) from EIP or other CDBG loans or leases to retain that revenue. This can be approved so long as it is used for the same activity that generated the revenue and also used in accordance with the requirements of this regulation and any other applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, contract, guidance manual or memoranda.

For localities that will retain program revenue, DCA will require that such revenue be deposited into a separate revolving loan fund (RLF) account that bears the local government's name and used only to carry out specific Title I eligible activities. The RLF must be created by a local resolution and implemented by local policies and procedures approved by DCA.

Localities allowed to retain program revenue must ensure that the RLF is adequately managed. DCA will categorize the RLF as being adequately managed so long as the following responsibilities are being met:

a) Maintenance of an accounting and financial management system that complies with generally accepted accounting principals and DCA's guidelines for RLF financial management systems
b) Compliance with DCA's reporting requirements for local RLFs
c) Operation of the local RLF in accordance with DCA approved policies, procedures, and federal, state, and local law, regulation, contracts, guidance manuals and memoranda
d) Maintenance of a loan review and selection committee with the capacity to review and analyze loan requests and determine whether such requests represent prudent investments as defined by generally accepted underwriting criteria

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e) Maintenance of a loan packaging and structuring capacity that meets appropriate underwriting standards for security and documentation
f) Maintenance of a loan servicing and monitoring capacity which ensures that loan payments are collected, that loan covenants are enforced, and that loan security is maintained
g) Maintenance of a loan portfolio which represents investments in businesses engaged in sound business purposes that have demonstrated tangible employment of low and moderate income persons as defined by DCA
h) Attendance at DCA-sponsored training workshops that will be held periodically for purposes of training local RLF administrators
To assist with the financing of a local RLF program's administrative cost, DCA will allow (on an annual basis) the greater of 6% or $2,500 of interest earned by the RLF to be used for administration and audit costs. In certain foreclosure and/or hardship situations, DCA may allow additional amounts to be expended for administrative, audit, or legal costs.
Localities allowed to retain program revenue must also ensure that the RLF is utilized in a timely and efficient manner. DCA will categorize a RLF as being adequately utilized so long as the following criteria are met:
A) The RLF is used to continue the same activity which generated the program revenue; and
B) The RLF's cash balance shall not exceed $125,000 or 30% of total RLF assets, whichever is greater.
Should a locality be unable to utilize the RLF in accordance with items a) and b) above, the locality may request DCA to waive the provisions. DCA may grant waivers when it is determined that sufficient future activity is probable or the locality is taking steps to ensure future activity.
C) The Redevelopment Fund
The Redevelopment Fund provides flexible financial assistance to local governments to assist them in implementing challenging economic and community development projects that cannot be undertaken with existing public sector grant and loan programs. The Redevelopment Fund will reward locally initiated public/private partnerships by providing financing to leverage private sector investments in commercial, downtown and industrial redevelopment and revitalization projects that need Redevelopment Fund investment to proceed.
While all projects funded under the Redevelopment Fund that create or retain jobs must make 51% of the jobs available to low- and moderate-income persons, the Redevelopment Fund will allow projects to be approved using an "eliminating slums or blight" national objective. The "slum or blight" emphasis will allow smaller scale projects (in downtowns, blighted industrial areas, etc.) to be competitive for Redevelopment Fund financing.
The Redevelopment Fund may support and extend DCA's existing CDBG programs in order to allow redevelopment projects with "challenging economics" to be made competitive for DCA, private and other public funding investments.

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Applicable Law and Regulation
Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended; the federal implementing regulations applicable to the State Community Development Block Grant Program (24 CFR Part 570); and DCA's Program Regulations and guidelines for the Georgia State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the Redevelopment Fund, as amended.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities under the Redevelopment Fund are those identified in Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended; and all eligible activities under DCA's EIP, CDBG, and CDBG Loan Guarantee (Section 108) program. Activities are eligible to the extent that the funded activity meets the slum or blight national objective. When justified by benefits or need, the Commissioner of DCA may approve projects on a case by case basis based on any CDBG program national objective. Proposed activities must be based on firm written commitments from local governments and eligible subrecipients. NOTE: For the Redevelopment Fund, the term "subrecipient" may generally be interpreted as a business or corporation. However, in cases where Redevelopment Funds are to be loaned to or passed through a local development authority, the development authority itself would also be a "sub-recipient" subject to the same rules and regulations as a benefiting business or corporation.
Funding
A total of $1,500,000 or three percent (3%) (whichever is greater) from each federal fiscal year's allocation to DCA for the CDBG Program will be set-aside for this program.
Funds remaining in the set-aside at the end of the fiscal year may be returned to an "active status" and may be used to fund Redevelopment Fund applications under a subsequent fiscal year or transferred to any of the other funding categories or for state administration, subject to the limitations of the Housing and Community Development Act. In addition, the Commissioner of DCA may adjust the EIP program set-aside periodically during the 2011 Program Year based on demand for the set-aside.
Certain Redevelopment Fund activities may generate program income that may be returned to the Department in accordance with the provisions contained in 24 CFR Part 570.489(e) and (f). Any Redevelopment Fund program income returned to the Department will be held in a separate state revolving loan fund account that will be established to support Redevelopment Fund activities. The state revolving loan fund's administrative and eligibility requirements are identical in all respects to those for the Redevelopment Fund set-aside; however, any program income in the revolving fund will be disbursed before and prior to any funds from the Redevelopment set-aside.
Grant Amount
The grant amount is up to $500,000. In cases of projects with exceptional public benefits or need, the Commissioner of DCA may raise the allowable grant amount.
Application Procedures
The application procedure for the Redevelopment Fund Program includes an initial project assessment and application phase. Local governments may submit applications for consideration at any time regardless of whether an initial project assessment has been approved. The purpose of the initial project assessment is to determine eligibility of a proposed project and the possible competitiveness under the funding criteria outlined below. While an initial assessment is not required, DCA strongly encourages potential

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applicants to contact DCA to arrange an initial project assessment meeting prior to submitting an application.

Applications may be submitted individually by one unit of general purpose local government, or jointly, by two (2) or more units of general purpose local government. Joint applications must contain a copy of the Cooperating Agreement entered into by the cooperating units of government. The Agreement should designate the unit of local government that will serve as lead applicant. DCA strongly encourages potential applicants to contact DCA to arrange an initial project assessment meeting prior to submitting an application.

The purpose of the initial project assessment process is to evaluate a proposed project to determine if the proposal meets the funding threshold outlined below.

Applications for the Redevelopment Fund must be submitted in conformance with the format and applicable instructions specified by DCA.

Rating and Review Procedure

Applications will be rated and points awarded based on the following point system. In order to be funded, an application must achieve a minimum score of 425:

Factor

Maximum Points

1. Demographic Need

120

2. Project Feasibility

210

3. Project Strategy and Innovation

240

4. Leverage of Additional Resources

30

Total Maximum Points

600

A) Factor 1: Demographic Need
Demographic Need points will be calculated by DCA based on three factors. Submission of data with respect to "Demographic Need" is not required. The number and percentage of persons in poverty will be based on the most recent Census data that is consistent as of the same point of time for all applicants. Per capita income will be based on the most recent available data that is consistent as of the same point of time for all applicants.
For purposes of comparing data, applicants shall be divided into two groups: Cities and Counties. Joint applicants comprised of all cities shall be assigned to the city group and joint applicants including one or more counties shall be assigned to the county group.
Absolute number of people in poverty: Applicants will be compared in terms of the number of persons whose incomes are below the poverty level. Scores will be obtained by dividing each applicant's number of persons in poverty by the greatest number of persons in poverty of any applicant and multiplying by 40.
Percent of people in poverty: Applicants will be compared in terms of the percentage of population below the poverty level. Scores will be obtained by dividing each applicant's percentage of persons in poverty by the highest percentage of persons in poverty of any applicant and multiplying by 40.

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Per capita income: Applicants will be compared in terms of their per capita income. Scores will be obtained by dividing each applicant's per capita income into the lowest per capita income of any applicant and multiplying by 40.

B) Factor 2: Feasibility

Feasibility points will be based on an analysis of how each application addresses the following factors: eligibility of proposed activity; reasonableness of cost; compliance with applicable state and federal laws; project timetables; confirmation of all required resources; completeness of proposed plans and specifications; reasonableness of any sub-recipient's proposed business plan(s) and financial projections; reasonableness of any site clean-up proposal and plan; and conformance with applicable underwriting and review requirements contained in 24 CFR Part 570.

Points for feasibility will be awarded by a DCA staff review panel as follows:

Level One (Poor) Level Two (Fair) Level Three (Good) Level Four (Very Good) Level Five (Excellent)

-052.5 105.0 157.5 210.0

C) Factor 3: Strategy

Strategy points will be based on the following factors: an analysis of the severity of need; documentation that a project's public benefits will exceed project costs; documentation that the proposed strategy meets the eligibility criteria and a national objective of the CDBG Program; documentation that the project complies with all local ordinances, state law and state regulations. Points will be awarded by a DCA staff review panel as follows:

Level One (Poor) Level Two (Fair) Level Three (Good) Level Four (Very Good) Level Five (Excellent)

-060.0 120.0 180.0 240.0

D) Factor 4: Leverage

Leverage points will be awarded based on a firm commitment of additional resources directly related to the project, including capital costs and new funds for operation of any proposed program(s). The "leverage ratio" of other private or public funds will be the criterion considered. A minimum leverage ratio of 1 to 1 must be documented in order to receive points under this criterion. A "reasonable" value must be assigned to donated and "in-kind" items. The leverage score will be calculated based on the total value of leverage for each applicant. Applications with no leverage will receive no points. Points will be awarded by a DCA staff review panel as follows:

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Level One (Poor)

-0-

Level Two (Fair)

7.5

Level Three (Good)

15.0

Level Four (Very Good)

22.5

Level Five (Excellent)

30.0

C) The Immediate Threat and Danger Program
The Immediate Threat and Danger Program is intended to respond to events or situations which have a particular urgency and uniqueness which adversely affect or impact the health or welfare of the community and its citizens and where other financial resources are not available to meet such need. To be considered, the event or situation must have a sense of urgency and be of recent origin or have recently become urgent. Recent origin is defined as a condition that has developed or become critical generally within 18 months of application. Ample description of the cause of the threat and probable ramifications must be provided. Grant amounts under this program generally cannot exceed $50,000.
Generally, a grant awarded under this program cannot be more than 50% of the project cost. The applicant (local government) must provide at least 10% of the project cost. These requirements may be waived in extraordinary circumstances. In case of a "major disaster," the Commissioner will determine the extent of DCA involvement. The Commissioner may waive the maximum grant amount and other requirements in case of a "major disaster."
Application and Review Procedures
Applications can be submitted at any time and funds will be awarded to eligible applicants who meet the threshold described above, as long as funds remain in the setaside amount. Applications must include a certification that other financial resources are not available to meet the identified needs; the situation poses a serious and immediate threat, and identifies the other sources of project funding.
Upon receipt of a request for assistance, DCA staff will review the application for completeness and degree of urgency. Staff may visit the locality to inspect the problem cited by the applicant and may consult with other appropriate state, federal or local agencies to determine the extent of the threat prior to funding decisions. After staff recommendations, the Commissioner, using the same criteria and based on staff recommendations, will approve or deny the request and transmit the decision to the local government.
Program Income Policy
Locally generated program income is generally retained at the local level and must be utilized to continue the same activity from which they were derived, in accordance with the Housing and Community Development Act, as amended and HUD regulations.
The section above describing the Special Provisions for the Employment Incentive Program discusses situations in which local RLF assets created by the EIP Program may be returned to the state. Any assets so returned will be added to the state's existing CDBG allocation for the regular competition, used for CDBG Loan Guarantee Program, used for the Redevelopment Fund, or used to capitalize a statewide RLF used to fund additional economic and community development projects.

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Reallocated & Recapture Funds

HUD reallocated funds are those funds that HUD has recaptured from direct HUDfunded grantees and reallocated to the State. State recaptured funds are funds the State receives back from a State CDBG Recipient because of a CDBG deobligation or termination.

Any such funds received by the State will be distributed by the State in the same manner as regular CDBG funds. At the discretion of the Commissioner, they may be used to fund additional regular competition projects, for any of the set-aside programs, for the CDBG Loan Guarantee Program, or for State Administration, subject to the limitations set of the Housing and Community Development Act, as amended and this Plan.

