Bishop Seeks HUD Extension for City of Albany

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) yesterday responded to a request from the Mayor’s Office to appeal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a 60-day deferment for the city to repay more than $374,000 to HUD due April 9, 2010. These funds were originally allocated for the Cutliff Grove Family Resource Center, Inc. Grove Town Project for 25 multi-family homes.

“I am hopeful that HUD will grant the 60-day extension,” said Bishop. “This extension would allow the City of Albany, the Cutliff Grove Family Resource Center, Inc. and HUD an opportunity to resolve any outstanding issues to insure the project's successful completion for the citizens of Albany, Georgia.”

The complete text of the letter follows.

April 7, 2010

Mrs. Karen Jackson-Sims, Acting Regional Director
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
40 Marietta Street, 16th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303

Dear Mrs. Jackson-Sims:

This letter is written to you because of enclosed correspondence dated April 6, 2010, that I received from the City of Albany relative to the Grovetown Housing Development Project. This project had been slated for completion by the Cutliff Grove Family Resource Center, Inc. as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) in Albany, Georgia.

It is my understanding that pursuant to a HUD Compliance Monitoring Review, Cutliff Grove was declared by HUD to be ineligible as a Community Housing Development Organization. As a result, the City of Albany, Georgia decertified Cutliff Grove as an authorized CHDO without first giving the organization the opportunity to correct the deficiencies causing the findings of ineligibility by HUD and the resulting decertification by the City of Albany of Cutliff Grove as an authorized CHDO. Consequently, HUD requested the City to repay $374,415 that had been expended on the Cutliff Grove project.

After review of the matter by City officials and meetings with Cutliff Grove and appropriate City staff, the City appears willing to allow Cutliff Grove 60 days to demonstrate the capacity to complete the project in full compliance with all HUD regulations and make all necessary corrections cited in the HUD Compliance Monitoring Review.

With that in mind, both Cutliff Grove and the City of Albany have asked me to contact you to request that the City be given a 60-day deferment from April 9th to repay the $374,415.00 to allow Cutliff Grove time to accomplish the tasks necessary to meet HUD eligibility actions. Furthermore, if Cutliff Grove is successful, the City would consider re-certification as a CHDO.

As you know, I represent one of the poorest congressional districts in the nation. Housing, as a result of the economic downturn, has been an even more difficult challenge for my constituents. This project was designed to provide 25 safe, decent and sound multi-family units. This project would serve to improve the quality of life for my constituents. The City of Albany has made affordable housing a cornerstone of its strategic plan to revitalize the City.

If this request is granted, the City will work in conjunction with Cutliff Grove and an approved project manager to design a comprehensive time-line that will facilitate the completion of this project. The comprehensive plan will be submitted to HUD for its approval. Also, it is my hope that the department will provide technical assistance to the City of Albany and Cutliff Grove to ensure that the project will be completed under the rules and regulations of the department.

It is my hope that you will respond to this request in a timely manner and give full and fair consideration to this request under the applicable rules and regulations of the department. Please keep me abreast of any actions that you take relative to this project.

With warmest personal regards, I remain

Sincerely yours,

Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
Member of Congress

Enclosures

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