[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6666661,"mediaKeyId","2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798","parentId",2315736,"title","Human Rights Commission pauses recruitment and retools role after HUD fair-housing contract pause","audioSeconds",210,"startMs",3194000,"endMs",3404000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798&start=3194&end=3404","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798/thumbnail_3194000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6666661/Tacoma/Pierce-County/Washington/Human-Rights-Commission-pauses-recruitment-and-retools-role-after-HUD-fair-housing-contract-pause","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666661-b0503c5db1895414d29ead3bd3858c36/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199928&Signature=aX~eFrm332Wba946wxv45KicI8wjbILxfoSlSNf2L1QFUF~M-QZ-Egbc40nB~BArEvca3JxwZcYmz0vR5Uj-4sAJXVqrc-R8zxINXiu1xWkRF-t405JbxcWSfoyvPBp13U~QE4z1Yoj-BM1zAnVBSILjNAgICEowEqxboQHRttJc~LSi4bXh77wEGAKS~67ZEug~61ZjIKSaj8d~WePx3Sn7WRzr8Fun1XfwNciGLVcbD~hhnOML1r1NoQ-Sy5oSPZZzeShXa4h45guULMZf8m-igSnL3sz-1YXImtyKiDwC9pWss5KkjGPCKMpr9nKukQmbcNNoC-XLFC3ZxKYsoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tacoma","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","Erin Watlington of Neighborhood and Community Services briefed the Community Vitality and Safety Committee on Feb. 13 about recent Human Rights Commission activity, including a pause in recruitment and an October 2024 retreat to reframe the commission's purpose.

Watlington said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notified the city it would not renew the city's contract to complete fair-housing investigations; that change ended referrals to the city in September 2024. Staff said the city intends to reapply for HUD certification at a later date and that the commission used the retreat to reimagine its role while the city restructures some civil-rights and fair-housing functions.

The presentation noted six current vacancies on the commission and said commissioners voted to freeze recruitment in October while they revised guiding documents and clarified goals. The commission's stated 2025 goals include increasing member awareness of city policies and services, updating guiding documents, boosting community presence, and advising on programs that protect residents' rights.

Committee members remarked on the commission's history and civic contributions, including past policy work that influenced city practice. Staff said recruitment is expected to restart in the second quarter of 2025 and that commissioners remain active on community events and mediation work in the interim.

Ending: Committee members encouraged clearer pathways for the Human Rights Commission to advise council and recommended staff support for the commission's code review and future work plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tacoma - 20250213 Community Vitality and Safety Committee - Feb 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported that HUD will not renew Tacoma's fair-housing investigation contract; the Human Rights Commission has paused recruitment, held a retreat to reimagine its purpose, and plans to resume recruitment in the second quarter of 2025.","taxTitle","Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington","taxId",2675,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6666665,"Human Services Commission recommends $7.5 million for NCS contracts after reviewing 101 applications",244,2674000,2918000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798&start=2674&end=2918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798/thumbnail_2674000.jpg","/articles/6666665/Tacoma/Pierce-County/Washington/Human-Services-Commission-recommends-75-million-for-NCS-contracts-after-reviewing-101-applications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666665-dbe197b5e1d96ff35cd4a0cded82981f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199928&Signature=AOEmF6q~ATSAwg4ShdW8crkXxwVQW2gP4agmKEXXvRIJZNJp1FEAKXLDBXfCkHWcSXYA0vQzA1yV6wjFklG6IVq~cHuEOlmgzAQ7FoZsImDRmZithDnDER7fk1AlljrfUfp34VzcIMVC0xn1hg0tdoiim-PIJ-wQrghXO6PV6FJLLTZcRC0gR9PvH59nfPLOa9SWKpYYTQwnLSAiNnk0a6sZLGun4mldwJ8VEn382v9ieEtg79OmPtgAD54DhQkf7NoYK6-UuPWcjXr5jNp97~mRIK~kDQgkL1~0XGcXuTnYFbDecxPi3KoGIEddP6GLRCk6e8BLCUbnvTGIVdPkZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erin Watlington, community resources analyst senior with Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), briefed the Community Vitality and Safety Committee on Feb. 13 on the Human Services Commission's 2024 work and the commission's tentative 2025 plan.

Watlington said the full commission reviewed and rated 101 funding applications in mid-2024, heard oral presentations from applicants, and collectively recommended $7,500,000 in contract funding for NCS for the 2025'026 biennium. Commissioners completed equitable-rater training before the review to address implicit bias and support consistent decision-making. Watlington said commissioners volunteered 234 hours for the competitive review process.

Christy Coyne, chair of the Human Services Commission, and staff presented highlights from 2024 and outlined a 2025 work plan that includes a retreat, briefings on juvenile-justice and youth-violence initiatives (BRAVE), updates on senior services and the JAG funding award, and continued coordination with NCS on procurement and equitable rating.

Watlington told committee members the commission currently has a full roster of members but noted that five commissioners will have terms expiring in September and the youth seat expires in June; staff will recruit to fill those seats with appointments anticipated to come before the committee in August.

