WASHINGTON, DC – The D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) recently held the final of five public hearings for the Fiscal Year 2014 (FY 2014) Consolidated Annual Action Plan. The purpose of the hearing was to receive public comments on the draft plan and budget prior to being submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

DHCD electronically and physically released the draft Annual Action Plan to the public on June 21, 2013. The document serves as an application to HUD for FY 2014 funding from federal entitlement programs including, Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grant and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. The plan is also a statement of DHCD’s strategic activities to address housing objectives and barriers, community development strategies, citizen participation processes, and non-homeless special needs priorities and objectives.

“Our partnerships with the federal government, in particular with HUD, are a necessity to efficiently establish diverse communities throughout DC. Communities with residents of mixed incomes, various amenities including recreation and retail to enable mixed use and most importantly, developed using mixed funding from various investors,” said Michael P. Kelly, DHCD Director. “Ensuring that DC has housing opportunities for residents of all income levels is a team effort. We hope that our relationship with the federal government will continue to flourish as we move forward with building a world-class city for all of our residents.”

In March 2013 DHCD held a series of four hearings to receive public comments on what should be included in the FY 2014 Annual Action Plan. The agency leveraged the comments from those hearings to develop the draft plan and in mid-August 2013 DHCD will submit the final FY 2014 Annual Action Plan to HUD for approval.

FY 2014 will mark the fourth year of the District of Columbia’s current Consolidated Plan.  The Five Year Consolidated Plan Fiscal Year 2011 – 2015 includes specific objectives and priorities regarding how the District seeks to provide activities during the five-year period that promote equal opportunity to a suitable living environment, decent housing and economic development.

Media seeking interviews with the DHCD Director Michael P. Kelly or DHCD Spokesperson should coordinate with the media contact listed above as soon as possible.

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The mission of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is to create and preserve opportunities for affordable housing and economic development and to revitalize underserved communities in the District of Columbia.