Reallocation of Remaining Funds

In the event 2011 Program Year Funds set-aside for the Annual Competition, the Redevelopment Fund, the Employment Incentive Program (EIP), or the Immediate Threat and Danger Program are not awarded by the end of the fiscal year, they may be utilized for funding additional regular competition grants, Redevelopment Fund, EIP grants, the Immediate Threat and Danger grants, or for State Administration, subject to the limitations of the Housing and Community Development Act, as amended.
2CDBG PROPOSED FUNDING ALLOCATION FFY2011/SFY2010

Estimated HUD Allocation

$36,631,109

State Administration

$832,622.18

Immediate Threat & Danger Program

$500,000

PROGRAMS

The Redevelopment Fund

$1,500,000

Employment Incentive Program

$8,000,000

Technical Assistance

$366,311

Annual Competition

$25,432,176

The amounts in the above Table are based on HUD estimates of funds available for

Program Year 2011 found at the following web link:

http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/budget/budget11/index.cfm

If the actual funded amount is different, adjustments will be made to the amounts set-aside for administration, technical assistance and the Annual Competition.

Loan Guarantee Program (Section 108)

The CDBG Loan Guarantee Program (Section 108 Program) is an economic and community development financing tool authorized under Section 108 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. The program provides a method of assisting non-entitlement local governments with certain unique and largescale economic development projects that cannot proceed without the loan guarantee. In order to be eligible a project must meet all applicable CDBG requirements and result in significant employment opportunities and/or benefits for low- and moderate-income persons. Projects that are eligible for financing under existing federal, state, regional or local programs will generally not be considered for guarantee assistance unless the programs would fail to fully meet a project's need.

Unlike the traditional CDBG or EIP Program, the Section 108 Program does not operate through assistance from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Rather, funds are raised through DCA's "Pledge of Grants" to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

2 The State will match the administrative costs in excess of $100,000 on a dollar for dollar basis.

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Development (HUD) in order to obtain a federal guarantee of notes issued by the local government. The federally guaranteed notes are sold into private markets through public offerings conducted by HUD. By approving the project, a State pledges its future CDBG funds as the ultimate repayment source should a Section 108 loan default. The State's participation in the Section 108 program does not involve a pledge of Georgia's full faith and credit nor does it commit any funding to the local government. HUD makes the ultimate approval or denial of the federal guarantee.
Since CDBG funds are an essential and critical resource for Georgia's non-entitlement local governments, DCA will use conservative rating, selection and underwriting criteria in evaluating requests for the State's concurrence and Pledge of Grants. Only those projects that DCA determines can generate sufficient revenue from project resources to debt service all obligations will be competitive under the State's Section 108 rating and selection system.
Maximum Loan Guarantee Amount
The maximum Loan Guarantee amount is $5,000,000. In the interest of limiting exposure and promoting a diversified portfolio, DCA reserves the right to limit the amounts "pledged" to any one unit of local government or business interest.
Total Funds Available
DCA may set-aside a multi-year, cumulative total of up to twenty percent (20%) of its current and future CDBG allocations plus any CDBG program income for Pledge of Grants that will be used as security for notes and other obligations issued by units of nonentitlement local government pursuant to Section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.
For projects that would provide extraordinary public benefit, job creation, and private investment, the DCA Board of Directors may approve allocation and loan amounts that exceed the twenty percent (20%) set-aside and/or maximum loan guarantee amounts. However, in no event may the amounts pledged exceed the limits contained in CFR Part 570.705(a) or up to five (5) times the amount of its last CDBG grant less the amounts of any unpaid balances previously guaranteed.
These Pledge of Grants do not immediately reduce the State's non-entitlement CDBG allocations, but rather create an obligation on the part of the State to use its CDBG funds to make payments on behalf of local governments that default on their loan payments to note holders. For any notes backed by the State's Pledges, DCA will require appropriate covenants that transfer an appropriate share of the risk to the local government and subrecipient business.
Soft Costs and Fees
Local governments interested in obtaining Section 108 financing must cover their own application preparation and administration costs in order to be competitive. Certain underwriting and issuance costs required by HUD in order to participate in the program are allowable and will not affect an application's competitiveness; however, all "soft costs" not necessary to cover HUD-required underwriting and issuance costs are not eligible for inclusion under Section 108 financing and must be paid from non-Section 108 sources. Limited technical assistance will be available from DCA on the preparation of a pre-application and application.

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Eligible Activities
Eligible activities under the Section 108 program are those identified in 24 CFR Part 570.703 which include (but are not limited to):
Acquisition of improved or unimproved real property in fee or by long-term lease, including acquisition for economic development purposes
Rehabilitation of real property owned or acquired by the public entity or its designated public agency
Payment of interest on obligations guaranteed under the 108 Program Clearance, demolition and removal, including movement of structures to other
sites, of buildings and improvements on real property acquired or rehabilitated pursuant to program rules Site preparation, including construction, reconstruction, or installation of public and other site improvements, utilities, or facilities (other than buildings), which is related to the redevelopment or use of the real property acquired or rehabilitated pursuant to activities a and b of this section, or for an economic development purpose Payment of issuance, underwriting, servicing, trust administration and other costs associated with private sector financing of debt obligations under the 108 program The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or installation of commercial or industrial buildings, structures, and other real property equipment and improvements, including railroad spurs or similar extensions. Such activities may be carried out by the recipient or public or private nonprofit sub-recipients The provision of assistance to a private for-profit business, including, but not limited to, grants, loans, loan guarantees, interest supplements, technical assistance, and other forms of support, for any activity where the assistance is appropriate to carry out an economic development project, excluding those described as ineligible in CFR Part 570.207(a). In selecting businesses to assist under this authority, the recipient shall minimize, to the extent practicable, displacement of existing businesses and jobs in neighborhoods A debt service reserve to be used in accordance with requirements specified in the contract entered into pursuant to CFR Part 570.705(b)(1) Acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or installation of public facilities (except for buildings for the general conduct of government), public streets, sidewalks, and other site improvements and public utilities
For each activity funded under the 108 Program, at least seventy percent (70%) of all proposed beneficiaries and/or jobs to be created or retained as a result of the 108 project must be documented to be created for and able to be "taken by" or retained by persons defined as low- and moderate-income by DCA. Before project closeout, at least 70% of all jobs created must be documented to have been "taken by" persons defined as low- and moderate-income.
For projects that would provide extraordinary public benefit, job creation, and private investment, the Department may approve a slightly reduced low- and moderate-income benefit threshold. However, in no event may a specific project's low- and moderateincome benefit level fall below fifty-one (51%) or a level that the Department determines could cause the State to fall below the mandated program-wide low- and moderateincome benefit levels contained at CFR Part 570.484

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Application Procedures

Local governments interested in applying to HUD for a loan guarantee must first apply to DCA in order to obtain the State's concurrence and Pledge of Grants.

The application procedure for the Section 108 Program includes a pre-application and final application phase. Final applications may only be submitted following a written invitation from DCA. The purpose of the pre-application will be to underwrite, evaluate and score a proposed project to determine if the proposed project meets the requirements for the State's concurrence and Pledge of Grants. The purpose of the final application will be for DCA to approve the final form of the local government's application to HUD and negotiate any local certifications, credit enhancements and other understandings required as a condition of the State's Pledge of Grants approval.

Local governments may submit pre-applications for consideration at any time. Preapplications and Applications may be submitted individually by one unit of general purpose local government, or jointly, by two (2) or more units of general purpose local government. Joint submissions must contain a copy of the Cooperating Agreement entered into by the cooperating units of government. The Agreement should designate the unit of local government that will serve as lead applicant. Pre-applications and applications for the 108 Program must be submitted in conformance with the format and applicable instructions specified by DCA Section 108 pre-application and application manuals.

Rating and Selection Process

Upon receipt of a pre-application under this program, staff will review the pre-application for completeness and for evaluation against the various rating and selection factors. For purposes of this program, the rating and selection factors shall be those specified in this section and any additional and/or supplemental information, data, analyses, documentation, commitments, assurances, etc. as may be required or requested by DCA for purposes of evaluating, rating, and selecting applicants under this program. Applications that contain insufficient information or documentation to be evaluated may be returned to the locality without further review.

The staff may conduct site visits and hold discussions with applicants and proposed subrecipients for the purposes of confirming and evaluating information contained in the preapplication or application. The staff may consult with other appropriate government and private entities in the course of reviewing and evaluating information contained in preapplications and applications. The scores obtained for the various selection factors will be totaled and only those applicants with scores of at least 325 points will be considered for a Pledge of Grants.

Selection System for Section 108 Applications

Section 108 Applications will be rated and scored against each of the following factors:

Review Factors Demographic Need Program Feasibility Program Impact Program Strategy Bonus (for Credit Enhancement) Total Available Points

Maximum Points Available 90 points
120 points 120 points 120 points
25 points 475 points

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A) Demographic Need (90 points)
Absolute Number of People in Poverty (30 points)
All eligible local governments will be compared in terms of the absolute number of people whose incomes are below the poverty level. Individual scores will be obtained by dividing each government's absolute number of persons in poverty by the greatest number of persons in poverty of any eligible local government and multiplying by 30.
Percent of People in Poverty (30 points)
All eligible local governments will be compared in terms of the percentage of people whose incomes are below the poverty level. Individual scores will be obtained by dividing each government's percentage of persons in poverty by the highest percentage of persons in poverty of any eligible local government and multiplying by 30.
Per Capita Income (30 points)
All eligible local governments will be compared in terms of their per capita income. Individual scores will be obtained by dividing each government's per capita income into the lowest per capita income of any eligible local government and multiplying by 30.
Demographic scores will be based on the latest available data, consistent as of the same point in time for each factor. Scores will be based on county data.
B) Program Feasibility (120 points)
The following factors will be considered:
Local government's financial condition Local social-economic conditions and need Organizational status of development agency or sub-recipient business
1) Reputable history for business and all related entities 2) Credit History 3) Litigation 4) Government Findings/Sanctions Is the proposed business or development concept/product/service proven or does the proposal represent an untried business model Does the proposed Section 108 investment/purpose contain the basis for its repayment Is the development agency's or sub-recipient business' historical performance and standing secure in the following areas: capital management, debt capacity, management character & experience, collateral value, economic and market conditions Is the development agency's or sub-recipient business' proposed development or business plan reasonable and does it use reasonable assumptions in the following areas: capital investment; debt service capacity, management ability, collateral value, industry analysis, response to future economic and market conditions

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For realestate projects, does the proposed development team have a successful record of accomplishment, Developer / Contractor / Architect / Leasing Agent / Property Manager / Syndicator / Construction Manager / Interim and Permanent Lenders
Does the proposed project comply with the CDBG regulations and guidelines for "appropriateness", underwriting, and public benefit
Are all project costs verified through either original source documents, architectural and engineering reports, or an MAI or other certified appraisal acceptable to DCA
Is the balance of all financing sources verified and committed Is all required real-estate available, have clear title, and under proper
option Is the development agency's or sub-recipient's investment and job
commitment letter in the proper format Are all needed architectural plans, engineering reports, plans, and
specifications completed and approved by appropriate authorities Can the project be carried out in accordance with all applicable
federal, state, and local law, regulation and permitting requirements

Feasibility points will be awarded by a DCA staff review panel, in accordance with the levels below, based on how well the applicant addresses the impact factors:

Level One Level Two Level Three Level Four Level Five

(poor) (below average) (average) (good) (excellent)

00.0 30.0 60.0 90.0 120.0

C) Program Impact (120 points)

The following factors will be considered:

Number of jobs created and/or retained Section 108 cost per job Availability of jobs to low/mod income persons Quality of jobs and employee benefits (health, retirement, leave, etc.) Project's impact on local unemployment rates What is the project's impact on blighting conditions that threaten public
health and safety or impede economic development

Points for impact will be awarded by a staff review panel, in accordance with the levels below, based on how well the applicant addresses the impact factors:

Level One Level Two Level Three Level Four Level Five

(poor) (below average) (average) (good) (excellent)

00.0 30.0 60.0 90.0 120.0

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D) Program Strategy (120 points)

The following factors will be considered:

Documentation that the proposed project is not eligible under existing federal, state, regional or local economic development financing programs or else the programs would fail to fully meet the project's need.
Documentation that the proposed project represents a unique, large-scale project that will further the objectives of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act.
Documentation that the local government will assign certain responsibilities under 108 to the State to insure efficient credit monitoring, sub-recipient loan servicing and 108 loan payments.
The ratio of private equity and investment to Section 108 funds.
Documentation that the sub-recipient business or development agency will generate sufficient revenue and that sufficient credit enhancements are in place to reasonably insure that the Section 108 loan can be amortized without any risk to future CDBG allocations
Documentation that the public benefits to be achieved is reasonable and to the extent, practicable Section 108 funds will not substitute for other available funds
Adequacy of financing strategy repayment ability, rate, term (maximum consideration for terms less than 10 years), type (maximum consideration for permanent financing the applicants can provide will be most competitive), and collateral and security
Validity of sub-recipient's commitment to fulfill hiring and investment commitments
Project's conformance to: i) local and regional plans; ii) service delivery strategy and iii) the Georgia Planning Act
Project's conformance to federal, state, and local laws and regulations
Relationship to overall objectives of the Section 108 and CDBG Program, including the extent of benefit to persons of low and moderate income

