The week of April 11-15, 2022, has been designated as National Community Development week by the National Community Development Association to celebrate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME), and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP). The programs provide annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
The COVID-19 Pandemic caused unpredictable hardships to Hollywood residents. Using these and other Coronavirus Relief funds, the City was able to fund various non-profit agencies to provide general emergency services and case management, direct utility payments, budgeting assistance, and other wrap-around services. Wrap-around services included access to the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program, which relieved the cost burden for low-income residents for a period of up to two years. The City funded the TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness to provide outreach services for homeless persons in the City of Hollywood daily. The City also funded two food pantries, provided 102 small business assistance grants to fund job retention/creation and stabilization, and provided funds to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to expand services of NAMI Broward mental health programs in Hollywood.
The City continues other non-COVID services including housing rehabilitation, first-time homebuyer, workforce training, after-school tutoring, career development training for homeless youth, housing counseling for persons with disabilities, employment case management and job and vocational materials, professional counseling and supportive services to veterans and victims of domestic violence.
The City of Hollywood celebrates National Community Development Week in part to showcase the benefits of these funds, illustrate the need for continued funding at the same level or greater and to advocate for the protection of these much-needed funds.
