EXCERPTS FROM HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENTS OF 1978 [Public Law 95-557, 42 U.S.C. 8121] TITLE VII-NEIGHBORHOOD SELF-HELP DEVELOPMENT SHORT TITLE SEC. 701. This title may be cited as the "Neighborhood Self-Help Development Act of 1978". FINDINGS AND PURPOSES SEC. 702. (a) The Congress finds and declares that (1) existing urban neighborhoods are a national resource to be conserved and revitalized wherever possible, and that public policy should promote governmental and private programs and activities that further that objective; (2) to be effective, neighborhood conservation and revitalization efforts must involve the fullest possible support and participation of those most directly affected at the neighborhood levels; and (3) an effective way to obtain such support and participation at the neighborhood level is through neighborhood organizations accountable to residents of a particular neighborhood with a demonstrable capacity for developing, assessing, and carrying out projects for neighborhood conservation and revitalization. (b) Therefore, the purposes of this title are (1) to provide grants and other forms of assistance to qualified neighborhood organizations to undertake specific housing, economic or community development, and other appropriate neighborhood conservation and revitalization projects in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, which are in need of preservation and revitalization, and (2) in the process of providing such assistance, to increase the capacity of neighborhood organizations to utilize and coordinate resources available from the public and private sectors and from the residents and neighborhoods themselves, in conserving and revitalizing such neighborhoods. DEFINITIONS SEC. 703. As used in this title (1) the term "neighborhood organization" means a voluntary, nonprofit organization which (A) is broadly representative of the neighborhood in which the project will be located (and may include representatives of local business, financial and other governmental and nongovernmental entities), (B) is accountable to neighborhood residents with respect to the project being proposed, (C) has an objective the preservation and revitalization of such neighborhood, and (D) is found by the Secretary to have a proven record or demonstrable capacity for developing resources for, and effectively implementing neighborhood conservation and revitalization programs and projects; (2) the term "neighborhood conservation and revitalization projects" includes, but is not limited to, (A) locally initiated programs for housing rehabilitation or the creative reuse or improvement of existing housing; (B) conservation and revitalization of neighborhood retail business areas and the recycling of vacant or underutilized industrial sites, public facilities, and privately owned businesses for the purpose of expanding employment opportunities and neighborhood economic development; and (C) energy conservation and weatherization projects; and (3) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE SEC. 704. (a) The Secretary is authorized to make grants and to provide other forms of assistance to neighborhood organizations for effectively preparing and implementing specific housing, economic and community development, and other appropriate neighborhood conservation and revitalization projects within a particular neighborhood, and to assist such organizations in implementing such projects in partnership with local government and other public and private entities. (b) Grants and other forms of assistance may be made available under this section only if (1) the assistance will be used for a specific project which is related to and supportive of a conservation or revitalization strategy for the neighborhood in which the project will be located; (2) the project will, to the extent feasible, include a self-help component which involves a contribution of time or resources by neighborhood residents; (3) the project will directly benefit the residents of a low- or moderate-income neighborhood; (4) the project will, to the extent feasible, involve leveraging of resources available from the private sector; (5) the project will, to the extent feasible, involve the coordination of resources available from the local, State, or Federal Government; (6) the applicant demonstrates that the residents of the neighborhood where the project will be located, and particularly residents who will be directly affected by the project, have been actively involved in and supportive of the selection of the project, and will continue to be involved in project development, implementation, and evaluation through an effective and continuing participation mechanism; and (7) the applicant provides evidence that identified funding sources support the project and can make funds available contingent on the progress of the project. (c) Grants and other forms of assistance made available under this section shall be used primarily for preparing and the implementation of specific neighborhood housing, economic, and community development projects. No grant or other assistance or portion thereof shall be made available under this section for (1) planning functions which are not directly combined with project implementation, (2) a public works project such as street repair which is not associated with the specific project being funded under this section, (3) operation of a social service program which is not associated with the specific project being funded under this section, (4) an economic development project which will not primarily benefit the residents of the neighborhood in which it will be located, (5) operating costs of a community group which are not associated with the specific project being funded under this section, or (6) other purposes which the Secretary may determine are not consistent with the purposes of this title. (d) Grants and other forms of assistance may be made available under this title only if the application contains a certification by the unit of general local government within which the neighborhood to be assisted is located that such assistance is consistent with, and supportive of the specific objectives of that unit of government including housing and community development, economic development, and neighborhood conservation or revitalization activities being carried out by such unit. (e) The Secretary shall consult with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies having responsibilities related to the purposes of this title, including the Community Services Administration, with respect to (1) general standards, policies, and procedures to be followed in the administration of this title, and (2) particular assistance actions or approvals which the Secretary believes to be of special interest or concern to one or more of such departments and agencies. The Secretary shall ensure the close coordination of activities assisted under this title with other related Federal, State, and local assistance programs, including the programs of the Community Services Administration, and, with respect to particular assistance actions or approvals, ensure a maximum commitment by the neighborhood organization of its own financial and other resources toward the assisted project. APPROPRIATIONS SEC. 705. There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this title not to exceed $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1979 and 1980. Any amount appropriated pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended. * Approved October 31, 1978. EXCERPTS FROM HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENTS OF 1978 [Public Law 95-557, 92 Stat. 2122, 42 U.S.C. 8141] TITLE VIII-LIVABLE CITIES SHORT TITLE SEC. 801. This title may be cited as the "Livable Cities Act of 1978". FINDINGS SEC. 802. The Congress finds and declares (1) that artistic, cultural, and historic resources, including urban design, constitute an integral part of a suitable living environment for the residents of the Nation's urban areas, and should be available to all residents of such areas, regardless of income; (2) that the development or preservation of such resources is a significant and necessary factor in restoring and maintaining the vitality of the urban environment, and can serve as a catalyst for improving decaying or deteriorated urban communities and expanding economic opportunities, and for creating a sense of community identity, spirit, and pride; and (3) that the encouragement and support of local initiatives to develop or preserve such resources, particularly in connection with federally assisted housing or community development activities or in communities with a high proportion of low-income residents, is an appropriate function of the Federal Government. PURPOSE SEC. 803. The primary purpose of this title is to assist the efforts of tates, local governments, neighborhood and other organizations to rovide a more suitable living environment, expand cultural opporunities, and to the extent practicable, stimulate economic opporunities, primarily for the low and moderate income residents of ommunities and neighborhoods in need of conservation and revitalcation, through the utilization, design or development of artistic, ultural, or historic resources. DEFINITIONS SEC. 804. For the purpose of this title (1) the terms "art" and "arts" include, but are not limited to, architecture (including preservation, restoration, or adaptive use of existing structures), landscape architecture, urban design, interior design, graphic arts, fine arts (including painting and sculpture), performing arts (including music, drama, and dance), literature, crafts, photography, communications media and film, as well as other similar activities which reflect the cultural heritage of the Nation's communities and their citizens; (2) the term "nonprofit organization" means an organization in which no part of its net earnings inures to the benefit of any private stockholder or stockholders, individual or individuals and, 45-705 O- 79 - 16 |