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8.A. - Page 3 <br /> The Consolidated Plan requires a Citizen Participation process for public input on how <br /> CDBG and HOME funds are to be used within the community. The process should <br /> engage the community, both in the process of developing and reviewing the proposed <br /> plan and as partners and stakeholders in implementing programs. By consulting and <br /> collaborating with other public and private entities, the City can align and coordinate <br /> community development programs with a range of other plans, programs and resources <br /> to achieve greater impact. The Citizen Participation Plan process adopted by Council <br /> and implemented by the HHCC and staff involves holding several public meetings and <br /> publishing the proposed use of funds for citizen comment before the Council gives final <br /> approval on the use of the funds. The process for the development, input, review, and <br /> recommendations to prepare the 2015-2020 Consolidated Plan and the 2015-2016 <br /> Annual Action Plan are summarized in the 2015-2020 Consolidated Plan Citizen <br /> Participation Meeting Schedule (Attachment 3). <br /> The process began last Fall when, over the course of several meetings, consultations <br /> were held with focus groups, non-profit and other public and private organizations to <br /> develop the Community Needs Assessment and Priority Needs and Strategies. <br /> Additionally, consultations were held with the Redwood City Human Services Network <br /> (a group of over 40 non-profit organizations providing services to Redwood City <br /> residents) and various other service, health, and housing providers to identify where <br /> needs and priorities have shifted. The input received through the discussion with the <br /> community has been valuable in preparing the Consolidated Plan. <br /> ANALYSIS <br /> Community Needs Assessment <br /> The federal statute mandating the Consolidated Plan cites the U.S. Census as the <br /> required data set for income and ethnicity data. Census data for the special needs <br /> population is the official data to be used for HUD-funded programs to analyze needs <br /> (based on population, ethnicity, homeless count, housing inventory, substandard <br /> housing count, etc.) within Redwood City. Other local data considered in the Community <br /> Needs Assessment are the number of Redwood City residents served by non-profit <br /> organizations, the number of homeless served in shelters, point-in-time homeless <br /> counts, and local home sales and rent survey data. <br /> Special needs populations include, but are not limited to, the chronically homeless, <br /> extremely low income households, minority households, persons with HIV/AIDS and <br /> other disabilities, frail and elderly persons, persons overpaying for housing, persons <br /> living in substandard housing conditions, and persons living in overcrowded <br /> households. <br /> The Community Needs Assessment also addresses supportive services and non- <br /> housing needs including community facilities, parks, childcare, transportation, senior <br /> centers, etc. The assessments indicated that as housing costs have escalated <br /> dramatically, the need for affordable housing and economic development initiatives, <br />