DISCUSSION
The CAPER details how the City of Garden Grove (City) carried out the projects and activities identified in the previously approved FY 2020-21 Annual Action Plan (AAP). The CAPER provides narrative descriptions and financial information on specific activities, and evaluates the City’s progress toward the priority objectives addressing housing and community needs, as outlined in the 5-Year Consolidated Plan. The reporting period for the CAPER is from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
During FY 2020-21, the City utilized Federal funding to expand or preserve affordable housing opportunities, improve low-income neighborhoods through public infrastructure improvements, and assist special needs groups such as senior citizens, homeless, and those who are ‘at-risk’ of becoming homeless. The City assisted a total of 40,375 low-income individuals through various programs and services. Highlights of FY 2020-21 accomplishments include:
- Retained 24 jobs through job retention grants;
- Provided 438 home delivered and/or congregate meals to Garden Grove seniors;
- Provided rental assistance via the Valley View Senior Villas Program and the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rental Transition Program to 61 homeless or ‘at-risk’ of becoming homeless households;
- Provided homeless services to 237 individuals;
- Assisted 12,315 low-income residents through infrastructure development;
- Assisted 15 low-income residents with Home Improvement Grants;
- Assisted 1,907 low-income residents with various public and community services;
- Provided community outreach and education to nearly 7,000 individuals.
The FY 2019-20 AAP was amended to include Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding that was awarded to the City by HUD in April 2020. The Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV) and Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act (ESG-CV) expenditures and performance outcomes for completed projects are included in the FY 2020-21 CAPER. In total, the City expended an additional $2,182,256 in CDBG-CV and ESG-CV funding in FY 2020-21 to develop and expand programs in response to the Coronavirus. Please see below for the City’s CDBG-CV and ESG-CV accomplishments for FY 2020-21:
CDBG-CV Accomplishments
- Provided an additional 284 seniors with home delivered and/or congregate meals;
- Assisted approximately 7,957 individuals by distributing boxes of groceries and hot meals;
- Created and/or retained an additional 149 jobs through the JOBS 1st Program during FY 2020-21, however, the accomplishments for this Program will be recorded in the FY 2021-22 CAPER; and
- Provided an additional 20 individuals with workforce development services through the Workforce Activation and Readiness Program (WARP) during FY 2020-21, however, the accomplishments for this Program will be recorded in the FY 2021-22 CAPER.
ESG-CV Accomplishments
- Provided 807 homeless individuals with street outreach, homeless prevention, and emergency shelter services; and
- Provided 62 households with rapid rehousing services.
Per the HUD approved Citizen Participation Plan, the City is required to make the CAPER available to the public for review and comment for a minimum of 15 days. A public notice was published in English, Spanish and Vietnamese newspapers announcing the public comment period, which began on August 30, 2021 and will conclude at the end of City Council’s September 28, 2021 meeting. All public comments received are included in the final submission of the CAPER to HUD.