Strategy points will be awarded by a staff review panel, in accordance with the levels below, based on how well the applicant addresses the strategy factors:

Level One Level Two Level Three Level Four Level Five

(poor) (below average) (average) (good) (excellent)

00.0 30.0 60.0 90.0 120.0

D) Bonus for Pledge of Assets and/or Credit Enhancement (25 points)

Localities, which have a local Revolving Loan fund (RLF) capitalized with EIP or CDBG proceeds, federal Economic Development Initiative (EDI) or Brownfield (BEDI) grants or other assets, may, at their discretion, pledge those assets as a "loan loss reserve" or other security or credit enhancement in order to boost the competitiveness of their 108 application. Likewise, borrowers may also receive bonus points for agreeing to provide other credit enhancements such as stand-by letters of credit, guarantees or other recourse instruments. The consideration will

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consist of a maximum of an extra 25 points for use in the State's Section 108 "Pledge of Grants" decision.
Invitation to Submit a Final Application
The points received by a pre-applicant on the rating factors will be totaled. In order to receive an invitation to submit a final application, a pre-application must receive at least 325 points. In cases where fundable pre-applications exceed available funds, the preapplicant with the highest number of jobs benefiting low- and moderate-income persons will be given priority.
Final Application Funding Determination
Final applications are invited only for those projects that meet the pre-application threshold requirements. The locality submitting the Section 108 final application must hold public hearing(s) in accordance with the requirements of HUD and Georgia's CDBG program.
Final applications for the Section 108 Program must be submitted in conformance with CFR Part 570.704 and the format and applicable instructions specified by DCA and HUD. The final application review will ensure that all appropriate funding criteria have been considered, and the overall benefits to be achieved warrant the State's concurrence, acceptance of the responsibilities outlined in CFR Part 570.710 and "Pledge of Grants."
Upon approval by DCA, the Final Application will be placed in its final form by the applicant local government and submitted to HUD for their review with assistance from DCA. It should be noted that DCA reserves the right to ask local governments to submit their applications without the State's Pledge of Grants in cases where the final security requirements or other issues are unknown. In such cases, the State's Pledge of Grants would be forthcoming to HUD upon the successful negotiation of a security arrangement and repayment schedule acceptable to the State.
CDBG Loan Guarantee Performance Thresholds
Recipients of prior CDBG funding with outstanding audit, monitoring findings and/or other program exceptions, which involve a violation of federal, state or local law or regulation and/or have failed to substantially meet their proposed accomplishments in their current CDBG or EIP projects are ineligible for 108 consideration. Local governments and businesses that default on a loan payment under the 108 program shall be sanctioned and immediately become ineligible to compete for or receive any DCA grant or loan until the State is "made whole" in regards to its CDBG loss. In addition, applicants must comply with their reporting under the Georgia Planning Act, the Service Delivery Strategy Law (H.B. 489), the Georgia Solid Waste Management Act, the Local Governments Audit Act and the DCA Local Government Finance Report requirements.
Float Funded Activities
The State does not propose to provide CDBG Float-funded activities during SFY2011 using an allocation of FFY2010 funds. However, if the State proposes such a activity, the appropriate program will be implemented in accordance with applicable HUD regulations found at 24 CFR 92.209-92.211. A Substantial Amendment to the SFY2011 Action Plan will also be issued to insure adequate opportunity for public comment.

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Monitoring
To insure that each recipient of CDBG funds operates in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations, DCA conducts frequent on-site monitoring of every grant award. DCA follows a monitoring strategy that closely reviews government activities and provides extensive technical assistance to prevent compliance problems. All required compliance requirements are described in the CDBG Recipient's Manual.
Pre-funding site visits are made to each potential grant recipient. Once grants are awarded, DCA conducted an initial "start-up" visit to assess the capacity and needs of each recipient. In addition, all recipients are required to attend a workshop for extensive training and provided a program manual to utilize for implementing their projects. Recipients must constantly monitor performance to ensure that time schedules are being met, projected milestones are being accomplished, and other performance goals are being achieved in accordance with the approved application.
Each grant recipient is monitored several times each year by trained DCA staff. A monitoring report is completed for the following compliance areas:
Environmental Eligibility Fair Housing Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Financial and Audit Federal Labor Standards Acquisition and Relocation, Section 104(d) Interim and Final Audit Final Benefit Count Housing Rehabilitation Standards and Policies Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Regulations Citizen Participation
In the event that DCA staff identifies compliance problems, the Chief Elected Official is notified and a deadline is set for a response and possible corrective actions. DCA maintains a monitoring status system to insure timely resolution of findings. Prior to formal close-out of each grant, a final check is made to be sure all monitoring has been completed and any finding is resolved satisfactorily.

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EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS (ESG)
Purpose
Formerly the Emergency Shelter Grants Program, the HEARTH Act modified this program and renamed it the Emergency Solutions Grants (HUD ESG) program. It is designed to be the first step in a continuum of assistance to enable homeless individuals and families to move toward independent living as well as to prevent homelessness.
Federal ESG Regulations
This program design is based upon an analysis of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by S.896 the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009. New ESG regulations to accompany the changes to the program directed by the HEARTH Act for Federal FY 2011 have not been issued by HUD. As a result, actual implementation of this program may further be defined by new regulations, directives or guidance issued by HUD at a later date.
Eligible Service Area
Congress has authorized the State of Georgia, through the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to use HUD McKinney Act (modified through the HEARTH Act) ESG funds to primarily serve 153 of Georgia's 159 counties, excluding the City of Savannah. The six (6) excluded counties (as of Federal FY 2010, and this is not expected to change for FY 2011) are Augusta-Richmond, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett. These jurisdictions, together with the City of Savannah, receive ESG funds directly from HUD. To the maximum extent practicable, as determined by DCA, HUD ESG funds will be expended for programs to serve the State of Georgia's ESG entitlement.
It should be noted that, in addition to the HUD ESG program, DCA will develop and implement an expanded ESG program utilizing funds made available through Georgia's State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless (HTF). This program HTF ESG program will substantially mirror the HUD ESG program, except that at least for SFY 2012 these funds will be targeted to primarily serve the HUD ESG excluded localities of AugustaRichmond, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton (including the City of Atlanta), Gwinnett, and the City of Savannah.
HUD ESG Eligible Activities
(1) Emergency Shelter - maintenance, operation, insurance, provision of utilities, and provision of furnishings related to emergency shelter. Based on regulations prior to HEARTH, emergency shelter means any facility, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary or transitional shelter for the homeless individuals or families in general, or for specific populations of homeless individuals or families.
(2) Essential Services - the provision of essential services related to emergency shelter or street outreach, including services concerned with employment, health, education, family support services for homeless youth, substance abuse services, victim services, or mental health services.
(3) Rental Assistance the provision of short-term or medium-term payments for rents and/or utilities. Assistance may be tenant or project-based. Beneficiaries may include homeless individuals or families (rapid re-housing), or individuals

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or families at risk of homelessness (homelessness prevention). Regional implementations are preferred for this activity. (4) Stabilization Services to include housing search, mediation or outreach to property owners, legal services, credit repair, providing security or utility deposits, utility payments, rental assistance for a final month at a location, assistance with moving costs, or other activities (including hotel/motel vouchers) that are effective at:
stabilizing individuals and families in their current housing (homelessness prevention); or
(quickly moving such individuals and families to other permanent housing (rapid re-housing).
Regional implementations are preferred for this activity.
HTF ESG Eligible Activities
In addition to the HUD ESG Eligible Activities named in the preceding section, HTF ESG Eligibility Activities may also include:
(1) Hotel/motel Vouchers to be used (a) in the absence of shelter or (b) in the absence of adequate or safe shelter based upon documented needs.
(2) Transitional Housing - maintenance, operation, insurance, provision of utilities, and provision of furnishings related to Transitional Housing.
(3) Essential Services - the provision of essential services related to emergency shelter or transitional housing that are not available through mainstream resources.
(4) Project Homeless Connect - funding to coordinate and sponsor a one-day, onestop Project Homeless Connect event to deliver services to people experiencing homelessness in the community. At a minimum, the event should provide an array of social services including healthcare, legal aid, housing assistance, job opportunities, benefits enrollment opportunities and quality of life resources with the underlying idea to get as many as possible on a track to self-sufficiency and, ultimately, into permanent housing.
(5) Balance of State CoC Homeless Surveys No DCA-sponsored survey will be conducted in SFY 2012
Definition of "Homeless" Individual or Family
1. A "homeless" individual or family is generally defined as follows:
a. an individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;
b. an individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground;
c. a homeless, as defined above, individual or family immediately thereafter living in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including hotels and motels paid for by Federal, State, or local government programs for low-income individuals or by charitable organizations, congregate shelters, and transitional housing);

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d. an individual who resided in a shelter or place not meant for human habitation [see a. and b. above] and who is exiting an institution where he or she resided less than 90-days;
e. an individual or family who-- A. will imminently lose their housing, including housing they own, rent, or live in without paying rent, are sharing with others, and rooms in hotels or motels not paid for by Federal, State, or local government programs for low-income individuals or by charitable organizations, as evidenced by: a court order resulting from an eviction action that notifies the individual or family that they must leave within 14 days; the individual or family having a primary nighttime residence that is a room in a hotel or motel and where they lack the resources necessary to reside there for more than 14 days; or credible evidence indicating that the owner or renter of the housing will not allow the individual or family to stay for more than 14 days, and any oral statement from an individual or family seeking homeless assistance that is found to be credible shall be considered credible evidence for purposes of this clause; B. has no subsequent residence identified; and C. lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing; and
f. unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes who-A. have experienced a long term period without living independently in permanent housing, B. have experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves over such period, and C. can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time because of chronic disabilities, chronic physical health or mental health conditions, substance addiction, histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, the presence of a child or youth with a disability, or multiple barriers to employment.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any individual or family who is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the individual's or family's current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized, and who have no other residence and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
3. Exclusion Eligible persons do not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a State law.
Definition of "At Risk" Individual or Family
An "at risk" individual or family is generally defined as follows:
1. has family income below 30 percent of median income for the geographic area; 2. has insufficient resources immediately available to attain housing stability; and 3. meets one or more of the following criteria:

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(i) has moved frequently because of economic reasons; (ii) is living in the home of another because of economic hardship; (iii)has been notified that their right to occupy their current housing or living
situation will be terminated; (iv) lives in a hotel or motel; (v) lives in severely overcrowded housing; (vi) is exiting an institution; or (vii) otherwise lives in housing that has characteristics associated with
instability and an increased risk of homelessness.
Such term includes all families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes.
Definition of "Chronically Homeless" Individual or Family
The term `chronically homeless' means, with respect to an individual or family, that the individual or family:
1. is currently homeless and lives or resides in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter; and
2. has been homeless and living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter continuously for at least 1 year OR on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years; and
3. has an adult head of household (or a minor head of household if no adult is present in the household) with a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability [as defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002)], post traumatic stress disorder, cognitive impairments resulting from a brain injury, or chronic physical illness or disability, including the co-occurrence of 2 or more of those conditions
A person who currently lives or resides in an institutional care facility, including a jail, substance abuse or mental health treatment facility, hospital or other similar facility, and has resided there for fewer than 90 days shall be considered "chronically homeless" if such person met all of the requirements described above prior to entering that facility.
Definition of "Homeless Individual with a Disability"
The term `homeless individual with a disability' means an individual who is "homeless," as otherwise defined herein, and has a disability that -
1. meets all four of the following criteria:
a. is expected to be long-continuing or of indefinite duration; b. substantially impedes the individual's ability to live independently; c. could be improved by the provision of more suitable housing conditions; and d. is either
A. a physical, mental, or emotional impairment, including an impairment caused by alcohol or drug abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, or brain injury;
B. a developmental disability, as defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002); OR

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C. the disease of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or any condition arising from the etiologic agency for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Definition of "Emergency Shelter"
Emergency shelter means any facility, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary (typically up to 90-days) or transitional shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of the homeless.
Definition of "Transitional Housing"
Transitional Housing is generally defined as a program that has a purpose of facilitating the movement of homelessness individuals and families to permanent housing within a reasonable amount of time (usually less than 24 months).
Method of Distribution
As a threshold consideration, all applicants must demonstrate how their housing or service programs directly serve persons who are "homeless," and demonstrate how the housing and services provided will improve housing stability for those persons. Applicants must describe homeless verification methods, and how it will track outputs and outcomes (stable housing) for persons served.
Both HUD- and HTF ESG funds are available to nonprofit organizations (including community and faith-based organizations) and local government entities. Agencies must demonstrate collaboration with local mainstream service providers and local provider groups that are dedicated to housing and service interventions that serve persons experiencing homelessness. Agencies must also participate in HUD-mandated continuum of care planning appropriate to the jurisdiction where their activities are located.
Funding decisions will be based on a number of factors, including but not limited to, those stated below in the "Rating and Selection" section. Thresholds for program consideration generally include the eligibility of the described population to be served, the "eligibility" of described activities, minimum criteria for organizational capacity, community or service area need, HMIS participation, past or projected performance, application responsiveness to timeliness and information requested, as well as other relevant factors, as determined by DCA. Threshold considerations may also include any of the "Rating and Selection" criteria named in the section below. Programs that do not meet thresholds, as determined by DCA, will not be rated in accordance with the "Rating and Selection" criteria outlined below. Essential services funds may not be used to supplant existing services or to duplicate services currently available within the program service area, as determined by DCA.
Matching Requirements
All applicants are expected to provide at least a 100% match consisting of documented non-McKinney resources. Match may include the value of any lease on a building, any salary paid to staff to carry out the program, and the value of the time and services contributed by volunteers to carry out the program at a rate determined by DCA. Exceptions may be considered by DCA on a case-by-case basis.

