For Immediate Release: August 21, 2023

The City of Alexandria's Draft Citizen Participation Plan for Housing and Community Development (Participation Plan) is now available on the Office of Housing’s website.

The Participation Plan is a document that provides for, and encourages, public participation and which emphasizes participation by persons of low- or moderate-income, particularly residents of predominantly low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in the allocation process of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds, Section 108 loan funds, and any other housing and community funds appropriated to the City by HUD.

The Participation Plan lays out how residents will be given access to information and records related to the City’s use of funds; how public hearings will be held to obtain resident views and questions on proposed activities and review of program performance; how written complaints will be answered; how the City will meet the needs of non-English speaking residents at public hearings where a significant number of non-English speaking residents can be reasonably expected to participate; and how other HUD requirements for public participation will be met. 

Persons wishing to comment on the Draft Participation Plan may do so either in writing and/or by providing testimony at a public hearing during the regularly scheduled Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee meeting beginning at 7 p.m. on September 7, 2023. The meeting will be held in Room 2000 on the second floor of Alexandria City Hall, 301 King St., Alexandria, VA.

Written comments may be sent or delivered to the Office of Housing or emailed to kimberly.cadena@alexandriava.gov  Written comments will be accepted beginning August 21 until 5 p.m. on September 22.  Comments received during this time will, as appropriate, be addressed by staff and may be incorporated into the final Participation Plan.

The Draft Participation Plan will be available in languages besides English or in a format accessible to persons with disabilities upon request. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/housing/housing-news-announcements for more information about the Draft Participation Plan.

For further information or requests for reasonable accommodations, please call Kim Cadena at the Office of Housing at 703.746.4990, or TTY 703.838.5056 for the hearing impaired.

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This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4880