Director reports: Mutual Self Help loans funded, realtor donation to down-payment program, tenant relocations at Oxville

Executive Director Sarah Martinez updated the board on several operational items: USDA has funded loans for eight households in the current Mutual Self Help build group; the Port Angeles Association of Realtors donated $3,557 to the authority’s down-payment assistance fund; and two Oxville units with the most contamination have been vacated and residents relocated to other units on the same site.

Martinez said the eight Mutual Self Help loans have been funded and staff expect closings and lot sales to participant households in June or early July, pending final USDA confirmation. The next Mutual Self Help build is planned for East Port Angeles at Seventh and Gales, where eight lots are designated for single-family residences.

She also reported that the Port Angeles Association of Realtors donated $3,557 to the authority’s down-payment assistance fund (typically supported by proceeds from the association’s Oktoberfest fundraiser). Martinez moved that the board send a formal thank-you from the chair; commissioners agreed staff would work on the language offline.

On Oxville, Martinez said the two units with the most contamination were vacated and occupants relocated into other units within the project. Staff are preparing construction documents and aim to submit a standard transfer application in July to proceed with repairs, she said.

Martinez also noted she has been invited to participate in the Jefferson County Housing Task Force to update the five-year plan required by the state Department of Commerce for homelessness funding coordination; meetings run May through October.

Finally, Martinez said she contacted NARO about scheduling commissioner-fundamentals training in Port Angeles (tentatively a day-and-a-half session in August) and agreed to send commissioners a link with course details; commissioners who needed to check employer permission said they would respond by email.