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St. Louis County board approves HOME-ARP awards for four housing projects
Summary
The St. Louis County Board approved allocation of HOME-ARP (HOME American Rescue Plan) funds — just over $2 million — to four housing rehabilitation and shelter projects that together cover projects across the county. The board closed a public hearing before voting unanimously to adopt the resolution.
The St. Louis County Board on this date voted to approve the county’s HOME-ARP allocation, moving just over $2 million in federal HOME-ARP and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) dollars into four housing projects across the county.
Staff presented the plan at a public hearing before the board. Brad Gustafson, representing St. Louis County’s Community and Economic Development office, told the board the allocation follows an allocation plan approved in March 2023 and subsequent HUD review and allows the county to accept applications across the consortium area. Gustafson identified four proposed projects: a 41-unit rehabilitation project (listed in the presentation as a 41-unit rehab), a 15-unit youth shelter (“Youth Foyer”), two buildings serving 26 units for Servants of Shelter in International Falls, and Trellis’s acquisition of Hilltop Manor, a 54-unit affordable housing project in Eveleth. Those four projects add to 136 units combined. Gustafson said staff estimated roughly $15,000 per assisted unit for some of the rehabilitation work.
The board closed the public hearing by voice vote and then moved to adopt the resolution. Commissioner McDonald moved the resolution and Commissioner Jugovich seconded; the board approved the resolution by voice vote. Commissioner McDonald praised the allocation as a way to address deferred maintenance in existing affordable housing stock, saying it is “exciting to hear about 136 units” and noting the county’s broader housing shortfall.
The board’s action authorizes staff to proceed with awards under the HOME-ARP allocation and related program guidelines approved previously by HUD. The funding source is a federal HOME-ARP award combined with ESG-eligible activities focused on homelessness prevention; staff said the program was opened to the consortium area that includes Itasca, Cook, St. Louis and other counties and that applications were received for projects in St. Louis and neighboring counties.
Next steps described by staff include finalizing award agreements and standing by in case applicants or commissioners raise additional questions before formal execution of contracts.
Details recorded in the meeting record do not include an itemized per-project award amount in the public presentation; the resolution authorizes awards up to the total HOME-ARP allocation approved by the county and HUD.
