Bill Overview
Title: A bill making appropriations to provide emergency assistance for the Community Development Fund for disaster response and recovery for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.
Description: This bill provides FY2022 appropriations to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Fund, which primarily funds the Community Development Block Grant program. The bill provides the funding for activities related to disaster relief and recovery.
Sponsors: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Target Audience
Population: People living in U.S. disaster-affected areas receiving CDBG disaster recovery assistance
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program typically aids people in areas affected by disasters.
- CDBG supports communities during recovery efforts, benefitting residents impacted by specific disasters.
- The bill mentions disaster relief; thus, it will primarily impact individuals residing in the vicinity of disaster-struck areas.
- Local governments and communities relying on CDBG for rebuilding efforts will be directly affected.
Reasoning
- The targeted population consists of individuals residing in areas affected by disasters, who are eligible for assistance through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
- With a funding budget of $5 billion for year 1 and $50 billion over 10 years, the policy primarily benefits areas with significant disaster damage needing reconstruction and community development.
- People living outside disaster-prone areas may experience minimal or no direct benefit from this policy, reflecting varying levels of impact across different individuals.
- The policy is estimated to directly benefit approximately 1,000,000 people living in disaster-affected areas across the U.S., based on historical data from previous years' disaster occurrences and funding needs.
- Considerations for the simulation include including individuals in a range of socio-economic statuses and varying degrees of impact from disaster events.
- The policy's long-term goal is improving wellbeing by enhancing community infrastructure and offering relief services, though initial benefits may be more aligned with immediate recovery.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy can expedite rebuilding efforts in our community.
- Housing support is badly needed to get back on our feet.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This funding will likely support more jobs in construction, which is great for my work.
- The community needs this to fully recover.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any help for small businesses is a blessing after such losses.
- Grants could help me rehire employees and get back in business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Paradise, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's been challenging, and any extra support can make a big difference for us.
- I hope the funds prioritize housing recovery needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Puerto Rico, USA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Relief funds could finally provide adequate housing solutions here.
- We've been struggling to rebuild since the last storm.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
City Official (Tulsa, OK)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding could empower local initiatives to strengthen resilience.
- Focused rebuilding enables better resource allocation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Teacher (Baton Rouge, LA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved facilities could greatly help our students recover and learn better.
- The policy's impact could be profound on education systems in disaster areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Hotel Manager (Newark, NJ)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The assistance could also indirectly help our business recover by repairing community reputation.
- We appreciate any help to get back to normal operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Firefighter (Santa Rosa, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will likely bolster emergency response infrastructure and resources.
- Such support is crucial for our community's safety and recovery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (Tampa, FL)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to know there will be financial resources for recovery.
- We need all the help we can get for a safe, secure rebuild.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000000 (Low: $3000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 2: $5000000000 (Low: $3000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 3: $5000000000 (Low: $3000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 5: $5000000000 (Low: $3000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 10: $5000000000 (Low: $3000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 100: $5000000000 (Low: $3000000000, High: $8000000000)
Key Considerations
- The level of federal emergency aid may affect state and local budget resources, influencing how those monies are allocated elsewhere in the budget.
- Emergency appropriations can lead to short-term economic stimulus in affected areas through reconstruction activities.
- Key considerations also include the potential for duplication of other federal disaster relief programs.
- The unpredictability of future disasters makes the precise impacts and needs difficult to establish at the time of appropriation.