Committee members asked about funding buckets and revenue sources used by NCS; Watlington and staff described a mix of general fund dollars, mental-health and substance-use disorder allocations, and other dedicated revenue streams, and noted staff are preparing to brief the committee further about shifts in opioid-related funding and other sources.

Ending: The committee thanked the Human Services Commission and NCS staff for the update and encouraged continued attention to funding sources and outreach during the upcoming recruitment and planning work for 2025.","The Tacoma Human Services Commission reviewed and rated 101 applications and recommended $7.5 million in funding for NCS contracts for the 2025'026 biennium; commissioners completed equitable rater training and volunteered significant time during the competitive process.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6666668,"Tacoma Housing Authority reports pipeline growth and warns of eviction-moratorium and federal-funding risks",1339,2414000,3753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798&start=2414&end=3753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798/thumbnail_2414000.jpg","/articles/6666668/Tacoma/Pierce-County/Washington/Tacoma-Housing-Authority-reports-pipeline-growth-and-warns-of-eviction-moratorium-and-federal-funding-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666668-54aa8473578fabfd53b95431eba048c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199928&Signature=Zz3Ahj42vW5h-qDK37FCckiAJdNhAew9jtqYAkAvQNb~zRoboseo7a6~ky2Z2QYLNyMrQImtcNmwFi9U8a6lYQUhpUNn6aUERty4wGoclCmeE4-BCI4rgmusrJogf2P4UE21~fP3dSCyGOy6ZZf0Vc7qe1gCkluPXaXwqasaZSyFlddjmECyYY0rbR5U~CEarRzob9BsBEdHbblODHW1I8xYtPBVAWKjrQBw1wV2JZamLKeDChjT4YB-AMQrwQf5~95RIp3uLkJ1AsLyJ-B6rvxkrufl3CAFzk9Ur3Yw10v7~7zFWyN8tv6gcb30vh-3USZUULtp1Pwgfb8Xycg3JQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative of the Tacoma Housing Authority briefed the Community Vitality and Safety Committee on Feb. 13, reporting growth in the agency's development pipeline but flagging financial pressures tied to tenant delinquency, a winter eviction moratorium and uncertainty around federal funds.

The THA representative said the authority serves more than 10,000 people in about 4,500 households and that its recent development work includes Housing Hilltop (231 units), project-based voucher contracts on multiple properties, and Mercy Housing's Aviva Crossing (expected to deliver 129 units). The authority said it has added 349 units since 2023 and expects to exceed 600 units once Aviva Crossing is completed.

The THA representative outlined a mismatch at Housing Hilltop between the income of people expressing interest and the project's income thresholds. Of more than 1,800 inquiries in a lottery period, only 13.8% met the minimum and maximum income criteria; 69.5% of inquiries reported incomes below 50% of area median income. The presentation noted that the project was financed for households at up to 60% AMI and that the authority had added subsidies to some units to reach 50% AMI levels.

THA also described its newly launched continuous waiting list (opened in November), which accepted about 5,000 applicants in the first 24 hours and more than 9,000 by December; 53% of applicants had Pierce County addresses and 34% listed Tacoma addresses. The median reported income among applicants was $13,000 and the average was $18,000, the presentation said.

The authority warned the committee of rent-collection challenges related to a winter eviction moratorium (Measure 1). \"We believe that this is an impact of measure 1 that we cannot pursue evictions during the winter months,\" the THA representative said, citing tenant arrears and additional costs to the agency. The authority reported 324 households were one month or more behind on rent as of Jan. 10, representing roughly $900,000 in unpaid rent.

The THA representative also flagged federal funding uncertainty. The authority said it spends about $6,000,000 a month on subsidies and that a $2,000,000 federal grant is committed for infrastructure at Aviva Crossing (part of an $11,000,000 need for that site). Staff warned that reductions or pauses in federal funding could prompt requests for local support.

Committee members asked about income changes among residents, the definition of \"homeless\" used in the waiting-list data, and how commercial space at Housing Hilltop is performing. The THA representative said commercial tenants are struggling to secure tenant-improvement financing even with available subsidies, which could affect leasing outcomes in mixed-use developments.

