IHCDA Info-April 2015

State of Indiana sent this bulletin at 04/28/2015 01:44 PM EDT

IHCDA Info - April 2015

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), chaired by Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, provides housing opportunities, promotes self-sufficiency and strengthens communities. IHCDA works in collaboration with our partners to build a sustainable quality of life for all Hoosiers in communities of their choice.

Fair Housing Month Events Educate & Inform

IHCDA was proud to participate in several events promoting Fair Housing Month in April. Overall, more than 700 Hoosiers took part in a variety of educational opportunities around the state.

Fair Housing Month kicked off in Hammond at the Fair Housing Breakfast on April 6th, where 200 attendees came together to share ideas about community renewal and equitable housing matters.

As part of our ongoing partnership with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC), IHCDA once again served as a sponsor and participated in panel discussions for the Indiana Fair Housing Conferences held in mid-April.

This year, ICRC held events in both Indianapolis and French Lick to better accommodate the needs of Hoosiers around the state. The event saw more than 200 people take advantage of opportunities to learn about Indiana's fair housing initiatives and network with their peers.

In addition, IHCDA also participated in the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana's Fair Housing Conference in Indianapolis on April 16th. Several hundred practitioners came together to discuss the state of fair housing and exchange ideas.

Our agency thanks the City of Hammond, ICRC, the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana and all of the sponsors and participants who helped make these events successful.

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To submit event information to be featured in the IHCDA Info and on our agency website, email Brian Philps, Outreach & Communications Project Manager.

A monthly newsletter from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority designed to help our partners to stay up to date on program announcements, changes, trainings and events.

IHCDA welcomes comments, additions and suggestions at askihcda@ihcda.in.gov

IHCDA & OCRA Solicit Public Comment on Consolidated Plan

The State of Indiana is responsible for composing a Consolidated Plan which outlines its strategy to effectively utilize the federal funding it receives from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).

The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to define the state's priorities to address need in Indiana using available resources, and it also serves as a single document to meet the planning and submission requirements established by HUD.

On April 23, the Office of Community & Rural Affairs (OCRA) and IHCDA hosted public input forums in Indianapolis, Huntington, Scottsburg, Rensselaer and Vincennes. These interactive sessions were open to all citizens and advocates and featured a detailed presentation about proposed expenditures for the 2015-2019 funding period. Each participant had the opportunity to offer verbal or written remarks about the plan.

We want to extend special thanks to our partners who helped publicize this important public engagement opportunity.

If you were unable to attend these events or wish to make comments now, we welcome your input! The public comment period closes on May 13.

The draft Consolidated Plan and details about the drafting process are available on both OCRA and IHCDA websites. Please submit written comments to:

Consolidated Plan
Indiana OCRA
One North Capitol – Suite 600 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2027

Comments may also be submitted via email to coscott@ocra.in.gov.

My Community, My Vision Program Accepting Applications

Community planning impacts people of all ages, and IHCDA is proud to sponsor a program that encourages high schoolers to play active roles in shaping their communities.

The My Community, My Vision program invites rural high school student groups to share visions for their hometowns and consider how community planning can enhance their quality of life. Now in its second year, the program allows students to work with state and local government and learn about careers in community development. Students also have the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with Ball State School of Urban Planning graduate students as they research and develop community plans.

Up to five applications will be chosen to receive a $500 award for their sponsorship organization and will work closely with IHCDA and Ball State University students and faculty. Applications for the 2015 My Community, My Vision program are due on May 31, 2015.

This initiative is sponsored by the Office of Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and is being administered by IHCDA with input from community development experts from Ball State University.