Commissioners authorize Human Resource Council to submit $300,000 CDBG housing-stabilization grant with optional fire-mitigation work

The Ravalli County Board of Commissioners on April 14 authorized the Human Resource Council to submit a noncompetitive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Stabilization Program application for up to $300,000 over five years and approved adding fire-risk mitigation as an allowable activity in the program's scope. The board approved the measure as Resolution 4708.

Ruth Burke, executive director of the Human Resource Council (HRC), told commissioners the program provides owner-occupied rehabilitation loans using federal CDBG funds administered through the state. Burke said the grant is noncompetitive and that HRC will prepare and submit the application on the county's behalf. "This owner-occupied rehab is a loan program and it's funded through CDBG, which is federal funding that comes through HUD," she said.

Burke described program terms used in other counties: loans are typically deferred until transfer of title when borrowers lack capacity to make payments; repayments recycle into the program; and HRC historically charged 5.5 percent interest in some jurisdictions but has also administered 0 percent programs. She told the board HRC will apply for $300,000 and that the grant runs for five years; if the funds are spent before five years, HRC may request additional funds under the same application period.

Burke proposed including fire-risk mitigation in scope so assessments by local fire departments or a nonprofit — cited in the meeting as Fire in the Root — could inform scope of work and allow mitigation measures to be included in loans or deferred repayments. She said HRC would treat Fire in the Root or a qualified contractor as a contractor or procurement vendor when assessments or mitigation work are paid from grant funds.

Burke also said HRC typically allocates about 10 percent of grant funds for county administrative costs such as audits or staff time related to the grant. She described an average per-project cost of roughly $75,000 in recent cycles, noting that a $300,000 award would likely support three to five homes depending on scope.

Commissioner Chilcott moved to authorize HRC to submit the CDBG Housing Stabilization Program grant application; the board assigned Resolution 4708 to that motion and voted unanimously to approve it. Commissioners asked that HRC send the finished application to county staff member Chris Daggart for distribution and follow-up.

The board discussed procurement and documentation requirements; Burke said procurement rules will apply and that if Fire in the Root is already procured under county standards, HRC would provide documentation to the state. No conditions or amendments to the authorization were recorded in open session.