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Deadlines and Award Authority
Application documents will be available on or about March 8, 2011. Notices of Intent (NOI) are due to the State on March 29, 2011. Applications are expected to be received on or about April 18, 2011.
Applications submitted after the deadline established by DCA will not be considered for funding. The Commissioner of DCA or staff designated by the Commissioner shall have the authority to make awards from funds allocated by HUD or reserved by the HTF Commission for the HUD and HTF ESG programs.
Application Notice and Submission Requirements
DCA will solicit information about application submission and application development workshops by email from every person on its HTF "contacts" mailing list. Notices will also be emailed to local government representatives, regional development commissions, and other groups with local and regional interests. Notice will be published on the DCA website, and all persons receiving notice will be asked to share the notice with others within the state, their region or their community with an interest. Application development workshops will be held in at least five (5) locations around the state.
Applications must be submitted on forms provided by DCA. The applicant must provide required certifications and provide all supporting documentation requested by DCA. Each applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of DCA that it is in compliance with Federal, State and local laws and regulations, and that it is capable of carrying out applicable programs. All returning grantees must be in full compliance with existing DCA contract agreements.
Rating and Selection
A competition for funds will be implemented that will include, but not be limited to, the threshold criteria named in the "Method of Distribution" section, as well as other considerations such as project location, participation in collaborative networks and planning processes, etc. Lower scoring applications may not be funded.
General funding decisions for all agencies will be based upon:
Geographical location; Past performance (outputs/outcomes); Past performance with DCA agreements, ESG law, ESG rules, Federal/state/local laws, regulations, policies; Compliance and past performance with HMIS (excludes family violence agencies); Need; Program strategy; Organizational structure, operating processes, and capacity; The extent to which the organization operates under the authority of a diversified, involved, volunteer, community-based board of directors; Professional management; The consistency of the organization's identity or its mission to the provision of homeless services; The consistency to which the organization utilizes networks to avoid duplication of housing and services; Participation in appropriate Continuums of Care; Direct cash match provided for ESG activities; The value of other non-cash contributions

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Continuum of Care priorities. For Balance of State applicants, priorities may be set at the local or regional level; Sound operating procedures, accounting policy and controls; and Organizational and financial policy, stability and capacity.
DCA staff will utilize a points system during application review to ensure that the limited pool of funding received is used in the most effective way possible. Individual scores by program may be assessed for completeness of the application; past performance (including bed utilization and reporting); implementation strategy (narrative describing need, clients served, local coordination, goals, outputs, outcomes, etc.); procurement of outside resources; the extent to which programs result in increased housing stability for clients; organizational development and experience; budgeting and financial reporting; efficient and effective use of HMIS; adherence to DCA Housing Support Standards (HSS) and other relevant factors. Applicants requesting funds for multiple programs may receive funds for some, but not all, programs.
In addition to all other federal, state and local laws and regulations, all activities must be implemented in full compliance with pertinent HUD ESG Program regulations published at 24 CFR 576.
Local Approval
In accordance with Federal law governing the ESG program, all nonprofit applicants must obtain approval(s) from appropriate local government jurisdictions. While coordination and collaboration is always expected, if not required, local government approval is not needed for programs proposed by instrumentalities of the state, including community service boards, public housing authorities, etc. For nonprofits, approval is only needed where service, shelter or transitional housing sites are located. All approvals must be made on formats prescribed by DCA. Documentation of approval, or at a minimum the initiation of the approval process, must be included in the application. Applications from nonprofits for programs that do not adequately address local approval may be rejected for threshold considerations.
Collaboration
Applicants must participate in Continuums of Care (CoC) appropriate to their program(s). There are seven CoCs in Georgia. Applicants must also participate in coordinated outreach, intake, referral, and case management systems within their service area in order to provide, in conjunction with other providers, appropriate housing and supportive services to better enable homeless persons to achieve success and end their homelessness. The expectation is that each grantee or its community partner: a) assess consumer needs and barriers to housing; b) seek the prevention of homelessness for non-homeless consumers, c) work to move homeless individuals into rapid re-housing, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or other affordable housing appropriate to the needs of the consumer; d) document and track referrals to housing and service providers; and e) track participant progress and outcomes. Organizations will be required to document these efforts through DCA's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). This system is implemented by the Pathways Community Network. Family violence agencies may not participate in HMIS, but instead, should document these efforts through an alternative method. Grantees must also adhere to DCA's published Housing Support Standards (HSS). Information regarding these Standards and how to implement them can be found on the DCA website at the following link:
http://www.dca.ga.gov/housing/specialneeds/programs/HousingSupportStandards.asp

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Minimum Compliance Criteria
Applications must be submitted on forms provided by DCA. The applicant must provide required certifications and provide all supporting documentation requested by DCA. Each applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of DCA that it complies with Federal, State and local laws and regulations, and that it is capable of carrying out applicable programs. All returning grantees must be in substantial compliance with existing DCA agreements. DCA reserves the right to sanction individuals and organizations with a history of non-compliance.
Funding Guidelines
The State will receive $2,277,822 for programs funded under the HUD ESG program. The HTF Commission is expected to make approximately $2.2 million dollars available for the HTF ESG program. The following amounts have been established as guidance for funding requests. All of the "Rating and Selection" factors, including distribution by "Eligible Service Area" will be considered in evaluating funding requests.
Emergency Shelter, $25,000 per facility or $1,000/$500 per average family/person per night
Transitional Housing, $20,000 per facility or $700/$300 per average family/person per night
Essential Services, $20,000 per program Short- and Medium-Term Rental Assistance and Stabilization Services, county
per diem targets to be established by DCA Project Homeless Connect, $ 2,000
Monitoring
The State monitors participation to ensure compliance with the grant agreement, together with associated Federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances. The state, or its agent, reserves the right to monitor any grantee at any time. Monitoring concentration will include, but is not limited to, financial management, eligible beneficiaries, Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and the Housing Support Standards (HSS) implementation.
Current DCA policy, absent any other consideration, requires an initial on-site visit to each new grantee and at least one follow-up on-site visit once every three years. Monitoring frequency will be determined by grant size, grant type, reporting issues, issues associated with reimbursement requests, and other factors deemed relevant by DCA. Grantees receiving an allocation for the first time must be monitored with an onsite visit before funds are drawn for current contract year. Grantees are notified in advance of all on-site monitoring visits, but DCA personnel may not be `steered' by subgrantees in sampling of financial data, case files, etc. After each monitoring visit is complete, DCA sends each grantee correspondence documenting findings and/or concerns, project accomplishments, areas of deficiencies and technical assistance needs.

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HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA)

Method of Distribution

The Georgia Housing and Finance Authority (GHFA) is the recipient of the State's HOPWA allocation. GHFA contracts with DCA to administer the programs funded by the HOPWA allocation. The State will receive $2,019,428 from HUD to implement HOPWA activities. The HOPWA Program provides resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing needs of low-income persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and persons in their family. HOPWA funding is provided as sub-granted to nonprofit agencies within the communities. These agencies make their own rules for programs, if such rules are within the scope of HOPWA regulations and guidance from HUD.

In Georgia, HUD provides HOPWA formula funds to two (2) other government entities in addition to DCA. The first and largest formula recipient in Georgia is the City of Atlanta. Atlanta receives a formula share for the Atlanta "Metropolitan Statistical Area" (MSA) and makes numerous sub-grants within twenty-eight (28) counties. Those counties include Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton. In the Atlanta MSA, Living Room performs intake and assessment, and assists people living with HIV/AIDS and their families or partners to access housing and service programs. For more information, contact Living Room at (404) 616-6332 or Mr. Richard Willis at the City of Atlanta at (404) 330-6112 x 5061.

The smallest recipient is the Augusta-Richmond County government. Augusta-Richmond County receives a formula share for four (4) Augusta MSA counties, including Burke, Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond. For more information on Augusta's programs, contact Ms. Adrian Small-Jones of Augusta-Richmond County at (706) 842-3085.

The State of Georgia currently funds six (6) regional programs. Sponsors and areas covered are listed below.

Georgia HOPWA Project Sponsors and Area of Coverage

Sponsor Name AIDS Athens, Inc.

Regional Location
Athens

Contact Name Ms. Olivia Long olivia@AIDSathens.org

Phone (706) 542-2437

Central City AIDS Network, Inc. Comprehensive AIDS Resource Encounter, Inc. (CARE)
Homeless Resource Network, Inc. Lowndes Co. Board of Health (a/k/a South Health District) Union Mission, Inc. (Savannah 8-1)

Macon
Jesup Columbus
Valdosta (South GA) Savannah

Mr. Johnny Fambro rainbow@mindspring.com
Ms. Arlene Mutchler arlene@jesupcare.com Ms. Liz Dillard-Alcantara Liz@homelessresourcenetwork.org
Ms. Terri Ball teball@dhr.state.ga.us Ms. Aretha Jones ajones@unionmission.org

(478) 750-8080
(912) 530-8078 (706) 571-3399
(229) 245-8711 x207 (912) 495.8887

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Proposed Programs
Short-term rent, mortgage & utility assistance to prevent homelessness Tenant-based rental assistance Units provided in housing facilities that are being developed, leased, or operated
Compliance Criteria
Local government entities are eligible to apply for HOPWA funds. To the extent determined under State law by HTF and DCA, private, secular or faith-based nonprofit organizations are also eligible to apply for funds. Nonprofit organizations must demonstrate collaboration with local mainstream service providers and local homeless provider groups. Generally, it is the intent of the State to make all activities eligible under the HOPWA program, subject to the program purpose and eligible beneficiaries. Sponsor administrative costs are limited to 7% of the grant amount.
Grantees must comply with the HUD HOPWA Program Regulations at 24 CFR Part 574, as amended. Program requirements include, but are by no means limited to, the following:
1) Costs requested for reimbursement via automatic deposit by DCA must be "reasonable and justifiable," and are only eligible to the extent that they are consistent with the program approved by DCA.
2) All funds will be reimbursable to grantees based upon actual program expenses with supporting documentation (retained by grantee).
3) Expenses are only eligible to the extent that they benefit "eligible persons" under the HOPWA program, as defined herein.
4) Environmental - All grants are subject to environmental review in accordance with the federal regulations governing HOPWA programs.
5) All grants to non-profit organizations are subject to the administrative requirements and cost principals outlined in OMB Circulars A-110 and A122. These requirements for local governments are outlined in 24 CFR, Part 85 and OMB Circular A-87.
Eligible activities are those named in current HUD regulations (24 CFR 574.300) for the HOPWA Program include but are not limited to the following: housing, housing or fair housing information, acquisition, rehabilitation, limited new construction, rental assistance (including shared housing), homelessness prevention, supportive services (to include health, mental health, assessment, drug and alcohol, day care, personal assistance, nutritional services, etc.), general case management, housing operating subsidies, and technical assistance.
Selection Process
Applications will be solicited through a Notice of Funds Availability of State HOPWA Application Guidelines for the FFY2011-SFY2012 Program Year. This notice will be emailed to known HIV/AIDS service and housing providers, local governments, and other interested parties. Faith-based organizations have full access to the selection process. Several faith-based organizations have been awarded HOPWA funds for housing and services.