Ending: The committee received the briefing and discussed potential areas for follow-up, including tracking federal funding developments, examining subsidy needs for developments in lower-income neighborhoods, and continuing coordination between the housing authority and city staff on shelter and development transitions.","Tacoma Housing Authority told committee it has added hundreds of affordable units since 2023 but is seeing a mismatch between subsidized rents and local incomes, rising rent arrears tied to the winter eviction moratorium, and potential federal funding uncertainty.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6666669,"Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority outlines priorities; NOFA expected with just over $8 million",1130,84000,1214000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798&start=84&end=1214","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315736-433ddea4859de3d2d1d2c6688e298798/thumbnail_84000.jpg","/articles/6666669/Tacoma/Pierce-County/Washington/Tacoma-Community-Redevelopment-Authority-outlines-priorities-NOFA-expected-with-just-over-8-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666669-36636114b7a4fd17e28982956290cb00/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199929&Signature=nVrQe-1IHObjnhrzZALqneUo~A~7Ly71cn19JMrTLpBbeW6fZCDqXtbmJjXPnPnXBhsTJs7tIsxtCRVgBYZpbmS1-D7pYX10JK0Ew2ctRN-1eWhTWxLYRP-UI3nkCshxYjsvcZXhG3Kl92ReTJC-77PthH2BC7olUhSz5K6EoQvoBcIUDjeKL3SU6G8I~JOaE8xM5RB9V7ZkyU-TNR1q~BxHopOWlYP20G~09k466lkDwEZAVeHciRkfK75uzH6b1zBKHKokQgbHEOuWInYmQA2qAAFhd44yOSP7j-Vb5mIYM0m7AMDUMZG8fUWPyHuYTUoisboZQ88ANxP3hCXCBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Felicia Medlin, division manager in the City of Tacoma's Community and Economic Development Department, told the Community Vitality and Safety Committee on Feb. 13 that the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority is expanding several housing and economic development activities while preparing a funding round she expects will top $8 million.

The report outlined the TCRA's role administering federal and state housing funds, its portfolio of low-interest loans and revolving business loans, and near-term work including a capacity-building workshop Feb. 19 and a notice of funding availability anticipated in early March. Medlin said the NOFA would include just over $8,000,000 from local and federal sources.

The TCRA was established in 1973 to manage federal programs such as HOME and Community Development Block Grant funding and later took on administration of state housing trust and local affordable housing funds, Medlin said. Rhonda Vandermeer, senior housing analyst and staff liaison to the TCRA, presented alongside Medlin and described the board's required composition, current vacancies and the staff support that runs these programs.

Medlin said the board focuses on five professional areas (legal, banking, real estate, accounting, and development/construction) and currently has three vacancies; two appointments are expected to be confirmed and begin March 1. Board work is supported primarily by the Housing Division and finance and business services staff.

Program highlights cited in the presentation included low-interest loans for affordable housing development, a single-family rehabilitation program for low-income homeowners, down payment assistance (with an explicit emphasis on outreach to Black households) and ongoing compliance monitoring of funded projects. Medlin said five projects were active in 2024 with a combined TCRA portfolio value of a little over $21,000,000; most of that funding was assembled in 2020'021 and the projects serve households at roughly 30% to 60% of area median income.

Medlin described a down payment assistance program funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce that is anticipated to serve about 20 households at 80% AMI, but she said rising housing and financing costs have widened the subsidy gap. \"Housing costs have continued to rise,\" Medlin said, and the median Tacoma home price in recent months is about $525,000. She told the committee the subsidy gap for buyers at 80% AMI has climbed from roughly $70,000 to $100,000'00$120,000 for some households, requiring closer partnerships with lenders and developers.

Medlin also discussed economic development work, including a revolving loan portfolio used for working capital and equipment loans, and the Community Revitalization Partnership (CRP) program. She said the city previously authorized a $4,000,000 grant and that TCRA will manage a portion of those funds to create a revolving loan pool.

Looking to 2025, TCRA staff described a capacity-building workshop (Feb. 19) to help new or smaller nonprofit developers prepare competitive applications and said a NOFA will follow in early March. Medlin also said staff intend to formalize a land-acquisition process so the authority can evaluate and respond quickly if acquisition funding becomes available in the future; she emphasized there is no currently planned funding ask attached to that work.

Council members asked about how TCRA-acquired land might be used, the source and scale of the NOFA, and which projects were included in the 2024 portfolio. Medlin listed five active or recently completed projects: Tahoma Place (Korean Women's Association), Housing Hilltop, Low Income Housing Institute's Patsy [sic] project in East Tacoma, Mercy Housing's Aviva Crossing near Tacoma Community College, and Shiloh Baptist on Hilltop. She also said Habitat for Humanity is building a 16-unit homeownership project in South Tacoma targeting 80% AMI.

Medlin closed by urging continued partnership among city departments, developers and lenders to close financing gaps and by saying TCRA would circulate materials from its workshop and the NOFA once available.

Ending: Committee members thanked TCRA staff for the overview and discussed follow-up items including vacancy confirmations, posting project lists on city dashboards, and monitoring the NOFA schedule.","At a Feb. 13 Community Vitality and Safety Committee meeting, TCRA staff reviewed the agency's history, programs and 2025 priorities, including a capacity-building workshop, an early-March NOFA with roughly $8 million available, and a plan to systematize land acquisition if future funding becomes available.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Human Rights Commission pauses recruitment and retools role after HUD fair-housing contract pause

Human Services Commission recommends $7.5 million for NCS contracts after reviewing 101 applications

Tacoma Housing Authority reports pipeline growth and warns of eviction-moratorium and federal-funding risks

Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority outlines priorities; NOFA expected with just over $8 million