Council approves 2025 HUD action plan amendments and awards for housing, services and business support

The Vancouver City Council on May 12 approved the 2025 HUD annual action plan, awarding funds to tenant-based rental assistance, supportive services, business assistance and homeowner rehab programs and approving substantive amendments and a CDBG-CV2 closeout.

Ian Oliver and Tasha Slater of the city housing team presented the plan and estimated the city administers roughly $3,000,000 in federal HUD dollars annually. "We are currently in year 2 of the 2024-28 five year consolidated plan," Oliver said, explaining the timeline from application to contract. The action-plan process opens applications, scores proposals, drafts the plan, conducts public comment and submits to HUD for approval.

Key allocations and amendments highlighted in the presentation included:

- Tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA): $468,500 allocated to Janus Youth Programs and SHARE to support rapid rehousing programs; Janus serves youth and SHARE serves individuals and families. - Capacity building: a community foundation contract to support five community-based organizations, listed in the staff packet as "Sakura 39 39 ers," Odyssey World International, Thrive to Survive, Latino Leadership Northwest and the foundation partner. - Business assistance: funds for Fourth Plain Forward, Hispanic Chamber and MISO to provide small-business technical assistance and microenterprise support. - Public services: $215,000 split among Community Mediation Services, Council for the Homeless (diversion and outreach work) and Friends of the Children (mentoring with housing support elements). - Homeowner rehab: city-run program set-aside of $250,000 in CDBG and $200,000 in HOME funds to make basic home repairs. - Housing projects: $300,000 in HOME funds recommended for Community Roots in partnership with the Affordable Housing Fund award. - CHODO set-aside: HUD requires a set-aside of 50% of the 15% CHDO allocation; staff said no CHDO applicants applied this year and the set-aside will be held for next year or requested for release after two years. - Section 108 loan: the city recorded a $4,199,000 Section 108 loan used to purchase Fourth Plain Commons; staff said the annual payment for that loan is $340,000.

"We expect to find out the exact entitlement amount later this week, and we expect it to be similar to previous years," staff said. They also noted that HOME-ARP funds must be spent by a deadline cited in the presentation.

Councilors asked about whether unfunded applicants would receive capacity-building connections and how advisory committees were formed; staff said they would offer debriefs and help link applicants to available capacity programs.

Public comment included concerns from Carmen De Leon and Bruce Barnes criticizing program administration and urging stricter tenant oversight; staff and council responded that debriefs and program monitoring are part of grant administration.

The council voted to approve the action plan and the substantial amendments; the motion was moved by Council Member Perez, seconded by Council Member Harless, and passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: the action plan directs HUD and local funds across housing, services and small-business supports for the coming program year and includes administrative set-asides and a loan repayment obligation tied to the Section 108 purchase.

Next steps: staff will submit the final action plan to HUD and proceed with contract execution once HUD confirms the city's entitlement amount, anticipated to be available before the program year start on July 1.