by Mescalero Apache Tribe | November 19, 2020 3:55 pm
The Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department (the “MATHD”) is required by law to have a Citizen Participation Plan which contains the MATHD’s procedures for public involvement in the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG), which will be leveraged with the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) per 24 CFR 91 Subpart B. This Citizen Participation Process Plan must be available to the public, which will be posted via Mescalero Apache Tribe’s Website and Facebook page.
This Citizen Participation Plan provides for and encourages public participation, emphasizing involvement by low and moderate-income neighborhoods in the development of infrastructure project for professional fees, electricity, and base-course road for the Affordable Housing Development called “A’DIID’NI’KUWA”. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expects the Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department (MATHD) to take whatever actions are appropriate to encourage participation of citizens, people who do not speak English, and people with disabilities.
Copies of this Citizen Participation Plan, as well as summaries of basic information about ICDBG will be made available upon request in the languages of residents who comprise a significant portion of the low- and moderate- income population. Public notices will be published and or posted in English.
The MATHD is prepared to provide documents in a format accessible to persons with disabilities upon request (e.g. providing oral, electronic or large print copies for the visually impaired, and delivering copies to the homebound). In addition, any documents made available online will be formatted to be compatible with web readers for the visually impaired.
Focusing on Low- to Moderate-Income Residents. The law declares that the primary purpose of the programs covered by this Citizen Participation Plan is to improve communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and growing economic opportunities – all principally for low-to moderate-income people, particularly those living in slum and blighted areas and in areas where ICDBG funds are proposed to be used and by residents of predominantly low and moderate income communities.
The Program Year. A Program Year is a twelve-month period during which the MATHD administers ICDBG and IHBG programs. The program year will start on October 1 and end twelve months later on September 30 of the following calendar year.
The MATHD develops an Indian Housing Plan (IHP) on a yearly basis, as required by HUD, that assesses community characteristics and needs, identifies priorities in addressing community needs, and establishes specific objectives that the MATHD intends to initiate or complete during the year.
Indian Housing Plans cover a single year, which includes projects, leverage of other resources and affordable housing activities. The proposed ICDBG project will be leveraged with the IHPs under 2020, 2021, and 2022 IHBG in the amount of $825,000 for professional fees, electricity, and base-course road infrastructure projects. The ICBDG project will provide access to infrastructure under the proposed Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project called, “A’DIID’NI’KUWA” located ½ north of Pinto Drive in Mescalero, NM.
The MATHD is engaging with tenants and stakeholders to provide recommendations and comments for the proposed ICDBG application process. The procedures in this Citizen Participation Plan relate to several stages of action mentioned in law or regulation for the ICDBG project. In general, these stages or events include a Citizen Participation. The MATHD will conduct Citizen Participation through the Mescalero Apache Tribe’s Official Website and Facebook page. The purpose of the Citizen Participation is to obtain citizens’ views, and respond to proposals and questions, regarding housing and community development needs and proposed activities. All proposals and questions must be submitted in writing at least five working days prior to the Citizen Participation.
The MATHD will provide technical assistance to organizations providing services to persons of low- and moderate-income in developing proposals for funding assistance under programs covered by the Indian Housing Plan. Hence, the Citizen Participation Plan provides an opportunity for the community to engage in the project development process as required by law under
After a Program Year is complete, an Annual Status and Evaluation Report (“ASER”) is completed and submitted to HUD as required. A copy will be provided to the general public upon request.
Substantial Amendment. On occasion during the year, it might be necessary to change the use of the money already budgeted in the proposed ICBDG application, or to change the priorities established. However, under the ICDBG grant application, the MATHD does not plan to amend proposed use of ICDBG funds other than originally proposed under the ICBDG grant application for professional fees, electricity, and base-course road project for the LIHTC project. Instead, the proposed ICBG grant funds are proposed to be 100% expended by September 28, 2021.
Due to the current COVID-19 Epidemic, the MATHD will not risk exposure or impose liability for holding public hearings regarding the ICBDG grant application. However, all public meetings relating to the funds or planning process covered by this Citizen Participation Plan will be done using the Mescalero Apache Tribe’s Official Website and Facebook page. Any and all notices required by this Citizen Participation Plan, except as may be otherwise specified herein, shall be given in conformance with this Public Notice section.
Adequate Public Notice. Public notices pursuant to this Citizen Participation Plan shall be given with enough lead time for the public to take informed action as required by law and as set forth in this Citizen Participation Plan. The MATHD will provide citizens an opportunity to make recommendation or comments to the proposed project activities identified in ICDBG grant application, which is available upon request by calling the MATHD office at (575) 464-4494.
The Citizen Participation Plan will be published for 10-days on the Mescalero Apache Tribe’s Official Website and Facebook page. The content of notices will give residents a clear understanding of the event being announced. Public notice on the plan will be provided in English.
Forms of Public Notice.
The MATHD will post the proposed ICDBG project in this notice for citizens to engage in virtual participation process for providing comments and recommendations on the Tribe’s Website and Facebook page. Participants can also email the Project Manager at [email protected][1]. The MATHD will obtain the public’s views and to provide the public with responses to public questions and proposals.
Due to COVID-19 the MATHD will not hold public hearings on the plan. However, the Citizen Participation Plan will be published on the Tribe’s Website and Facebook page. All comments and recommendations for the proposed ICBDG project for infrastructure to complete the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project called, “A’DIID’NI’KUWA” located ½ north of Pinto Drive in Mescalero, NM can be sent to:
Mescalero Apache Tribe Housing Department
Attention: Project Manager
Post Office Box 248
Mescalero, NM 88340
Email: [email protected][1]
Source URL: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com/13520/new-from-the-mescalero-apache-tribe-housing-department-citizen-participation/
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