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Berkeley County renews membership in Eastern Panhandle HOME Consortium; estimates $126,487 for county allocation
Summary
The county opened a public hearing and approved a resolution to participate in the Eastern Panhandle HOME Consortium for fiscal year 2025, acknowledging the HOME program rules and an expected Berkeley County allocation of approximately $126,487.
The Berkeley County Commission opened a public hearing and adopted a resolution on Feb. 18 reaffirming the county’s participation in the Eastern Panhandle HOME Consortium for the federal fiscal year that begins July 1.
Corey Roman, administrator for the HOME consortium, briefed commissioners on the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Roman said the consortium — led by the City of Martinsburg and covering Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties and several municipalities — expects an approximate HOME allocation of $455,810 for the program year, with 37% of that amount typically allocated to Berkeley County. After CHDO set‑asides (15%) and administrative caps (up to 10%), Roman said Berkeley County’s expected portion would be about $126,487.
Roman described eligible HOME activities including construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing, down‑payment assistance and CHDO set‑asides for Habitat for Humanity. He noted HOME rules in 24 CFR Part 92 and that the city of Martinsburg serves as the participating jurisdiction to HUD.
Commissioners voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the county president to sign a one‑year cooperation agreement with consortium members for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 program year. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
Roman and commissioners discussed the homebuyer assistance program, which provides deferred, no‑interest loans (the current subsidy amount described in packet material: $14,500; potential HUD rule change could add $10,000 to that figure). Roman said the consortium has helped roughly 7–8 homebuyers in the last year across participating jurisdictions and that Habitat for Humanity is the consortium’s CHDO and receives the 15% set‑aside.
