City of Bethlehem

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR

The City of Bethlehem does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.

Trevor Gross, Grants Specialist, is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7 (Non-discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws).

If you have any questions about this notice or any of the City of Bethlehem’s non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact: Trevor Gross, Grants Specialist, City of Bethlehem, 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018; (610) 419-1447; tgross@bethlehem-pa.gov.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a City of Bethlehem program or activity, you may contact the Grants Specialist identified above or visit our website at https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/ to learn how and where to file a complaint of discrimination.

Training Library

HOME Rental Project Webinar
Searching-Federal-Debarment.pptx
Managing Your 2021 Grant On-Line
- Presentation
- Recording
Applying for 2022 CDBG Funds
Bethlehem CDBG Manual

HOME Resource Library

The City of Bethlehem accepts applications for HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding on a rolling basis. The HOME Program is administered by HUD and was established in 1990 to assist low-income households.

HOME funds are intended to: Increase the supply of quality affordable housing for lower-income households; Expand nonprofit housing provider capacity; Strengthen government capacity to provide housing; and Leverage private-sector investments in housing.

The program funds a variety of eligible housing activities including direct rental and purchase assistance and building, acquiring, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or ownership.

Organizations with potential HOME projects are encouraged to contact the City to discuss their plans. Call or email Robert Vidoni, Housing and Community Development Administrator, at 610-997-5731 or rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov if you would like to discuss potential projects.

The City's HOME application is available on its Neighborly portal at https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/BETHLEHEMPA/participant

Additional information can be found at the links below.

Plans and Reports

Environmental Reviews

HUD makes publicly available environmental review records categorized as environmental assessments, CEST and CEST that converts to Exempt. Click here to access HUD's website and the City's environmental reviews.

CDBG Application

Applications for the City of Bethlehem's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program are currently closed. Applications for 2025 CDBG funds are expected to open in the fall of 2024.

HOME Application

Applications for the City of Bethlehem's HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply online through Neighborly:

Fair Housing

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, national origin, and disability. It also requires that all federal programs relating to housing and urban development be administered in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing.

North Penn Legal Services is the City of Bethlehem's Fair Housing partner. More information about Fair Housing is available on North Penn's website, and on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's website.

Complaints
Persons who believe they have experienced discrimination in housing rental, sales, or financing because of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, disability, or familial status can contact any of the following entities:

North Penn Legal Services
Bethlehem Office
559 Main Street, Suite 200
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Housing discrimination line: 610-317-5322
https://www.nplspa.org/

City of Bethlehem Fair Housing Officer
Jennifer M. Swett
JSwett@bethlehem-pa.gov
610-865-7099

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint

Program Contacts

Robert G. Vidoni, Esq. , Housing & Community Development Administrator, rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov
Trevor Gross, Grants Specialist, tgross@bethlehem-pa.gov, 610-419-1447