Public Notices

City of North Miami Housing and Social Services Department

In accordance with 24 CFR 91.05(c) (2) and subpart B of the Federal Regulations relative to citizen participation for federal block grant programs and applicable waivers made available to those requirements through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the City of North Miami is making an amendment to the city’s FY 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan available to the public through this notice.

Public Comment Period and Process:

This Action Plan amendment is available for a 5-day public review and comment period from May 20, 2020 to May 25, 2020. Citizens wishing to submit written comments during the public review and comment period may mail them, postmarked no later than May 25, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. to the following:

City of North Miami
Housing and Social Services Department
Attn: Alberte Bazile, HSS Director
776 NE 125th Street
North Miami, FL 33161

You may also email comments no later than May 25, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. to housing@northmiamifl.gov, or visit the following locations:

North Miami City Hall
776 NE 125th Street
North Miami, FL 33161

North Miami Customer Service Center
811 NE 125th Street
North Miami, FL 33161

Housing & Social Services Satellite office
13753 NW 7th Avenue
North Miami, FL 33168

Proposed 1st Amendment to FY 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan

On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development informed the City of North Miami of an award of $452,692 in supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for grants to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic, (CDBG-CV grants) which were made available through the CARES Act. Under the City’s Citizen Participation Plan, as amended, a substantial amendment is required for the City of North Miami to quickly receive and administer these funds to meet the needs of our low- and moderate-income (LMI) households and individuals (80% or less of the Miami-Dade County Area Median Income). Under the proposed amendment, the CDBG-CV funds will be allocated by amending activities and adding as follows:

Add Administration: $ 45,265.00
Allocate administrative and planning costs that are needed to develop or adapt and implement programs that address the impact of the coronavirus.
Add Meal Assistance: $90,000.00
Allocate funding to experienced meal providers to address food insecurity by providing delivered meals to North Miami residents with low- or moderate- income especially those that are in quarantine, the elderly, and those limited by social distancing guidelines due to the coronavirus.
Emergency Rental Assistance: $157,427.00
Allocate funding for emergency rental assistance to low- or moderate- income residents affected by the pandemic due to lost or reduced wages through a program to be administered by the City’s Housing and Social Services Department.
Mental Health Assistance to COVID: $40,000.00
Allocate funding to experienced providers of mental health services for North Miami residents with low- or moderate- income impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Workforce and Business Initiative Assistance: $120,000.00
Allocate funding to provide assistance to enable small businesses or microenterprises to invest and survive the mid and post coronavirus pandemic through working capital, technical assistance with digital tools, and workforce training to healthcare workers and technicians. Additional CDBG funding to be made available to the City of North Miami by HUD through the CARES Act is unknown as this time but will be used for the same purpose of the initial allocations indicated above which is to prevent the spread of coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) and assist eligible impacted communities, households, and persons.

Eligible CDBG activities include, but are not limited to, assisting low- and moderate-income households with rental assistance, grab and go/delivery meal programs, food distribution, business assistance to retain employees that are low- and moderate-income, and support of other COVID-19 response services.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, PERSONS NEEDING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING SHOULD CONTACT THE HOUSING & SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT NO LATER THAN FOUR (4) DAYS PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDING. TELEPHONE 305-895-9895 FOR ASSISTANCE. IF HEARING IMPAIRED, TELEPHONE 711 OR YOU MAY CONTACT 1-800-955-8771 FOR THE FLORIDA RELAY SERVICE FOR ASSISTANCE.

Emergency Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (ETBRA)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of North Miami may assist individuals with a one-time payment up to $1,000 assistance to households occupying rental units outside of CRA boundaries that have suffered loss of income or reduced wages directly connected to COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread loss and/or reduction of income, significantly affecting the financial stability of households within the City of North Miami. The City will use available Federal or State funding to assist eligible tenants to cover past due rent.

Program Guidelines

The ETBRA program is based on the premise that decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing is accessible on the private market for very low to low-income families.

Applicants are considered eligible if their total household income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, they are North Miami residents living outside the CRA boundaries and have a one (1) year lease signed and executed prior to February 28, 2020.

Funding for the program is provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program allocations to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus pandemic as a grant with no repayment requirement. The City Housing and Social Services Department will administer the Emergency Tenant-Based Rental Assistance.

