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HCD recommends $805,370 in HOME awards; Habitat, Housing Authority top picks; LIHTC applicant deferred
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Summary
Athens-Clarke County Housing and Community Development (HCD) proposed HOME program awards totaling $805,370 for FY 2024–25 funding, recommending grants to Athens Area Habitat for Humanity and Athens Housing Authority while declining one LIHTC-linked application as not shovel‑ready.
HCD staff presented the county's recommended use of HOME funds at the March 11 mayor and commission work session, saying $805,370 is available for entitlement activities for FY 2024–25. The department urged the commission to approve a slate of awards and to move the annual action plan through the published public comment and voting schedule.
HCD said HOME is the only federal funding solely dedicated to affordable housing and pointed to federal rules that limit how HOME subsidies can be layered with other resources and that require affordability periods of five to 20 years depending on subsidy. HCD told the commission the HOME review uses a 100‑point scoring system with a 75‑point minimum threshold for consideration and that all projects must be shovel‑ready to contract within 12 months.
Staff recommended $480,000 to Athens Area Habitat for Humanity for four single‑family homebuyer units at Micas Creek (ranked No. 1) and recommended $325,000 to Athens Housing Authority to support two additional units at Savannah Heights and related down‑payment assistance. HCD declined to recommend funding to Blue Ridge Atlantic Development for a project that the department said depends on an award of low‑income housing tax credits (LIHTC) from Georgia's Department of Community Affairs and therefore is not expected to be ready to begin within HOME's 12‑month contracting requirement.
HCD explained the county must reserve a HOME CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization) set‑aside (15% of HOME funds) and CHDO operating funds (5%), and that Athens Land Trust remains the county's only certified CHDO. HCD said no eligible CHDO set‑aside or CHDO operating applications were received this cycle, so that portion of the allocation would remain unawarded.
Staff said the department will publish the annual action plan and start a public comment period after the commission's agenda‑setting meeting; the plan will be scheduled for a May 6 vote. HCD emphasized that contracting cannot begin until required environmental reviews are complete.
Commissioners pressed staff for timelines and performance history: several asked how many HOME‑funded units typically move from award to occupancy and how long projects take. HCD said HOME projects commonly require up to four years for completion and that work must begin within 12 months of contracting. Commissioners also asked for an inventory and map of prior HOME and CDBG investments to show what the county has built and where funds have been invested.
HCD closed by reiterating its recommendation amounts and the funding timetable for the consolidated plan and annual action plan submission to HUD.