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Applications must be submitted on forms provided by DCA. The applicant must also provide required certifications and provide all supporting documentation requested by DCA. Each applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of DCA that it is in compliance with Federal, State and local laws and regulations, and that it is capable of carrying out applicable programs. DCA may require additional information during the review process and applicants are expected to comply with these requests.
The application deadline is expected to be April 4, 2011. Funding announcements are expected by June 30, 2011 for applications that are complete when submitted on or before the April deadline.
Community Facilities, Off-site Housing Assistance, and Supportive Service funding decisions and funding amounts will be based upon the following factors (in addition to funding factors listed in the application document for the ESG Program): The availability of other HOPWA providers within the service area; performance outcomes; consistency with local need, conformance to local plans, and service delivery strategy; extent to which the proposal meets priorities outlined in the Continuum of Care Plan appropriate to the project; other funding for programs available to the applicant from Federal, state and local government sources; amount of funds requested, prior award amounts and prior utilization of funds; degree of compliance demonstrated during DCA monitoring visits or in desk audits; relative quality of housing or standards for services to be provided; participation encouraged in the State's collaborative HMIS initiative (encouraged for HOPWA-only projects, but not "required"); level of service (numbers of persons, hours of service, etc.); standard costs for housing and services; and value of applicant's contributions (cash and in-kind).
Awards are made at the sole discretion of the DCA. Funding decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Applications must be approved by appropriate local government jurisdictions. Incomplete or ineligible applications, including applications that do not adequately address local approval(s) and consolidated plan certification(s), may be returned unprocessed.
Funding determinations under the HOPWA program are made using "threshold" method for selecting grantees. Applicants must meet a capacity test, and funding decisions for all nonprofit agencies shall also be based upon the following factors: the complexity or nature of the request; organizational development and capacity; the extent to which the organization operates under the authority of a diversified, involved, volunteer, community-based board of directors; professional management; the consistency of the organization's identity or its mission to the provision of HIV/AIDS (as applicable) services; the extent to which the organization utilizes networks to avoid duplication of housing and services; participation in appropriate Continuums of Care; sound operating procedures, accounting policy and controls; and organizational and financial policy, stability and capacity. An additional "threshold" measure applies under the HOPWA Program. Under HOPWA, relative need is examined and new applicants are denied funding when they propose to duplicate services within a service area where HOPWA programs are already being carried out by eligible sponsors.
Funds will generally cover the period beginning on July 1, 2011 and ending on June 30, 2012. Agreements for development activities will require long-term commitments for continued service to HOPWA-eligible persons in accordance with HUD regulations. If

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all contract conditions are met, payments to recipient organizations will be made on a reimbursement basis. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis by DCA staff.
Each participant must report periodically and annually on the actual units of service delivered, the number of persons served, and any other program performance data requested by DCA. Participants must also meet Federal, State financial, and other reporting requirements.
HOPWA grantees will be expected to provide performance information (goals and actual outputs) for all activities undertaken during the operating year supported with HOPWA funds. Performance is measured by the number of households and units of housing that were supported with HOPWA or other federal, state, local, or private funds for the purposes of providing housing assistance and support to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. HOPWA grantees will also be expected to report the source(s) of cash or in-kind leveraged federal, state, local or private resources used in the delivery of the HOPWA program and the amount of leverage dollars.
All activities must be conducted in full compliance with program regulations published at 24 CFR 574, as well as all Federal, State and local laws and regulations.
In conjunction with entitlement communities, continuums of care, other partners throughout the State and the Pathways Community Network, DCA will continue to support agency level implementation and use of HMIS via a HUD Supportive Housing Program grant for state-wide HMIS implementation.
All records created as a result of the submission of an Application to participate are subject to disclosure under the Georgia Open Records Act and the applicant expressly consents to such disclosure. The Applicant agrees to hold harmless the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless, the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs against all losses, costs, damages, expenses, and liability of any nature or kind (including but not limited to attorney's fees, litigation and court costs) directly or indirectly resulting from or arising out of the release of any information pertaining to the Applicant's submission of an Application and implementation of any activities as a result of funding under this program, pursuant to a request under the Georgia Open Records Act.
ESG and HOPWA grantees are strongly encouraged to document disability at first encounter as HUD places preference for persons with disabilities in its Continuum of Care programs. DCA's disability verification format (required for DCA S+C programs) is on-line at the following link: http://www.dca.ga.gov/housing/specialneeds/programs/downloads/ShelterPlusCare/2_DC A_Disability_Verification_(REV09-06).doc
In general, HUD finds a person with disabilities to be an adult either (1) on SSI/SSDI, (2) with developmental disability, or (3) based on medical certification, a person with a physical, mental, or emotional impairment that is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration; substantially impedes his or her ability to live independently; and is of such a nature that ability to live independently could be improved by more suitable housing conditions.

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Grant Award Schedule

Operations and Service Limits - < $400,000 per year/organization

*Funding is subject to need and availability of funds. The limits may be waived at the

discretion of the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.

Administrative Overhead -

Up to 3% of the federal allocation

*Additional allocations may be made from funds recaptured from prior year obligations.

HOPWA Housing Goals

FFY2011 HOPWA HOUSING GOALS

Activities Short-term rent, mortgage and utility assistance to prevent homelessness
Tenant-based rental assistance

Households Assisted 187
91

Units provided in housing facilities that are

178

being developed, leased or operated with

HOPWA funds

Monitoring

DCA monitors the Grantee's participation in the Program to ensure compliance with program regulations promulgated by HUD at 24 CFR, Part 574 for HOPWA programs designed to benefit persons with HIV related needs. Effective oversight and monitoring recipients is an important function of DCA.

Efforts connected with HOPWA continue to be strengthening existing programs through, in part, diversification of housing programs within sponsor agencies, and renewed and targeted monitoring efforts. Grantees receiving HOPWA funding, will receive an on-site monitoring visit each contract year. After each monitoring visit is complete, DCA will send each HOPWA Grantee correspondence documenting findings and/or concerns, project accomplishments, areas of deficiencies and technical assistance needs, which are highlighted in the report and serves to confirm issues discussed during the on-site monitoring review process and to give grantees notice of deficient areas requiring attention.

DCA relies upon thorough application review and reimbursement of funds expended in lieu of advancing funds. Desk audits are often performed at DCA to test compliance. Onsite monitoring, therefore, is largely limited to eligibility of beneficiaries and a comparison of program records with the programmatic claims of the applicant.

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HOMELESS & SPECIAL NEEDS ACTIVITIES
DCA is committed to serving individuals who are homeless and/or who have a mental, developmental or physical disability. The State will undertake programmatic activities to address the needs of the homeless and other special need groups. The State is committed to advancing the principles that people with disabilities and the aging population are served in the most appropriate integrated settings. Each program will accomplish one or more of the following actions:
Address the emergency, transitional housing, and supportive service needs of homeless individuals and families (including subpopulations);
Prevent low income individuals and families with children (especially those of extremely low income) from becoming homeless;
Help homeless persons make the transition to permanent affordable (independent living) or supportive housing;
Address the housing and supportive service needs of low income persons living with HIV/AIDS; or
Address the special needs of persons who are not homeless.
DCA Objectives and Action Steps
Through the preparation of the Balance of State (152 county) Continuum of Care plan, DCA enables local and state jurisdictions, housing authorities, and nonprofits (secular and faith-based) to apply for funding in support of transitional and permanent housing for 'homeless' persons as defined by HUD. DCA will continue to collaborate with local agencies in applying for federal funds to create programs that serve persons who are chronically homeless. Five objectives along with local action steps were identified as part of the Balance of State Continuum of Care plan:
1) As of January 2010, the Balance of State Continuum of Care had 257 beds in place that were reserved for individuals that are chronically homeless. An additional 87 beds reserved for the chronically homeless are under development and should be available by SFY 2012. New permanent housing beds for chronically homeless will be created through the following measures:
In the next 12 months, the CoC will set a target to ensure the 48 chronic beds under development and the 39 chronic beds awarded in 2009 become available for occupancy in 2011.
DCA has assigned a staff person that will be responsible for ensuring those projects with chronic beds that are currently in development will be become available for occupancy within the year. This staff person will also work with new projects to ensure they include the chronic population in their project planning.
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) has also hired a new Housing Director who will focus on the development and sustainability of permanent supportive housing and ensuring appropriate services and training are available to projects to sustain and increase the beds for individuals and families that are chronic. DBHDD will also be hiring six

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regional housing specialists and increasing the number of ACT teams in the State. DCA will work closely with the Department of Behavioral Health to ensure appropriate services are available to the Permanent Supportive Housing projects to sustain and increase the beds for individuals and families that are chronic.
2) Maintain or increase the percentage of homeless persons staying in permanent housing over 6 months to at least 75%. Based on an assessment of most recent APR data for CoC, 67% of residents in or leaving permanent housing in the past 12 months have been there or were there for 7 months or longer. The CoC will continue to monitor this statistic and will implement the following actions to assure continued success:
DCA will be focusing its work on S+C sponsors to improve utilization and housing stability. Five of the 24 sponsors account for almost 50% of the participants leaving before 6 months. DCA will target these agencies first to identify and solve the reasons for this low housing stability.
DCA will begin to monitor housing stability on a quarterly basis at a minimum and provide technical assistance to any agency with housing stability lower than 77%.
DCA will collaborate with the new DBHDD Housing Director to ensure appropriate services are available
DCA will hold ongoing technical assistance sessions and an annual training conference for the Shelter Plus Care providers.
DCA will examine the systemic barriers to housing stability for this population and address through the Interagency Homeless Coordination Council.
3) Ensure that the percentage of homeless persons moving from transitional housing to permanent housing is at least 65%. Based on APR data for CoC, 66% of residents leaving transitional housing in the past 12 months moved to permanent housing. The CoC will continue to monitor this statistic and will implement the following actions to assure continued success:
DCA has implemented Housing Support Standards for all of its grantees, which focus on housing stability from the moment the family or individual enters the program and to set goals that move towards permanent housing as quickly as possible.
DCA will continue to monitor housing stability of all HUD funded transitional housing providers within the Continuum and provide technical assistance to those agencies that fall below 65%.
DCA will hold several meetings with the Transitional Housing providers to discuss the challenges in meeting this goal and share best practices.
DCA will use the Barriers to Housing Stability Assessment data collected by all Transitional Providers and other HMIS data to identify any systemic barriers, which can be addressed through the Interagency Homeless Coordination Council.

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4) Increase percentage of homeless persons employed at exit to at least 19%. Based on an assessment of ARP data, the CoC's service providers are successfully implementing this goal with 22% of homeless persons employed at exit. However, in order to maintain this success, DCA will implement the following actions:
DCA will continue to work closely with the State Interagency Homeless Coordination Council and the Department of Labor to provide linkages between homeless service providers and career/workforce services.
DCA will provide technical assistance to agencies that have low rates of participants employed at program exit to create linkages to mainstream and specialized employment agencies.
DCA will work with the Department of Behavioral Health to educate permanent supportive housing providers about the supported employment opportunities available for individuals with disabilities.
5) Decrease the number of homeless households with children. The recent statewide count estimated that within the Balance of State Continuum of Care counties alone, more than 1,000 households were homeless on any one night. In order to reduce this number, DCA will implement the following actions:
Through the ARRA Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, DCA has worked with sub-grantees to ensure all counties in the Balance of State have access to HPRP resources. DCA will work to continue this accessibility with the transition to the Emergency Solutions Grant program.
DCA will continue to strengthen connections with regional providers such as Community Action Agencies to ensure that all counties within the continuum have access to prevention and rapid re-housing resources. We will also provide training and technical assistance to shelter and housing providers on the rapid re-housing model.
DCA funded programs must follow Housing Support Standards which place an emphasis on setting goals targeted toward ending homelessness as quickly as possible and connecting families with mainstream services.
The State Interagency Council on Homelessness has added a Family and Child Homelessness subcommittee and goals to work on decreasing the number of homeless families statewide through state agency partnerships and policy change.
All DCA and HUD funded agencies in the continuum are required to complete the Barriers to Housing Stability at entry. This data will be used to identify systemic barriers that can be addressed through the Interagency Homeless Council.

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The numbers below represents the information submitted to HUD in the 2010 Continuum of Care (CoC) application. The numbers reflect data for the 152 counties covered in the Balance of State Continuum of Care and does not include data for the other seven Continua of Care as those numbers are submitted in the local consolidated planning documents of those communities.