Applications will be available to the public at the following locations:

North Miami Customer Service Center, 811 NE 125th Street
Housing & Social Services Satellite office, 13753 NW 7th Avenue
Keystone Community Center, 13050 Ixora Court
Gwen Margolis Community Center, 1590 NE 123rd Street
Griffing Community Center, 12220 Griffing Boulevard
North Miami Public Library, 835 NE 132nd Street

Beginning May 27, 2020 to June 3, 2020 following council approval on May 26, 2020. Applications will also be available online until June 3, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Because of funding limitations, qualified applicants will be selected on a lottery process once eligibility has been determined. Lottery date will be announced and selected lottery winners will be notified via mail.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, PERSONS NEEDING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING SHOULD CONTACT THE HOUSING & SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT NO LATER THAN FOUR (4) DAYS PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDING. TELEPHONE 305-895-9895, FOR ASSISTANCE. IF HEARING IMPAIRED, TELEPHONE 711 OR YOU MAY CONTACT 1-800-955-8771 FOR THE FLORIDA RELAY SERVICE FOR ASSISTANCE.

Amendment to Citizen Participation Plan

The City of North Miami Needs Your Input!

Per federal regulations at 24 CFR 91.105, the City of North Miami must adopt a citizen participation plan (CPP) that sets forth its policies and procedures for citizen participation and gives its citizens “Reasonable Notice and Opportunity to Comment” on the management and use of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds received from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As part of the CPP, public meetings and a 30-day comment period are required to get citizen input.

As a result of the unprecedented coronavirus health crisis and its impact on the U.S. economy, Congress approved the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (Public Law 116-136) and made available supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for grants to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus (CDBG-CV grants). The CARES Act also provides the City with the flexibility to make it easier to use CDBG-CV grants and fiscal years 2019 and 2020 CDBG grants for expeditious coronavirus response by authorizing HUD to grant waivers and alternative requirements for a specified period.

Due to the need for expediting funds distribution and national/local recommended social distancing guidelines and stay at home orders, HUD has authorized grantees such as the City to amend its CPP to establish expedited procedures and waive in-person public meetings. The CPP is hereby amended to include the following changes:

Allow for a 5-day comment period on substantial amendments during the waiver period.
Includes virtual hearings as an allowed citizen participation method for public meetings and focus groups. If virtual hearings are used, real-time responses must be facilitated and accommodations for persons with disabilities and/or with limited English proficiency will be made available to the greatest extent possible.
Updates the types of declared disasters or emergency events to include terrorism and infectious diseases, such as the recent coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, that may necessitate expedited substantial amendments.
Provides details on possible actions, including reprogramming of funding and types of possible activities that may be undertaken in response to the declared disasters or emergency events such as COVID-19 pandemic.
Includes provisions of Consolidated Plan citizen participation, Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership Program waivers under the CARES Act.
Makes minor edits that do not change the current intent and policies of the CPP.

A copy of the amended CPP will be available for public review and comment at the Community Planning & Development Office at (12400 NE 8th Avenue, North Miami, FL 33161), City Hall Office at (776 NE 125 St, North Miami, Fl. 33161) and on the City’s website for a period of five (5) days from May 4, 2020 to May 11, 2020. You may also contact the Housing and Social Services Department at 305-895-9895 or e-mail to request a copy.

Anyone wishing further information may write to:

City of North Miami
Housing and Social Services Department
Attn: Alberte Bazile, HSS Director
776 NE 125th Street
North Miami, FL 33161

Amended Citizen Participation Plan Public Notice

Citizen Participation Plan - Draft

Community Development Block Grant Home Investment Partnership Program

The City of North Miami is an entitlement community eligible to receive assistance under the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City of North Miami is anticipating an announcement from HUD regarding Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 to 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME allocations. In accordance with the federal regulations, 24 CFR, Part 91, the City of North Miami is preparing a draft Annual Action Plan submission for its community development programs. This document is a requirement for direct assistance under HUD’s funding programs including the (CDBG), and HOME Partnership Investment Program. The city intends to submit the Annual Action Plan to HUD by August 15th, 2019.

Purpose of the Plan

The proposed FY 2019 to 2020 Annual Action Plan is a component of the 2015 to 2019 Consolidated Plan that identifies resources and strategies to assist with meeting housing and community development needs and includes plans for monitoring performance. The allocation amount for FY 2019 to 2020 is $757,246 in CDBG funds and $269,234 in HOME funds. CDBG and HOME funds will be used for public facilities, and infrastructure improvements, public services, affordable housing related projects, and economic development.

As part of the planning process, the City of North Miami is conducting public meetings to solicit public input on programs and activities eligible for CDBG and HOME funding and to prioritize such programs and activities for eligible areas citywide. Residents are invited to attend and participate in these discussions.

Meeting Information

The locations and dates of the meetings are as follows:

Sunkist Grove Community Center
12500 NW. 13th Avenue
North Miami, Fl. 33167
May 8, 2019
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Griffing Community Center
12220 Griffing Boulevard
North Miami, Fl. 33161
May 9, 2019
6:30 to 8:30 pm