Rockingham County approves application for up to $750,000 CDBG to buy and rehab Kensington home for supportive housing

Rockingham County commissioners voted Jan. 23 to submit a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application seeking up to $750,000 to support 1 Sky Community Services’ plan to acquire and rehabilitate a four‑bedroom property at 53 Cottage Road in Kensington for supportive housing.

The funding request, filed through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA), would cover acquisition and related costs; the county will retain a portion of any award for administrative and labor‑compliance costs before subgranting the remainder to 1 Sky, county staff said during the public hearing.

The project’s backers and county officials said the proposal aims both to increase in‑state housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to restore a local therapeutic‑riding program that previously operated on the site. ‘‘When you are in need of housing … you’re now being, you know, you're not only losing that daily connection with that person, you're now losing your whole community,’’ Matt Cordero, CEO of 1 Sky Community Services, told the commissioners. He described people currently placed out of state because of a shortage of in‑state housing and said keeping people in‑state reduces taxpayer costs and improves quality of life.

Cordero said the project would also revive therapeutic riding at the site, reducing travel for the roughly 60 local clients who now go to Concord and other towns for that service. He told the board one of the reasons for seeking CDBG funding is to apply grant dollars to acquisition while reserving other funds for rehabilitation work.

At the hearing county staff noted that CDBG money for ‘‘supportive housing’’ can be awarded at a higher limit than some other CDBG categories; staff recommended applying for the full $750,000 available in that category. Commissioners voted to authorize submission of the application and gave the chair authority to execute any documents necessary to effectuate the contract and subsequent amendments. The board also adopted the required Uniform Relocation Act (anti‑displacement) plan and readopted the county’s three‑year Housing and Community Development Plan, both prerequisites for CDBG eligibility.

County staff said applications to CDFA are due by the end of March; staff will return with final contract documents if the county is awarded funds.

What the board approved

- Motion to submit a CDBG application for the 1 Sky Housing Project for up to $750,000 and authorize the chair to sign and submit the application; upon approval authorize execution of CDBG contract documents — motion approved by the board. - Motion to adopt the Residential Anti‑Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for the project — motion approved. - Motion to readopt the Rockingham County Housing and Community Development Plan (required for CDBG eligibility) — motion approved.

The county’s action does not itself obligate spending; it authorizes the application and the chair to accept and execute a grant contract if one is awarded.

Speakers quoted or who addressed the hearing included: Matt Cordero, CEO of 1 Sky Community Services; Chris Whalen, chief financial officer (1 Sky); and multiple Rockingham County commissioners and staff who opened and closed the public hearing.

Next steps: If the CDFA awards the grant, the county will receive and subgrant most of the award to 1 Sky, with a small county administrative set‑aside. 1 Sky and county staff said they expect applications to be decided in the months after the March deadline and will return to the board with contract documents if awarded.