Berkeley County has qualified as an entitlement jurisdiction, which means it will receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). An appropriation amount is approved by Congress annually through the federal budget process, and the County’s FY21 allocation is $1,209,927.
The CDBG Program is intended to address the needs for public facilities, economic development, housing, public services, and other eligible activities in unincorporated areas and within participating municipalities in Berkeley County. All activities funded through this program are designed to support projects that:
- Benefit low- and moderate-income persons
- Integrate into long-range community strategies
- Leverage further private and public investment
- Aid in the prevention or elimination of slum or blight
The program is authorized under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93-383, as amended; 42 U.S.C.-530.1 et seq. From April 1-30, 2021, the County is soliciting public comments on the draft 5-Year Consolidated Plan and FY2021 Annual Action Plan.
FY2021 – FY2025 Consolidated Plan
The Consolidated (Con) Plan is a five-year strategic plan that governs the administration of federal funding appropriated for housing and community development activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons. It offers communities the opportunity to shape these housing and community development programs into effective and coordinated neighborhood and community development strategies. Development of the Con Plan involves substantial public outreach to solicit community perceptions and needs, and extensive data gathering and analysis, to recommend funding priorities for the five-year plan cycle.
Annual Action Plan
The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan. The Annual Action Plan outlines one-year goals and describes the resources available, how those resources are to be utilized, including the projects selected for funding, and the geographic distribution of those resources.
Condensed Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
An Analysis of Impediments (AI) is an assessment of a state or a unit of local government’s laws, ordinances, statutes, and administrative policies as well as local conditions that affect the location, availability, and accessibility of housing. The development of this AI is part of the consolidated planning process required for all entitlement communities such as Berkeley County that receive CDBG funds from HUD. This AI includes an analysis of barriers and impediments to fair housing choice, defined as the following:
- “Impediments” are any actions, omissions, or decisions taken which have the effect of restricting a person’s housing choice or the availability of housing choice because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, or national origin. Such a limitation to fair housing choice constitutes housing discrimination.
- “Barriers” to housing choice are factors that limit a person’s ability to choose from a variety of housing types and may not constitute “housing discrimination.” Factors may include housing supply and location, physical accessibility of housing, zoning for group homes, source of income, accessibility of financing, and limited English proficiency
