Use of Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus Response (CDBG-CV) Funds

Fairfax County is planning to use the $3,506,542 in CDBG-CV funding as described in the CDBG Coronavirus Response Project of the FY 2020 Action Plan (Attachment B), to support:

• Emergency rent and utility assistance for households who have lost income due to COVID-19 (to be administered through Coordinated Services Planning)
• Operating expenses for non-profit partners who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and provide targeted public services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19;
• Income replacement for affordable housing providers whose tenants are unable to pay their rent during the crisis due to COVID-19; and
• Funding to support administrative costs, if needed, to implement and monitor the activities.
   

Use of Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Funds

Fairfax County’s homeless services system is planning to use the $1,699,586 awarded through ESG funding in FY 2020, allocated through the CARES Act, as described under the new ESG Coronavirus Response project of the FY 2020 Action Plan (Attachment 2), to support:

• Expansion of shelter capacity by using hotels, which is the primary need and eligible activity that will be prioritized;
• Additional supplies, equipment, and transportation services needed to operate this expanded shelter capacity; and
• Other eligible activities, including eligible administrative costs, permitted by HUD as needs arise.

Remaining balances or additional allocations in either funding source will be used for the same purposes in FY 2021 or until the funding period concludes. The goal is to respond to the current and emerging needs related to the coronavirus and ensure that people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, as defined by HUD, can be safely served.
 

• Fairfax County may meet federal public hearing requirements with virtual public hearings if:
  • national/local health authorities recommend social distancing and limiting public gatherings for public health reasons; and  
  • virtual hearings provide reasonable notification and access for citizens in accordance with the grantee’s certifications, timely responses from local officials to all citizen questions and issues, and public access to all questions and responses.
     
• Public comment notices will be advertised in a newspaper(s) of general circulation and at least one minority and non-English speaking publication for no less than 5 days prior to the date of a public hearing
   
• Substantive amendments to the Consolidated Plan One-Year Action Plan will be publicly advertised for no less than 5 days, prior to consideration of the amendments by the Board of Supervisors
   
• Proposed changes to the Citizen Participation Plan itself will be advertised no less than 5 days prior to the adoption or amendment by the Board of Supervisors
   
• Any amendments to the Action Plan and amendments to the Citizen Participation Plan may run concurrently for public comment
   
• Due to social distancing and limits on public gatherings for public health, the requirement that public notice(s) be advertised in all branches of the County Library system has been eliminated. Postings in other public and community spaces will not be considered
   
• Reasonable efforts will be made to advertise to all sectors of the community digitally (e.g., county website, or through online news publications, community forums, e-mail subscription networks, and/or social media platforms)
   
• The Citizen Participation Plan amendments only apply to the use of supplemental CDBG and ESG coronavirus funding allocated to Fairfax County during FY 2020, as well as the County’s CDBG and ESG annual entitlement grants for Federal FYs 2019 and 2020 (or County FYs 2020 and 2021, respectively).