Public input is being sought to determine how future funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used to address affordable housing needs and services for the homeless, veterans, single mothers and others in Bristol, Tennessee and surrounding communities.
The City began gathering input in September and has now developed an online survey to solicit further input, said Community Development Specialist Christina Blevins. Additionally, a public meeting will be scheduled in January and community members will be invited to comment next spring during a meeting of the Bristol, Tennessee City Council. All input will be used to develop an annual action plan that addresses immediate needs and a 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan that is a required every five years for communities that receive HUD funding.
“We wish to start a conversation about what residents think our community needs are overall, listen to their ideas, and work towards finding solutions,” Blevins said. “Feedback from residents, community partners and social service providers ensures that we’re responding to our local needs in a timely and efficient manner.”
The City receives HUD funding through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and serves as lead entity for the Northeast Tennessee/Virginia HOME Consortium, which also serves Kingsport, Johnson City, Bluff City, Sullivan County and Washington County in Tennessee, and the City of Bristol, Virginia. The consortium is funded through HUD’s HOME Investment Partnership Program.
Residents in each of the communities are invited to take the survey, which is available now through Dec. 31, 2019, at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cplan2020. The questions were developed based on HUD’s national priorities. All responses are anonymous.
Questions and comments may be directed to Community Development Specialist Christina Blevins, City of Bristol, TN, 104 8th Street, Bristol, TN, 37620. She also can be reached at [email protected] or (423) 989-5521.
