Measuring Affordable Housing Opportunities: An Evaluation Study of Block Grant Funds Utilized and Leveraged in Flint, MI [1998-2002]

Abstract

This is a five-year study (1998-2002) of the Sources and Uses of City of Flint Block Grants. The three types of Block Grants are Emergency Shelter Block Grants (ESG), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Block grants (HOME). <p>Sources are determined through data provided via HUD mandated report titled the Action Plan. Sources consist of annual New Allocations, Program Income and Reprogrammed funds. These Sources are summed and evaluated for each of the five years, and for a five-year total. <p>Uses are determined by data provided by the Action Plan(s) and another HUD mandated annual report titled the Comprehensive Annual Performance and Evaluation Report(s) (CAPER). Uses are summed and evaluated for each of the five years, and for the five years, and for the five-year total. Specific categories of Use are also reviewed and analyzed, with emphasis placed on USE for Housing Activities. Uses per individual sub-grants (the City of Flint is considered the Grantee) and summed totals are compared and analyzed for discrepancies. The discovery of inconsistency in naming conventions and errors in mathematical computations, necessitated a mid-step of standardizing the data available from the public documents. Accurate knowledge of Use of Block Grant Funds was not possible utilizing only the public documents. <p>The City of Flint Block Grants are then compared with Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) grant awards made during this same time period, for Housing Activities, to Flint area organizations. These MSHDA grants are considered to be a means of increasing the funds available for Housing Activities, which is known as leveraging. Analysis is provided regarding City of Flint Block Grant leveraging of MSHDA dollars. Recipients receiving city Block Grants for Housing Activities only leveraged nine percent of these dollars with MSHDA funds. <p>An analysis of final Use of Block Grants for Housing Category is provided through a review of CAPER reports to determine changes made in allocations and funds expended, and/or balances remaining unspent. The recipient demonstrating the greatest change between allocation and use of Block Grant funds for Housing Category is the City of Flint as the recipient. During this five- year period, the City of Flint consistently under-utilized the funding it allocated to itself. <p>Comparison of stated Consolidated Plan priorities to actual allocations is attempted but the City of Flint methodology and allocation categorizations preclude the possibility of any relevant comparison and analysis.