County says HUD accepted timeliness plan; board hears quarterly program updates and project delays

Clark County staff reported to the Urban County Policy Board on Jan. 13 that the county’s timeliness plan and report were accepted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but that staff do not expect to meet HUD timeliness measures by May 2025 and now anticipate being caught up by May 2026.

Rebecca Royce said the county submitted a revised timeliness plan following a timeliness workshop and that HUD accepted the plan; she added the county will provide HUD quarterly reports on progress. Royce also warned the board that because the county will be in its fourth year of delayed timeliness it will enter a formal consultation with HUD headquarters, which could prompt further actions by HUD. "We will be giving quarterly reports to HUD on our timeliness plan," Royce said at the meeting.

Staff described an operational consequence that several previously awarded projects remain behind schedule for environmental reviews or other requirements. In the quarterly-report summary staff identified three projects as “very late” (projects in Battle Ground, Ridgefield and Proud Ground) and several others as late but moving forward. Specific project updates in staff remarks and materials included:

- Battle Ground: Southeast Clark Avenue and Northeast First sidewalks — both require full environmental assessments and are moving through that process; - Ridgefield (Hall and Elm / Maple Street): early-stage environmental review and coordination with public-works staff; - Washougal: park improvements (basketball court complete; finishing work paused for weather; near construction completion in spring); - Council for the Homeless facility: acquisition completed in April; renovations and final usage numbers pending; - Homeowner assistance programs (Proud Ground and Evergreen Habitat for Humanity): Proud Ground had not closed homes during the July–September reporting period but staff said two closings have since occurred and additional activity is planned to spend down prior allocations; Proud Ground opted not to submit a full new application this cycle while it completes a spending plan to get up to date.

Staff also summarized tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) outcomes reported for an earlier period: The Salvation Army served 9 of 15 proposed households and completed its TBRA cycle at the end of September; YWCA of Clark County finished its program and reported 6 of 12 proposed households served; Janus Youth had served 11 of 20 proposed households at the time of the reporting period; Lifeline and SHARE reported serving households at or above their proposed targets and are entering new funding rounds.

Board members discussed whether the board should undertake coordinated advocacy with HUD or state and federal legislators to address structural or regulatory barriers such as environmental-review timelines; staff encouraged messaging to both HUD and local legislative representatives to explain on-the-ground challenges and to seek higher-level policy change.

Staff recommended moving past full quarterly-report discussion during the meeting due to time constraints and offered to distribute the detailed HUD quarterly-report worksheets to board members by email.