The City’s Community Development department launched its 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan today by asking City County Building visitors to complete the sentence “Knoxville needs…” on sticky notes that were then posted for participants and passersby to read and discuss.

“We want to start a conversation with city residents about what they think our community needs are overall, listen to their ideas, and then find solutions through community development activities and housing,” said Community Development Administrator Linda Rust.

City residents are invited to take an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020CPlan to help prioritize the community’s need for affordable housing and services for homeless people, veterans, single mothers and other groups. Survey questions are informed by HUD and its national priorities. Responses are anonymous and will be reported in group form only.

Cities that receive funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are required to submit Consolidated Plans (Knoxville submits every five years) as well as annual action plans to respond to immediate needs. Both strategic plans illustrate how the City proposes to use federal funds to address local housing and community development issues. Both depend on public input.

“Feedback from residents, community partners and social service providers ensures that we’re responding to local needs and setting priorities for both the short term and the future,” said Community Development Director Becky Wade.

Knoxville residents will have several opportunities to attend public meetings where they can ask questions and take the survey during a presentation moderated by Community Development staff members. Residents are invited to attend one or more of these public meetings:

East
5:30 - 7 p.m. Aug. 19
Burlington Branch Library
(4614 Asheville Hwy)

North
6 - 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20
Inskip-Norwood Recreation Center
(301 W Inskip Dr.)

West
6 - 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22
Deane Hill Recreation Center
(7400 Deane Hill Dr. NW)

South
5:30 - 7 p.m. Aug. 26
South Knoxville Community Center
(522 Maryville Pike)

Two additional meetings will be held at O’Connor Senior Center:

• 5:30 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25
• 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26

All public meetings are posted on the City’s website at KnoxvilleTN.gov/Development and on the City’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/CityofKnoxville.

Anyone needing a disability accommodation to attend one of the meetings listed above should contact Stephanie Cook at [email protected] or 865-215-2034 at least 10 days in advance. For an English interpreter, contact the Title VI coordinator Tatia Harris at 865-215-2831.

The Five-Year Consolidated Plan will develop on the following timeline:

• July - Sept. 2019: Gather information
• Oct. - Nov. 2019: Analyze and organize responses
• Jan. 2020: Hold public meetings to report findings
• March - April 2020: Create and release draft Five-Year plan for public comment
• May 2020: Submit plan to HUD