LEGAL NOTICE: DRAFT 2020 Consolidated Plan Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and Amendment to the Citizen Participation Plan

Notice is hereby given that the State of Maryland has opened a 30 day public comment period on the Draft 2020 Consolidated Plan Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). In addition notification is also give of an amendment to the Citizen Participation Plan.

The Consolidated Plan is a planning document required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is prepared by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). It covers a five year period and is designed to coordinate Federal, and to a lesser extent State, resources to provide decent housing, economic opportunities, and an acceptable living environment for Maryland’s citizens. The Plan is updated every year during the five year period through an Annual Action Plan, and includes a series of one year goals toward meeting the overall five year goals of the Plan.

Maryland’s Consolidated Plan covers the State’s non-entitlement jurisdictions. Entitlement jurisdictions – those that receive funding directly from HUD, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, and the Cities of Annapolis, Baltimore, Bowie, Cumberland, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Hagerstown, and Salisbury – prepare their own Consolidated Plans and are not covered by the State plan.

As part of the Consolidated Planning process, the State submits a CAPER to HUD which describes the progress the State has made in carrying out the one-year goals contained in the five year Plan. DHCD has completed the first year of the five year Plan that ended June 30, 2020, and the draft CAPER details the progress DHCD made toward it housing and community development goals in the last year.

DHCD is interested in public input and comment on the draft CAPER. We will take written comments (via email) on the report through COB Monday, September 27, 2021 at the address listed below. In addition, we will hold one virtual public meetings on the CAPER this real-time virtual public hearings will take place on:

Friday, September 10, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.

Join by phone: 1 617-675-4444‬ PIN: ‪174 384 717 3264‬#

The State will make every effort to accommodate those with disabilities by providing the meetings in both audio and visual format. Persons requiring a translator should request one at least three days prior to the virtual hearing they plan to attend. If you wish to attend the hearing in video format please email the address listed below for a link. Any questions or comments should also be directed to the address or e-mail listed below:

The draft Performance Report is available on-line on DHCD’s website at https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Pages/ConsolidatedPlan.aspx.

Additionally, the State of Maryland will be amending its Citizen Participation Plan in reference to the CAPER. The State will amend its Citizen Participation Plan to align with federal guideline reducing the public comment period for the CAPER from 30 days to 15 days and removing the one hearing requirement. The comment period for the above-mentioned amendment to the Citizen Participation Plan will coincide with the 2020 CAPER beginning Friday, August 27, 2021 and closing Monday, September 27, 2021.

Ja’Nai C. Streat
Senior Housing Policy Analyst
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
7800 Harkins Road
Lanham, Maryland 20706
Maryland Relay for the Deaf at 1 (800) 735-2258
janai.streat@maryland.gov