Housing, Homeless and Special Needs Population Housing Needs

Household Type

Elderly Renter

Small Renter

Large Renter

Other Total Renter Renter

Owner Total

0 30% of MFI % Any housing problem
% Cost burden > 30 % Cost Burden > 50 31 - 50% of MFI % Any housing problem

45,839 58%
19% 36% 25,198 50%

79,707 77%
13% 50% 65,594 68%

21,906 89%

71,560 70%

219,012 146,515 365,527

72%

69%

71%

8% 23% 19,663 79%

9% 57% 46,582 78%

13% 47% 157,037 70%

16% 47% 160,830 55%

14% 47% 317,867 62%

% Cost burden > 30 % Cost Burden > 50 51 - 80% of MFI % Any housing problem

29% 18% 17,022 36%

43% 14% 93,318 32%

20% 4% 26,906 59%

45% 30% 78,515 42%

38% 18% 215,761 40%

23% 27% 303,202 42%

30% 23% 518,963 41%

% Cost burden > 30

25%

22%

6%

36%

25%

27%

26%

% Cost Burden > 50

7%

1%

.4%

3%

2%

10%

6%

Special Notes: HUD's adjusted median family incomes (MFI) are estimated for a family of four. HUD defines "any housing problems" as cost burden greater than 30% of income and/or overcrowding and/or without complete kitchen or plumbing facilities.

Homeless Continuum of Care: Housing Gaps Analysis Chart

Individuals

Beds

Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Permanent Supportive Housing Total

Persons in Families with Children

Beds

Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Permanent Supportive Housing Total

Current Inventory
in 2009

Under

Unmet Need

Development in

Gap

2009

608

0

239

0

610

95

1457

95

2085 1133 2406 5624

760

0

1040

11

768

43

2568

54

626 562 494 1682

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The State's CoC includes eleven (11) of Georgia's twenty-two (22) entitlement communities. For sheltered homeless, many of the shelters, transitional facilities and permanent supportive facilities in the Georgia Balance of State CoC inventory are funded directly by DCA, the applicable housing authority, or they receive funding through the CoC. DCA grantees are required to track the persons in their beds using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). In addition, DCA, in partnership with local communities and Kennesaw State University, conduct a service-based count every other year of individuals and families that are homeless which is used to create an estimate of the statewide prevalence of homelessness.
Continuum of Care: Homeless Population and Subpopulations Chart

Part 1: Homeless Population

Sheltered Emergency Transitional

Unsheltered

Total

1. Homeless Individuals 2. Homeless Families with Children 2a. Persons in Homeless Families with Children Total (lines 1 + 2a)
Part 2: Homeless Subpopulations

438

201

173

239

534

770

972

971

Sheltered

5,676 646
2,131
7,807 Unsheltered

6315 1058
3435
9750 Total

1. Chronically Homeless

116

2. Seriously Mentally Ill

84

3. Chronic Substance Abuse

144

4. Veterans

41

5. Persons with HIV/AIDS

41

6. Victims of Domestic Violence

743

7. Youth

0

1,105 676 1138 904 329 670

1221 760 1282 945 370 1413
0

DCA Programs and Services

DCA, through both federal and state resources, will implement the following programs during SFY2011 specifically targeted to benefit the homeless and other special need groups:

Implement Georgia's ESG program. Implement Georgia's HOPWA program. Partner with Shelter Plus Care sponsors in the Continuum of Care process to
provide resources for the State's homeless persons with disabilities who need permanent supportive housing; Provide technical assistance to the State's supportive housing providers through the provision of specific assistance targeted to the needs of each organization (technology, professional services, on-site visits by DCA staff, etc.) and through resource fairs funded by DCA and by local agencies across the state. Continue implementation of the State's Continuum of Care Plan that outlines a delivery system to meet the affordable housing and service needs for the 152 county area covered by the Balance of State Continuum of Care. This plan also will enable providers from across Georgia to access funding through HUD's Homeless SuperNOFA process and will guide the state's future efforts to serve the needs of homeless Georgians. Participate in many mainstream homeless/special needs housing planning efforts throughout the state, as follows: Local and regional coalitions or workgroups,

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such as United Way of Metro Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Housing Forum, the Supportive Housing Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission, the (Atlanta) Homeless Action Group, and local coalitions in Dalton, Athens, Macon, Savannah, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett and others; state organizations and workgroups; state agencies and workgroups such as the Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination Council, Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, Georgia State Trade Association of Nonprofit Developers, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program distribution committee, local VA organizations sponsoring "stand downs," DBHDD and DHS workgroups (mental health, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, youth, etc.), and others; and in each of the state's local Continuums of Care. Continue to coordinate the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) in partnership with local Continuums of Care and through a contract with Pathways Community Network to create a single tracking system of information on referrals and services provided to the homeless.
Housing and Supportive Service Needs for Non-Homeless Households
The State will continue to provide housing and supportive services to the special need population (elderly, frail elderly, persons with disabilities, person with HIV/AIDS, and persons with substance abuse problems) through the distribution method described for the HOME, CDBG, ESG and HOPWA programs.
DCA utilize the above programs as well as Housing Choice Vouchers and Low Income Housing Tax Credit to assist organizations or households with obtaining decent, safe, and sanitary living conditions. In addition, the Georgia Dream Mortgage Program is offered as an alternative for households interested in homeownership and the CHIP program for existing homeowners seeking rehabilitation and down payment assistance.
Ending Chronic Homelessness Action Steps
The State has developed Housing Support Standards (HSS) to ensure that the services provided by all DCA grantees meet a basic standard of care. These standards are not comprehensive nor are they meant to replace standards and guidelines required by licensing agencies. However, the State's objective is to reduce across Georgia the amount of time participants experience homelessness and increase housing stability as individuals and households move through the continuum of care. DCA utilizes state funding to continue the implementation of its Continuum of Care Plan that includes the HUD Shelter Plus Care (S+C) program to implement a permanent supportive housing solution to prevent and eliminate homelessness.
In 2004, the Interagency Homeless Coordination Council was formed to coordinate the various initiatives provided by the agencies working together to end homelessness. Additionally, the Council is continuously working on solutions to eliminate discharged clients back into homeless situations and improve the coordination efforts between the State agencies to expedite the clients accessibility and eligibility to social security benefits.

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Institutional Discharge Coordination
DCA continues to evaluate discharge policies across the State to prevent inappropriate discharge to unstable places, and to prevent the recurrence of homelessness. Increased awareness of discharge policies throughout the state and gathered data regarding the discharged clients' destinations provided this insight toward preventive action needs. Appropriate discharge planning in Georgia has begun to avert the repetitious journey of another chronically homeless individual and awareness has been raised within agencies partnering with GHFA. The established discharge policies in Georgia are continuously evaluated. Following evaluation, changes are made and/or new processes are established to meet the needs of persons in poverty with disabilities and other barriers to housing, including but not limited to, persons who are homeless. The following is a summary of accomplishments and protocols regarding state level discharge coordination in the areas of Foster Care, Health Care, Mental Health, and Corrections.
Foster Care:
If a youth in care reaches 18 and is unable to transition to independent living or be reunited with their family, they have the option of signing a "Consent to Remain in Foster Care". This allows the youth to stay in the foster care system until such time that they are able to live independently or until the time that they are 24 years of age. In addition, youth in foster care are assigned an Independent Living Coordinator and work with staff to develop a Written Transitional Living Plan.
Health Care:
The Money Follows the Person Initiative (MFP) is a five-year grant award that was made available as part of the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of FY 2006. The grant is designed to shift Medicaid Long-Term Care from its emphasis on institutional care to home and community-based services. MFP uses home and community-based Medicaid waiver services and "one-time" transition services to help people resettle in the community. MFP is a joint effort between the DCH and DHS to transition 1,312 consumers from institutional settings to a community setting. Through MFP, the state will establish a seamless information and referral process, transition coordinators, support services to ease transition, transition peer counseling and increased availability of affordable housing and transportation. The target populations include older adults, adults and children with physical disabilities and/or Traumatic Brain Injury, and adults or children with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities. The goal is to transition individuals from nursing facilities, hospitals and/ or Intermediate Care Facilities for Mental Retardation (ICF-MR) to qualified community residences and rebalances the long-term care system by offering enhanced transition services for 12 months for qualified persons transitioning from a qualified institution to a qualified community setting.
Mental Health:
Georgia currently operates seven (7) regional state hospitals for mentally ill persons. While all new admissions are "short term" (5 days or less), these hospitals do have a small number of long-term residents who have mental health or developmental disabilities. To address this issue, GHFA developed a priority protocol for these persons to receive GHFA Housing Choice Vouchers. In order to receive a voucher, the community mental health and developmental disabilities service agency has to make the referral and agree to provide long-term community supports. DCA, DHS and DCH are

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exploring protocols surrounding best practices for utilizing Medicaid waivers in the most cost effective way to provide housing-based support services for residents of permanent supportive housing.
DCA offers a housing search web site, www.GeorgiaHousingSearch.org with the goal of improving efficiency and access to affordable housing across the state. Discharge planners for institutionalized persons, service providers for the homeless, as well as the public can use this service to find rental housing units based on price, numbers of bedrooms, available amenities, access to mass transportation, and accessibility features available. The housing search site also offers a Special Needs Housing Search feature, which has assisted Georgia caseworkers in locating housing for hundreds of traditionally hard-to-place clients. There will be additional emphasis on having provider agencies become registered users for this feature on the GHS. This feature has resulted in an incredible variety of scattered-site special-needs housing, giving tenants and property providers options that were just not available prior to the service being available to Georgia's non-profit community.
DCA developed language for the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), which set forth the policies regarding the allocation of federal and state tax credits for the development of affordable rental housing that would give developers an incentive to develop rental units targeted to special needs tenants, including persons with mental disabilities.
DCA modified its eligible tenant population under its Permanent Supportive Housing Program to include individuals who are inappropriately housed in institutional settings to encourage the development of community-based supportive housing options and to support efforts around Georgia's Olmstead Plan.
The DBHDD Mental Health Continuity of Care Transition Planning Guidance is provided to all state mental health hospitals. The hospitals are asked to develop a Transition Plan for all individuals being discharged, which addresses multiple areas including housing and residential supports. Case Expediters work with consumers who have support needs that warrant additional resources. Staff conducts assessments to identify those individuals that are at risk of readmission, including whether or not they have been or will be homeless. Staff and community providers identify services that will address these needs and determine how services will be made available. Transition planning begins at admission including linking individuals up with community-based service providers. Regional coordinators oversee the Continuity of Care planning and assure that collaboration is occurring between hospitals and community based providers. The State is also finalizing the Transition Planning Protocol for those individuals that are on the Mental Health Olmstead List. Any individual that has been hospitalized more than 60 days and is considered appropriate for discharge is placed on the Mental Health Planning List. No person on this list is discharged without an appropriate Person Centered Transition Plan that provides for the individuals receipt of appropriate community services. The State will monitor performance measures that track the quality and consistency of the transition planning process.

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Corrections:
DCA, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Department of Corrections and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council have jointly implemented the "Re-Entry Housing Partnership" (RHP) program. DCA is the lead fiscal agent, and Pardons and Paroles have hired a full-time discharge planner dedicated to the program. The RHP program is designed to assist `job ready' parolees with housing placement, meals and services in the absence of stable family, friends or resources for housing at the time of parole. This program prevents the inappropriate discharge of parolees that often leads directly to homelessness. Currently, over 600 parolees have been placed and as the program continues to expand, it is believed that cost savings can be sustained by effective parole supervision and intervention. During the last fiscal year, 199 parolees were placed at a cost of $157,500. The net savings to the State for placing these 199 individuals equals $5.2 million dollars.
The DHS Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is working to break the cycle of homelessness. A new initiative trains police officers to support pre-booking diversion of persons with severe mental illness into treatment. This way, persons retain their housing without cycling through jails/prisons and back onto the street. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a primary partner. In SFY 2010, 820 law enforcement officers were trained at one of 53 NAMI trainings. Over 2,900 law enforcement officers and first responders have been trained since the start of the program in SFY 2006.

