The Citizen Participation Plan is designed to provide for and encourage citizen involvement in the development, implementation and evaluation of housing and community development programs in Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County, Tennessee.
The Citizen Participation Plan is being amended to incorporate the new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing regulations.
The Consolidated Plan & Annual Action Plan
Every five years MDHA develops a long-term strategic plan called the Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan guides the programs that MDHA will undertake each year. In addition to the Consolidated Plan, MDHA must prepare an annual action plan that describes the actions to be taken in a specific program year. To ensure public participation in the development of the Consolidated Plan and annual action plan, MDHA will hold a public hearing, accept public comment, and issue public notices for the Consolidated Plan and for each annual action plan.
Public Notice & Publication
MDHA will publish a public notice in a non-legal section of The Tennessean and at least one weekly minority newspaper prior to the beginning of the public comment period and a minimum of two weeks before a public hearing. MDHA will also publish a notice on its website. The notice will include a general summary and the location where copies of the entire plan may be obtained. MDHA will also send the notice to all members of the Consolidated Plan mailing list. Notices will also be distributed to all active affordable housing forums/groups, public housing Resident Associations, HUD gaps group and other homeless advocacy groups, and interested parties and groups.MDHA is required to publish each proposed plan in a manner that affords citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties a reasonable opportunity to examine its contents and to submit comments. MDHA will provide a reasonable number of free copies of the plan to citizens and groups that request it. The Consolidated Plan will be provided in alternate formats.
Public Hearings
MDHA will hold at least one public hearing per year during the development of the Annual Action plan. The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain citizens’ views, respond to proposals, and answer questions. The hearings will address housing and community development needs, proposed activities, and review of program performance. These hearings are held while the proposed plan is published for comment.
Upon request, MDHA will provide for translation services to meet the needs of non-English speaking reside. MDHA will also take whatever actions are appropriate to serve the needs of persons with disabilities.
Public Comments
MDHA will provide a period of at least 30 days to receive comments from citizens on each proposed plan.
MDHA will consider any comments or views of citizens received orally at the public hearings or in writing during the public comment period, in preparing the final adopted plan. A summary of these comments or views and MDHA’s responses shall be attached to the final adopted plan.
Plan Amendments
In the course of administering the four federal programs, MDHA may need to amend the Consolidated Plan or an annual action plan. When the amendment is significant and meets the criteria set forth below, the change will be considered a substantial amendment and MDHA will undertake additional actions to ensure citizens have an opportunity to comment. Records of all amendments will be maintained at MDHA for public review and will be fully described in the annual performance report submitted to HUD.
Criteria for Substantial Amendments
If a plan amendment meets any of the following criteria, MDHA will consider the amendment to be substantial and undertake the additional steps described in this section to ensure public participation:
- change in funding allocation priorities described in the Consolidated Plan,
- a new program not previously described in an annual action plan,
- the deletion of an activity described in the Consolidated Plan,
- a budget amendment for any program of more than twenty-five percent (25%), or
- a substantial amendment is required by HUD.
Public Notice & Publication
In the case of any proposed substantial amendment, MDHA will publish a public notice in The Tennessean and at least one weekly minority newspaper a prior to the beginning of the public comment period and a minimum of two weeks before a public hearing. The notice will include a summary of the amendment and a list of the locations where copies of the amendment may be examined. MDHA will also maintain a mailing list of interested parties and send information regarding the amendment to all members of the mailing list.
Public Comments
MDHA will provide a period of at least 30 days to receive comments from citizens on each proposed plan. MDHA will consider any comments or views of citizens received orally at the public hearings or in writing during the public comment period, in preparing the final adopted plan. A summary of these comments or views and MDHA’s responses shall be attached to the final adopted plan.
Performance Reports
Each year MDHA must submit a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to HUD. This report is due 90 days after the close of the program year. To ensure public participation in the review of the performance report, MDHA will hold a public hearing, accept public comment, and issue public notices.
Public Notice & Publication
MDHA will publish a public notice in The Tennessean and at least one weekly minority newspaper prior to the beginning of the public comment period and a minimum of two weeks before a hearing. MDHA will also maintain a mailing list of interested parties and send information to all members of the mailing list. MDHA will provide a reasonable number of free copies of the performance report to citizens and groups that request it. Copies of each report will be available for review at MDHA.
Public Hearings
MDHA will hold at least one public hearing per year during the preparation of the annual report. The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain citizens’ views, answer questions, address housing and community development needs, and review program performance. Upon request, MDHA will provide for translation services to meet the needs of non-English speaking residents. MDHA will also take whatever actions are appropriate to serve the needs of persons with disabilities.
Public Comments
MDHA will provide a period of at least 15 days to receive comments on the annual report before the report is submitted to HUD. MDHA will consider any comments or views of citizens received orally at public hearings or in writing during the public comment period, when preparing the final report. MDHA will attach a summary of these comments and MDHA’s response to the final annual report.
Program Information
In addition to providing participation in the development of plans and the review of the annual report, MDHA will provide citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties with reasonable and timely access to information and records relating to the Consolidated Plan and the use of federal funds. MDHA will provide access to records for the current program year and previous five program years. This information includes, but is not limited to, the citizen participation plan, the Consolidated Plan as adopted, annual action plans, performance reports, and any substantial amendments. MDHA will make these records available in a form accessible to persons with disabilities, upon request. Most records are maintained at MDHA in the Community Development Department, located at 712 South Sixth Street. Records may be reviewed by appointment during regular business hours. MDHA will also provide citizens with reasonable and timely access to local meetings held in regard to the Consolidated Plan and the activities undertaken as part of the Consolidated Plan.
Technical Assistance
MDHA will provide for technical assistance to groups representative of persons of low- and moderate-income that request such assistance in developing proposals for funding assistance under any of the programs covered by the Consolidated Plan. To request technical assistance, contact the Community Development Department. MDHA hosts pre-proposal conferences when a Request for Proposal is issued to award funding for a project. The purpose of the pre-proposal conference is to answer questions from potential respondents.