Community Facility Capital Improvements and Public Space Improvements

MOH is the primary City agency that funds the rehabilitation or new construction of non-profit facilities that predominantly serve low-income families and individuals. The other sources of funds which non-profits typically access to finance the cost of construction or rehabilitation of facilities come primarily from private foundations. Because of the scarcity of funding for this kind of support, and given the priority many non-profits and funders place on supporting programs rather than capital improvements, MOH is committed to continuing to use CDBG funds to fill this particular gap through its community facility capital improvements program. These funds have been used to cover the cost of tenant improvements that allow service providers to expand existing services, and to construct new facilities. In addition to protecting and expanding services, capital funds are used to ensure that these facilities are accessible to all and meet health and safety standards.

Over the next five years, MOH will focus facility program funds primarily on the following types of facilities:
· public facilities where services and supports will be co-located and coordinated;
· neighborhood multi-service centers;
· constituency-focused multi-service centers;
· City-designated workforce one-stop centers;
· City-designated family resource centers;
· City-designated comprehensive senior centers;
· community centers located within or near affordable housing developments; and
· licensed child care facilities.

These priority facilities have been selected to maximize Citywide impact by supporting facilities with multiple departmental investments and/or facilities that play important roles in a department(s) strategic planning.

As with community facilities, MOH is one of very few City agencies that can allocate funding for public space improvements, if the improvements will directly benefit low-income residents. To address this need, MOH created the public space improvement program. In general, MOH funds improvements that will enhance the quality of outdoor space in neighborhoods and public housing developments where blighted conditions exist. The public space improvement program is designed to provide a double benefit. In addition to improving public space, the funded projects themselves are often designed as a job-training program for the individuals participating in the improvement projects.