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OTHER ACTIONS
Obstacles to Meet Underserved Needs
The State is committed to addressing the accessibility obstacles that prevent underserved persons from obtaining decent and affordable housing in their local communities. The special needs population must overcome additional obstacles to obtain and maintain affordable housing. The Housing Trust Fund and the HOPWA programs provide a variety of options for nonprofit and advocacy organizations to focus on the needs of persons with disabilities and opens the opportunity to work collaboratively with other agencies to meet the priorities. The State will respond to underserved needs as they are identified, either through self-evaluation or citizen participation.
The Re-Entry Partnership Housing Program (RPHP) is an excellent example of a program that addresses the need of released offenders that have no alternative residential options. The program provides short-term financial assistance to the individual to stabilize the reintegration process back into society by giving them food and shelter.
It is clear that there continues to be an insufficient supply of all types of affordable housing (targeted to working families to service-enriched housing for special needs populations likely to experience chronic homelessness). The State continues to pursue all available sources of funding for affordable housing activities to reduce the gaps and barriers to affordable housing such as the lack of fair housing policies and accessibility to transitional housing options. In addition, the State educates property owners, housing agencies, and citizens about fair housing laws.
Maintain Affordable Housing
The State continues to play an important part in helping communities address their housing needs. All of the programs administered by the State focus on fostering and maintaining affordable housing opportunities. The State continues to leverage all the available funding sources (mortgage revenue bonds, the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Georgia Housing Tax Credits, and other non-federal resources) to accomplish the affordable housing objectives. In addition, the Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless funding is aimed to continue the efforts of service providers to assist the homeless and individuals with disabilities.
The State will set aside funding under a Request for Proposals (RFP) to Regional Commissions to implement housing-related activities and to facilitate trainings and educational workshops. The State's Rental Housing Loan program is a major activity offered to affordable housing that requires all units be listed on the GeorgiaHousingSearch.org website.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
The LIHTC program works well together with the HOME program to fund rental housing projects around the state. The State monitors the recipient's compliance with federal and state regulations and procedures. Each grantee of tax credits are obligated to adhere to the State's requirements: attend the compliance-training seminar, submit occupancy status reports, and maintain the property and prepare for the annual site visit.

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Barriers of Affordable Housing
Georgia has a strong commitment to making decent affordable housing available to all residents. There are many programs established to meet a significant portion of the housing needs throughout the state. The State is fortunate that growth has been consistent in the past year until most recently due to the financial crisis. Nevertheless, the State has been proactive with implementing housing programs to facilitate access to available resources.
The Georgia Planning Act requires jurisdictions to regularly examine housing related issues to make the necessary adjustments to address the barriers. Most of these actions are identified in the adopted Fair Housing Plan and implementation actions of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.
To eliminate the affordable housing barriers, the State will continue to move in the directions to meet the needs of families in need for the federal programs offered to make their lives more enjoyable. Those steps include, but are not limited to the list below:
Collaborate with the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, an advocacy group for individuals with physical disabilities and other nonprofit organizations to eliminate the barriers to purchasing a home and to improve access to affordable rental housing across the State.
Promote homeownership awareness to Georgians interested in purchasing their homes and collaborate with the Center for Pan Asian Community Services to assist with communicating the supportive services available to clients.
Collaborate with nonprofit agencies, lenders, and mortgage insurance companies who offer borrowers an opportunity to reduce cost and become successful homeowners.
Implement the Continuum of Care Plan to provide a strong delivery system to meet the affordable housing and service needs of the state's homeless population.
Team up with the 11 local public housing authorities (Americus, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Brunswick, Columbus, Decatur, DeKalb, Hinesville, Macon and Marietta) to improve the services administered by Georgia HAP Administrators (GHA), Inc., which performs contractual services to oversee the Housing Choice Voucher Program
Market to builders and developers DCA's initiative on creating aesthetically built homes and how to reduce cost to make it affordable to qualified home buyers.
Reduce Lead-Based Paint Hazards
Any home built prior to 1978 is considered to be at risk of containing some amount of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards. The State is committed to ensure that recipients of HOME, CDBG, and ESG funds administer programs that adequately limit the risks associated with lead-based paints. If funded, applicants receive additional information on dealing with lead based paint hazards and ongoing technical assistance throughout the project to reduce or eliminate the risk associated with lead-based paint hazards. Both the CDBG and HOME programs allow funds to be used to assist with the cost of lead-based paint removal activities, depending upon the type of activity being funded.
The State requires that contractors performing renovation, repairs painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in the home, child care facilities, and schools be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. The State provides to the

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owners and occupants a lead pamphlet, Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home before starting renovation work. A signed confirmation of receipt of lead pamphlet from the owner and occupants or mail/deliver the pamphlet to owner seven (7) days before renovation begins and document with the certificate of mailing from the post office or a self-certification of delivery. For work in common areas of multi-family housing, the State distributes renovation notices to tenants. The State retains all the records for three years after renovation is completed.
The State is a member of the advisory committee for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) through the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (GCLPPP). The committee serves as a point of coordination for the integration of lead hazard reduction into housing policies and programs.
DCA has been instrumental in assisting to residents, developers, local governments, and service agencies to develop an effective elimination plan. The plan's objective is to establish partnerships with community development and housing agencies, to identify financial resources for controlling lead hazards, and to serve proactively in an advocacy role with local housing and community development agencies.
The DHS administers other lead poisoning prevention programs, including statewide lead poisoning surveillance system that incorporates electronic reporting of all blood lead levels, health education awareness programs, and implemented the revised Case Management and Follow up Guidelines treatment manual.
Additional information about lead-based abatement is available in through the federal Environmental Protection Agency, HUD, and the National Paint and Coating Association at www.leadsafetraining.org or the National Lead Information Clearinghouse at www.epa.gov/lead.
Anti-Poverty Level Families
Based on two-year averages, the Census Data show that nearly 400,000 more Georgians fell into poverty in 2008 and 2009. The data described that the poverty is $22,000 per year for a two-parent family of four. The enormous poverty increase is attributed to the state's rapid job loss. The new poor extend beyond the homeless into people who were middle-class working individuals. More people are unemployed and have been for a longer period. In addition, the state is feeling the effects of the real estate collapse ripple through other employment sectors.
The Southeast Region of persistent poverty includes seven states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Today, Georgia ranks second behind Mississippi according to a recent Census Report called Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States. In 2009, Georgia trailed six other states.
It is the goal of the State to assist families facing the hardship of poverty by improving their standard of living resulting in substandard or overcrowded housing, lack of jobs and deteriorated neighborhoods. We are committed to providing funding to enhance employment incentive programs to create or retain jobs for low-income persons through job training. The State collaborated with the Georgia Department of Adult and Technical Education to coordinate employment and training systems, which ensures that the resources for advancement through employment are available.

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The University of Georgia's Fanning Institute and Georgia Municipal Association host the annual Professional Development Day program that gives certification-training credits for participating in career related training after passing a written examination. The Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education (GACHE) Advisory Board awards competitive grants to high schools located in Georgia's Appalachian Regional Commission-designated counties. The grants will provide schools with resources to enable them to continue to increase their graduation and college-going rates.
The State coordinates the Housing Tax Credit Program with public housing authority's HOPE VI projects to assist with empowering family self-sufficiency. In addition, the Housing Choice Voucher program provides local organizations to opportunity to offer job training, childcare, counseling, transportation and job placement decrease the growth rate of poverty in Georgia.
Develop the Institutional Structure
The State will undertake efforts to collaborate with a diverse number of entities from private industry, non-profit organizations and public institutions in carrying out the activities in the Action Plan. The State supports other agency's policies and programs that support decent affordable housing, services for the homeless, and other non-housing community development activities. The State's responsibility is to participate in various working groups, committees, and teams to promote developing and enhancing institutional structure.
The State's overall objective to provide incentive for institutional collaboration and sustainability include:
Work with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Human Services Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, to develop permanent supportive housing opportunities and the Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination Council on Homeless to promote the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) process to help persons with disabilities obtain social security disability financial assistance and benefits.
Participate in the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing series of retreat sessions to receive direct technical assistance to enable communities to address housing needs. These retreats provide the communities participating in the three-year program an opportunity to learn how to use code enforcement, the state's urban redevelopment law, land banks, and other techniques to further their housing goals.
Partner with Hands On Georgia to use volunteers to transform communities and engage citizens in service and help to build infrastructure for sustainable programming to recruit, train and manage volunteers in local communities.
Many private housing developers utilize the Housing Tax Credit Program as well as other federal and state housing programs for the development of affordable rental housing across the state. This program has played a major role with increasing the number of affordable rental housing units throughout the state for low-income families. In addition, developers have constructed and built several single-family homes for families interested in homeownership and have developed a working relationship with many preferred lending institutions.

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Actions to Enhance Coordination
The State strongly favors the formation and maintenance of cooperative partnerships. The State's efforts to enhance coordination between these partners will include:
Public and Private Housing
Participate in various forums and networks from across the state addressing affordable housing, homelessness or special needs housing.
Support training sessions and workshops sponsored through the University of Georgia for local elected officials that are member of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) to ensure that counties have the essential leadership tools to meet the health, safety and welfare needs of their residents.
Join forces with the Georgia Municipal Association and the University of Georgia's Housing and Demographics Research Center to offer communities a three-year program assistance in collaboration and housing technical assistance.
Social Service Agencies
Collaborate with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities through the Georgia Mental Health Planning Council to develop an action plan to provide resources and services to the chronically homelessness.
Serve as the lead agency of the Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination Council, which works to eliminate discharging clients back into homeless situations and improve accessibility to resources and services to end homelessness.
Participate in local and regional housing forums facilitated by the Atlanta Regional Commission and participates in the meetings sponsored by the Georgia State Trade Association of Not-For-Profit Developers (GSTAND), Supportive Housing Subcommittee of the Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness, and the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Collaborate with the Regional Commission on Homelessness and the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta to plan opportunities to end chronic homelessness and to identify best practices to replicate on the local level.
Community & Economic Development
Attend the Office of Downtown Development three-day workshop offered to local communities to provide an overview of the program requirements for the Business Improvement Districts (BID), Community Improvement Districts (CIDs), and Tax Allocation Districts (TAD).
Collaborate with the Conserve Georgia, a statewide multi-agency, focusing on marketing and educating the public on the conservation efforts throughout the state to preserve natural resources: energy, land, and water.
Serve as a member on the OneGeorgia Authority to enhance regional competitiveness by offering grants and loans to create jobs and stimulate new private investment.

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Public Housing Resident Initiatives
The State does not own, operate or manage public housing units and this is not likely to change. The State does coordinate efforts with public housing authorities to extend possible and is interested in efforts to increase residents' involvement in public housing management and provide them with expanded homeownership opportunities.
Public housing authorities implement a large portion of Georgia's housing assistance effort. Local governments have created 202 PHAs, providing public housing. Seventeen PHAs offer Housing Choice Vouchers rental subsidies. PHAs utilize funds from public housing rent receipts, federal subsidies from HUD and proceeds from bond issues for some development costs. Georgia's housing authorities and agencies manage over 100,000 dwelling units, and serve over a quarter million of Georgia's low income citizens. Finally, the State reviews PHAs outside the metro entitlement jurisdictions and prepares the Certificate of Consistency documents.
Troubled Public Housing Authorities
Local public housing authorities (PHAs) are established through the auspices of local government, subject to state enabling legislation. The HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing (OPIH) uses a scoring system by which it can determine if a housing authority is "troubled". DCA periodically contacts the OPIH Field Office in Atlanta to obtain an updated list of troubled authorities in the state. OPIH can establish a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with each troubled PHA that establishes a program that will enable a troubled PHA to resolve their troubling issues.
Upon consultation with the OPIH, a determination is made whether or not State assistance is necessary to assist a troubled PHA. In the event that an authority whose service area is not entirely contained within a locality that must prepare a consolidated plan is determined to be troubled, DCA would be prepared to offer technical assistance. This would be offered upon the request of the local public housing authority and would focus on those areas of deficiency contributing to the designation with the intention of assisting in removing the designation.
In December 2010, OPIH indicated that there were seven qualifying PHAs that met this criterion and had a "troubled" status. Five of these PHAs, Byron, Brunswick, Milledgeville, Sparta, and Mount Vernon, have been directed by OPIH to initiate actions to develop a MOA. The other two PHAs, Hawkinsville and Manchester, are already in the process of initiating actions to develop a MOA. It was determined that these PHAs were in the process of resolving their deficiencies working directly with OPIH and that no State assistance was necessary at this time.
Changes to the Plan
During the SFY2011, HUD renamed the Emergency Shelter Grant Program to "Emergency Solutions Grant" Program (ESG). The new ESG regulations to accompany the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act in 2009 have not been released when the State started the FFY2011 Action Plan. The ESG program guidelines will be more defined when HUD issues the final regulations. The ESG program description is described in the ESG program section.
The State expanded the Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP) to include the single-family development housing activities and restructured to program requirements. The Georgia Dream Single Family Development Program was renamed to the Georgia

