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1. How does it work?

Annually, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates approximately $2,000,000 in federal funds to the County of Maui,. At that time, the County publishes a series of Public Notices in the newspaper to solicit project proposals that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons or families from the following organizations: Public (government); Private Non-Profit exempt from federal income tax; Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO) as defined in 24 CFR 570.204; and For- Profit Entity under the provision 24 CFR 570.203.

Approximately 10 weeks will elapse from the time the notices are published until proposals must be submitted to the CDBG Program Office for review. These applications are rated and ranked according to national objective priorities by a selection committee appointed by the Mayor. Next, a proposed "Council Resolution" of the selected proposed projects is submitted by the Mayor to the Budget and Finance Committee for consideration and then to the County Council for final approval.

The final step is for the County to prepare a "master application" to HUD, which includes all of the approved projects. Once HUD reviews the County's application and approves it, and after contracts are drafted and environmental requirements are met, the funds become available for project implementation. The entire process takes about twelve months from beginning to end before the actual project implementation can begin.

As with any federal program, there are many conditions which must be complied with, however, the CDBG Program Office will make every effort to assist you and keep the process as simple as possible.

2. What can CDBG funds be used for?

Proposed activities under the CDBG Program must meet one of the following national objectives:

1. Principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons or families

2. Aid in the prevention or elimination of slum or blight

3. Urgent need (serious threat to community health or welfare).

Activities that are eligible to be funded under 24 CFR part 570.200-207 range from:

1. Real Property Acquisition
2. Public Facilities and Improvements
3. Public Services
4. Housing Rehabilitation
5. Removal of Architectural Barriers
6. Special Economic Development Activities
7. Historic Preservation
8. Community Development Planning.
CDBG funds may not be used by the County for new housing construction unless carried out by a Community Based Development Organization (CBDO).

3. What is the Consolidated Plan?

The Consolidated Plan is designed to be a collaborative process whereby the County establishes a unified vision for community development actions. It offers the County the opportunity to shape the various housing and community development programs into effective, coordinated neighborhood and community development strategies.

The Consolidated Plan services four principal functions as:
1. A planning document for the County, developed through a community needs assessment and citizen participation process;
2. An application for federal funds under HUD formula programs including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA);
3. A strategy to be followed in suing HUD formula programs to address priorities in the areas of housing, homelessness, and community needs; and
4. a five-year action plan that provided HUD and the county a basis for assessing performance.

The strategic plan must be developed to achieve the following statutory goals and objectives, principally for extremely low-, low- and moderate-income residents:
• provide decent housing and
• a suitable living environment and
• expand economic opportunities.

Every year an “Annual Action Plan" is submitted by the CDBG Program which states how Maui County intends to spend its CDBG funds and to otherwise work toward achieving the goals it set for itself in the long-term "Strategic Plan" portion of the Consolidated Plan.
The long-term Strategic Plan part of the Consolidated Plan looks at the housing and community development needs of low income people and the inventory of housing in the community. It also looks at money that is available, or that could be made available, to meet housing and community development needs. Then the Strategic Plan describes what the state or Maui County's priorities are for programs and policies to meet the housing and community needs of low income people.
In short, the Consolidated Plan requires the jurisdiction to identify all of its housing and community development needs, and then come up with a long-term strategy for meeting those needs. A key part of the strategy is setting priorities.