The City of Hollywood Celebrates National Community Development Week

April 14, 2022

This week 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 funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), State of Florida Dept. of Economic Opportunities, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, the City was able to prevent evictions for 576 at-risk tenants and prevent foreclosures for 150 low-and moderate- income homeowners.
In addition, the City used Community Development Block Grant CV funds and Coronavirus Relief funds for general emergency services and case management that provided 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.

Many residents had limited access to food, therefore the City funded two food pantries. Additionally, the City, Feeding South Florida and the Florida Department of Transportation coordinated a drive-through food location utilizing City staff, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers.
Many business owners were financially impacted by the distance requirements. To assist and stabilize small business owners, in the City of Hollywood, the City provided 102 small business assistance grants to fund job retention/creation and stabilization.

The COVID-19 Pandemic caused unprecedented psychological strain to Hollywood residents. To assist, the City funded the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to expand services of NAMI Broward mental health programs in Hollywood. NAMI Broward County offers free support groups, educational programs, and referral services to Hollywood residents living with mental illness, their families, caregivers, and friends. Every day people overcome the challenges of mental illness to do the things they enjoy, several of them have become program leaders for NAMI Broward. says Sandra Cumper, Executive Director of NAMI Broward.

The Broward County Continuum of Care provides varied homeless assistance programs to suit individual needs and requirements. The City funded the TaskForce for Ending Homelessness to provide outreach services for homeless persons in the City of Hollywood daily.

“The COVID-19 Health Emergency highlighted the importance of Community Development funding,” said Anthony Grisby, Community Development Division Manager. “These funding sources not only allow for the standard stabilizing activities for low- and moderate-income households but are also capable of responding to a fast-moving public health emergency that threatens the overall population.”

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 would like to recognize and provide information for our partnering agencies that directly provide these much-needed services to our community:

Center for Independent Living Broward- 954.722.6400 https://www.cilbroward.org/

Community Enhancement Collaboration- 954.984.0625 https://cecwashpark.org/

Covenant House of Florida- 954.561.5559 https://www.covenanthousefl.org/fort-lauderdale-services

Liberia Economic and Social Development- 954.924.3635 http://leshelps.com/

Hispanic Unity of Florida- 954.964.8884 https://hispanicunity.org

Hope South Florida- 954.566.2311 https://www.hopesouthflorida.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness- 954.316.9907 http://www.namibroward.org/

Rebuilding Together Broward- 954.772.9945 https://rebuildingtogetherbroward.org/

Russell Life Skills and Reading Foundation- 954.921.3787 https://russelleducationfoundation.com/

Second Chance Society- 954.763.5999 https://secondchancesociety.org/

South Broward Post No. 8195, Veterans of Foreign Wars of The United States- 954.987.6089 https://www.vfwpost8195.org/

Sweeteheartz Community Project- 954.966.4227

TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness Broward- If you are homeless or know of someone experiencing homelessness, contact the Homeless Helpline at 954.563.HELP (4357)

Women in Distress- Anyone experiencing domestic violence can contact the WID crisis line at 954.761.1133 https://www.womenindistress.org/