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Dream Habitat 580 Mortgage Program. More information is description in the HOME section of the Plan.
IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING CHOICE
The State pro-actively assesses fair housing choice in its community and the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) builds on the analysis from regional research to ensure that all residents have equal access to housing choices. The Georgia General Assembly established a neutral administrative agency, the State of Georgia Civil Rights Department & Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity (GCRD-GCEO), in order to govern and enforce the administration of Georgia Fair Housing Law. GCRD-GCEO receives, investigates and enforces any unlawful discrimination occurring throughout the State of Georgia in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.
According to HUD, impediments of fair housing choice include actions or omissions in the state that constitute violations of the Fair Housing Act. In addition, impediments mean actions or missions that are counter-productive to fair housing choice or that have the effect of restricting housing opportunities based on protected classes.
The State is required to certify that the fair housing equal opportunities are:
Complete the analysis of impediments; Take appropriate actions to address the impediments in the jurisdiction; and Maintain records and monitor the analysis and actions.
The State updated the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice in 2008 and it is available on the web at:
http://www.dca.ga.gov/communities/CommunityInitiatives/programs/Impediments.asp

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APPENDIX I General Certifications
(Submitted Separately to HUD)

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APPENDIX II FORMS 424

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APPENDIX III
Comments from Public Hearings
Summary of Comments Received at Public Hearings Held to Gain Input on the Housing and Community Development Needs of Georgia (October 20, 2010, October 25, 2010, October 27, 2010 and November 4, 2010)
Citizen participation is an integral part of the consolidated planning process. While preparing the State's FFY 2011 Annual Action Plan update, input on Georgia's housing and community development needs was received at public hearings held in four locations Tifton, Sandersville, Atlanta, and Dalton.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 Tifton, GA /Tift Chamber of Commerce Office
Attendees: 7
Commenter #1: Who submits the budget Congress or DCA? What is the percent funding designated for homeownership? (State Response) Each year the State submits an action plan to HUD that outlines the use of the federal
funds. When Congress passes their annual budget, the State receives an allocated amount based on a predetermined formula. During FFY2010, the State allocated 34% of the federal funds allocation to the HOME program, which is the primary source of homeownership funding.
Commenter #2: Which Entitlement counties and cities receive State funding for affordable housing?
(State Response) There are 24 Entitlement counties and cities that directly receive federal funding from HUD. They are responsible for their Consolidated Plan, Action Plan and Public Hearings. The remaining cities and counties may be eligible for State administered HUD funding as Non-Entitlement designations.
Commenter #3: How often are CDBG funds awarded and what are the eligibility requirements?
(State Response) Local governments are eligible to apply every two years for funding and may have other grants simultaneously with the CDBG funding. Most grants are awarded through a competitive process one time each year and local matching funds are required, depending on the grant amount..

Commenter #4: Are there provisions within the CDBG regulations for down payment assistance? (State Response) CDBG has assistance for down payment assistance through the local government.
Commenter #5: What are CHDOs? (State Response) The HOME Program requires the State to set aside 15% of the federal HOME allocation
for use by community housing development organizations (CHDOs) to own, develop, or sponsor affordable housing. The organization must have the provision of affordable housing as a central mission, including representation from the low income community on the governing board, and have a record of service to the community for at lease one year. The State qualified CHDO is eligible to apply for a pre-development funding and operating assistance.
Commenter #6: When is the next CDBG Workshop?
(State Response) CDBG applicants' workshop is December 6-8, 2010 Marriott Macon City Center, 240 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia
Commenter #7: Who are the local administrators for homeless housing in Tifton? How is the word disseminated so that homeless persons know where to go? Does DCA provide the information and how has DCA enlightened the safe havens (sheriff offices, hospitals, schools, etc.) on homelessness? (State Response) The local service providers disseminate the information to the local agencies and safe
havens to communicate the available services and to help individuals and families make housing decisions. Coalition for the Homelessness is a major advocate and an excellent source to obtain additional information to educate the public of homelessness.
Commenter #8: Can Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) be used for homeownership? If not, why?
(State Response) The Qualified Action Plan (QAP) public hearing is an opportunity to express concerns and ask questions about the LIHTC program. However, the LIHTC cannot be used for homeownership because the program is designated by the IRS as a 15-year rental housing program regardless if the development is multi-family or single-family housing. The CHIP program can assist with down payment for homeownership.
Commenter #9: Ruth Cottage inquired about how to apply for funding to build another shelter facility.
(State Response) Emergency shelter for homeless persons is an eligible activity under both the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) programs. To learn more about the CDBG program, please review the information on the DCA website at http://www.dca.ga.gov/communities/CDBG/index.asp. At present, DCA is not allowing ESG applications for emergency shelter development because emphasis at the Federal level is being placed upon homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing activities. This policy may change in future years based upon 1) need identified through January 2011 homeless counts, and 2) the availability of HUD ESG funds.
Commenter #10: Where do organizations like Diversified, a mental health shelter, go to receive funding for housing because they can't afford to keep the doors open?

(State Response) Supportive housing and independent living skills training is important to the State. The Department of Human Services is the primary funding source for continuum of care services. For persons who are homeless, the primary funding source for transitional housing continues to be through the Continuum of Care (CoC) and the Supportive Housing Program (SHP). Nonprofit agencies and local governments are encouraged to participate in this process and apply for funds. To be added to the Housing Trust Fund's mailing list so that you will receive information on the regional workshops (generally held in February) where staff review the Emergency Shelter Grant application and conduct CoC planning, contact one of the Housing Trust Fund staff members at (404) 679-4940.
Monday, October 25, 2010 Sandersville, GA / Washington EMC Office
Attendees: 12
Commenter #1: Does the federal funding automatically go to the State?
(State Response) The federal funds received from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are allocated in the amounts determined by the formula authorized by Congress. Annually, the State submits the Annual Action Plan to HUD that outlines how the funds will be spent during the year.
Commenter #2: How can nonprofit organizations link with other community action agencies to distribute HPRP assistance?
(State Response) Please find and contact the community action agency in your area by searching at http://ndo.org/GCAA/GCAA%20Map%20sliced.htm. For state-wide information on HPRP implementations, please review the DCA website at http://www.dca.ga.gov/housing/specialneeds/programs/HPRP.asp. By law, the State cannot directly provide HPRP assistance but must allocate the funding to grantees to administer the program. The State has seven (7) nonprofit organizations that administer the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) within the state's 151 county HPRP entitlement area. Five (5) of those organizations are community action agencies. Contacting the local family & children services, and agencies such as the Salvation Army is another source of assistance.
Commenter #3: What amount of permanent housing funding will the State provide to meet the supportive services and the housing units requirements of the settlement agreement to serve individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness?
(State Response) The State Department of Community Affairs will work in collaboration with the Commissioner of Behavioral Health to determine the appropriate course of actions to satisfy the settlement agreement.
Commenter #4: How can small communities benefit from the available supportive housing funding?
(State Response) Agencies should contact their local government about the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and work to establish a partnership with them to access available funding, collaborate with developmental and capital improvement plans and build relationships. Local area nonprofits can also contact Jonathan Cox of DCA (jonathan.cox@dca.ga.gov) to inquire about sponsoring a Shelter Plus Care program in their community. Through the S+C program, HUD provides rental assistance for homeless persons with disabilities and their families. In exchange for the rental assistance, local area

sponsors must provide supportive services appropriate to the needs of program participants with resources other than S+C.
Commenter #5: Is there a shift to de-emphasize Transitional Housing to Permanent Housing? Explain.
(State Response) Transitional housing services can range from 90 days to 2 years. If a family or an individual enters a place with an intense comprehensive program, the clients is consider to be under permanent housing as long as they complete the program and move to another facility. Under the HEARTH Act of 2009, HUD emphasized "homelessness prevention" and "rapid re-housing," particularly under the Emergency "Solutions" Grant Program (formerly the Emergency Shelter Grants Program). HEARTH also includes the Continuum of Care Program, and transitional housing remains eligible under this program.
Commenter #6: What services are accessible to help people that are living in "unfit for human habitation" housing?
(State Response) Families and individuals should contact the local supportive housing provider such as the Salvation Army for assistance to determine if they meet the Rapid Housing eligibility requirements.
Tuesday, October 27, 2010 Atlanta, GA /DCA Board Room
Attendees: 12
Commenter #1: Our nonprofit organization would like to obtain more information about the CHDO Operating Assistance program, CHDO Predevelopment Loan Program, HOPWA and Permanent Supportive Housing Program.
(State Response) In Gwinnett, HOPWA activities are funded by the City of Atlanta, Richard Willis, (404) 330-6112 x5061 or rdwillis@atlantaga.gov. Information about these programs is available on the DCA website: http://www.dca.ga.gov/housing/HousingDevelopment/index.asp
Commenter #2: How do we match the supportive services with the supportive housing?
(State Response) The Permanent Supportive Housing Program helps for-profit and non-profit organizations provide quality affordable rental housing with supportive services to targeted homeless populations by offering construction-to-permanent financing. If the development is located within DCA's Housing Choice Voucher Program service area, DCA can provide project-based rental assistance vouchers to increase affordability. For more information on the Permanent Supportive Housing Program, contact the Office of Special Housing Initiatives at (404) 327-6881or by email at specialneedshousing@dca.ga.gov.
Commenter #3: Can DCA provide more technical assistance and capacity building training or funding?
(State Response) The State host several program workshops and trainings throughout the year. Check the DCA website at http://dca.ga.gov .
There were three written comments submitted during the public hearing that will be attached in the Appendices Section of the Annual Action Plan as PDF documents.

Thursday, November 4, 2010
Dalton, GA / Whitfield County Administrative Building 1
Attendees: 22
Commenter #1: Can the State help with providing affordable housing to end homelessness for persons with mental illness and a criminal past? Are there Section 8 vouchers available for them to live independently?
(State Response) Through DCA, the State currently has a S+C grant in Dalton that is sponsored by the Dalton-Whitfield Community Development Corporation. This grant serves homeless persons with disabilities. Highland Rivers Community Services Board currently sponsors a similar DCA S+C project that serves the Rome area. DCA would work with Highland Rivers to sponsor a similar program in Dalton.
Permanent Supportive Housing Program helps for-profit and non-profit organization provide quality affordable rental housing with supportive services to targeted homeless populations by offering constructionto-permanent financing. If the development is located within DCA's Housing Choice Voucher Program service area, DCA can provide project-based rental assistance vouchers to increase affordability. For more information on the Permanent Supportive Housing Program, contact the Office of Special Housing Initiatives at (404) 327-6881or by email at specialneedshousing@dca.ga.gov.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program assists low and very-low income individuals and families to rent private rental housing. There are program requirements regarding the maximum rent allowable and the quality of the rental unit. There is typically a waiting list for this program. DCA administers the program in 149 of Georgia's 159 counties and the remaining counties are served by local agencies. For more information on the Housing Choice Voucher Program, contact the Office of Rental Assistance at (404) 3277912 or toll free (888) 858-6085 or by email at Section8@dca.ga.gov.
Dave Wallace, from New Horizons CSB in Columbus, highlighted Willow Glen Permanent Supportive Housing available for persons with a mental illness and how successful the project has been to not just the residents but the entire community.

The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA
November 5, 2010
Local agencies say Dalton needs safe, affordable housing Charles Oliver, charlesoliver@daltoncitizen.com
-- John describes an apartment building he once lived in in Pickens County as a place where prostitutes and drug dealers openly did business. "There were needles and used condoms all over the place," said John, who did not want his last name used. But he said that after he became a client of Highland Rivers, that agency helped him find a nice place to live in Dalton. "It's like a dream. It's the best place I've ever lived," he said. "It gives me dignity. I don't have to live like a rat." Highland Rivers offers mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities services in 11 Georgia counties, including Whitfield and Murray.
The agency's executive offices are in Dalton. Several of the agency's clients spoke Thursday during a public hearing held by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) on its 2011 consolidated housing plan. "The population that we serve is mostly on disability, with 600 or so dollars a month or less to live on. We have a really hard time finding them affordable, safe housing," said Natalie Davis, a certified peer specialist with Highland Rivers. Davis said finding inexpensive housing isn't that difficult in Northwest Georgia but much of what is available is in areas with high crime or other social problems. "We came here today to let the public know we are advocating for more safe and affordable housing in our area," she said. John Bassett, a representative of the Department of Community Affairs, said Northwest Georgia does not have any program for providing housing for low-income people with AIDS. He said the closest program is in Bartow County. Bassett said federal funds are available for such a program, but no qualified sponsors have applied for funding in Northwest Georgia. All told, the state has about $72 million in federal funding for various housing programs available in fiscal year 2011, which started on Oct. 1, 2010.
Scott Painter, executive director of the Dalton Housing Authority, also attended the meeting. Though the housing authority does not get money directly from the state, Painter said he found the meeting productive and would help as the agency prepares its own five- and 10-year plans. "The DCA plan will also affect many of the other various local city and county housing and social agencies represented at the public hearing today, including the Dalton Housing Authority," he said. "Our collaborative efforts and work with these other housing agencies is an important part of our current and future agency plans and will serve to help us all focus on improving the affordable housing opportunities available here in Dalton."
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