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Corvallis staff report HUD grant plans and local homelessness progress
Summary
Staff summarized the city's CDBG/HOME grant activity, an amendment to the current action plan, and county-led efforts that have housed nearly 100 people in recent months using a flexible housing subsidy pool.
City of Corvallis staff briefed the Housing Operational Committee on federal grant programs and local efforts to move unsheltered people into housing.
Nessa, the city's housing grant coordinator, said staff have circulated an action plan amendment for the current fiscal year under the consolidated plan process required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The plan identifies housing priorities and the city is accepting public comment; Nessa said a public hearing is scheduled for the April 7 city council meeting.
Nessa said the city manages two HUD programs: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). She said the Human Services Fund is capped by HUD at 15% of the city's CDBG allocation and that this year the committee saw roughly $31,000 in requests against about $82,000 available for that program. Applications for CDBG capital projects are under review and staff expect funding determinations by May.
Brigitte Olson described coordination with Benton County's Coordinated Homeless Response Office (CRO). Olson said the county-led program and contracted service providers have housed "almost 100 individuals" in the past eight months — "that's 40 households, including 49 adults and 44 kiddos." Olson said the city has contributed about $2,000,000 in HOME and HOME-ARP funds to support an upcoming permanent supportive housing development that will serve 47 people in South Corvallis and is now in permitting.
Why it matters: staff said tighter vacancy rates and recent affordable developments, combined with state flexible subsidy funds, created a window to place more people into housing quickly. Olson said the city and county are still working on telling the story of those successes to the public.
Other updates: the City Council directed that 50% of city social service funding be set aside for a minimum of two fiscal years to increase sheltered capacity and reduce unsheltered homelessness; United Way will administer those funds under an RFP process with awards decided by July 1. Nessa also reminded the committee that the HOME capital program received no applications in the current cycle and those dollars may be held for future rounds.
Next steps: staff will post the action plan amendment for public review, hold the April 7 hearing before council, and return to the committee with further grant allocations and CRO updates.
