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CDAC recommends $500,000 in HOME‑ARP supportive‑services awards; five agencies ranked for funding
Summary
The Community Development Advisory Committee recommended five organizations for a first round of HOME‑ARP supportive‑services awards totaling $500,000; contracts will require subsequent board action and one recommendation (Catholic Charities) will be held pending legal review of federal executive‑order impacts.
Katie Valley, senior program manager in Hamilton County’s Community Development Division, presented HOME‑ARP supportive‑services funding recommendations on March 4, describing the first of two competitive rounds to distribute $1 million of HOME‑ARP funds allocated to Hamilton County.
Valley said Hamilton County received approximately $5.4 million in HOME‑ARP funding and the county’s allocation plan designated $1,000,000 for supportive services. The first competitive RFP, released September 2024, had $500,000 available; staff and the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) reviewed 11 applications and recommended awards to five applicants based on scoring criteria that included objective and discretionary points.
CDAC’s recommended awards (totaling $500,000) are: YWCA ($100,000) to support the Hamilton County domestic violence shelter; Bethany House Services ($200,000) for a shelter‑diversion program providing up to six months of rental assistance and housing navigation; Found House ($100,000) for emergency shelter case management and aftercare support; Cincy Smiles Foundation ($25,000) for dental care for victims of violence; and Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio ($75,000) for refugee resettlement housing assistance. Valley noted staff will hold the Catholic Charities recommendation pending internal review of recent federal executive orders and related court filings and will report back to the board after vetting.
Valley described eligible HOME‑ARP supportive services as McKinney‑Vento–style homelessness‑assistance services, homelessness prevention services adapted from emergency‑assistance rules, and HUD‑approved housing counseling delivered by HUD‑certified counselors. She said scoring reflected readiness, experience, budget fidelity and program design; applications not recommended will receive technical assistance ahead of a second RFP later this year that will distribute the remaining $500,000.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the allocation plan and the components of the remaining HOME‑ARP funding. Valley said, in addition to the $1,000,000 for supportive services, the county’s allocation plan includes roughly $3.3 million for development of affordable rental housing, $400,000 for acquisition/development of non‑congregate shelter, $273,000 for nonprofit operating support and remaining funds for administration and planning. Commissioners also asked whether prior award history affects second‑round scoring; Valley said the second round is effectively a clean slate but applicants will receive technical assistance to address specific scoring weaknesses.
Valley said no contracts will be executed without separate board action; staff will return with contract documents for any awarded agency after required vetting and prior to fund disbursement.
