Lane County approves HUD Continuum of Care and OHCS CDBG disaster-recovery grants; officials warn of federal hold-ups

The Lane County Board of County Commissioners voted on March 18 to accept multiple federally related grants intended for homelessness services and Holiday Farm Fire recovery, while expressing concern about recent federal-level suspensions and slowdowns.

Key actions taken by the board:

- The board approved Order 25031803 to accept U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care grants and delegated authority to the county administrator to sign grant documents. Commissioner Farr moved the order; the vice chair seconded. The motion passed 4–0 with Commissioner Buck excused and recused due to a declared conflict of interest.

- The board accepted an agreement from Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) in the amount of $17,483,497 for affordable housing development related to Holiday Farm Fire recovery (Order 25031804). Commissioner Buck moved the order and the vice chair seconded. The motion passed 5–0.

- The board accepted up to $7,926,980 in OHCS Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for planning, infrastructure and economic revitalization (PEER) related to Holiday Farm Fire recovery (Order 25031805). The motion was moved by Commissioner Buck and seconded by the vice chair and passed 5–0.

County staff described the grants as Community Development Block Grant funds routed from HUD through OHCS and noted there is no local match requirement. Kate Bud, director of Human Services, told the board the county had received a HUD Continuum of Care award and then saw it rescinded the following day; she warned the board that the status of federally awarded funds has been unstable. "We received our first [award] last Thursday only to have it rescinded by Friday morning," Bud said.

Matt McCray, the county's Holiday Farm Fire consultant, described the two OHCS CDBG-DR programs: approximately $17.48 million for affordable housing development to house renters displaced by the Holiday Farm Fire, and up to $7.93 million for planning, infrastructure and economic revitalization (PEER) projects selected by a local committee. McCray said OHCS had indicated willingness to provide cash advances and reimbursement guarantees to reduce county and contractor risk, but he and other commissioners stressed that ultimate disbursement depends on HUD and the new federal administration.

Commissioners asked staff to monitor federal developments closely and to alert the board and affected community organizations if the funds are delayed or rescinded. Several commissioners emphasized concern that community-based organizations implementing recovery work could be exposed to cash-flow risk if reimbursements are delayed.

Ending: The board approved the three orders and delegated signature authority to the county administrator; commissioners and staff asked for continued monitoring of federal actions that might delay or suspend award disbursements.