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Corvallis council approves HUD amendment to buy, rehab small supportive home with CDBG funds
Summary
After a public hearing with no public testimony, the City of Corvallis unanimously approved an amendment to its FY 2024–25 HUD action plan to use Community Development Block Grant funds to acquire and rehabilitate a small residence intended to serve roughly five people in partnership with Benton County.
The Corvallis City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s fiscal year 2024–25 annual action plan on April 7, authorizing use of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to acquire and rehabilitate a residential property for transitional or supportive housing.
The amendment, introduced at a public hearing, directs the city manager to execute documents required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to implement the change. Nissa Paul, the city’s housing grant coordinator, told the council the city is proposing to allocate CDBG money to acquire and rehabilitate an as-yet-unnamed “support house,” which the city estimates could assist about five people.
The nut graf: councilors heard the staff presentation and there was no public testimony for the amendment. The item passed 9–0 after a motion and second. The amendment moves a small portion of the city’s federal entitlement dollars into acquisition/rehabilitation of a residential property and anticipates operating support through a partnership with Benton County’s flexible housing subsidy pool and service providers.
Paul read HUD’s program statement and summarized the city’s consolidated plan goals, noting that creating more affordable housing has historically been the most difficult goal to meet. Brigitte Olson, the city’s housing and neighborhood services manager, explained that Benton County’s flexible housing subsidy pool is primarily funded with state dollars secured by the Coordinated Homeless Response Office (CRO) and is intended to help with rental subsidies, case management and housing navigation.
Staff said the proposed house would be operated in partnership with Benton County under an intergovernmental agreement; the county would provide property management and case management services using the flexible housing subsidy pool. The city presentation emphasized that the city’s CDBG human services funds remain constrained by the federal 15% cap on public services.
Councilors asked clarifying questions about funding sources and program details; staff confirmed the subsidy pool is state-funded and managed by the county and that providers will deliver case management and supportive services. No members of the public registered to speak during the hearing.
The council voted to “approve the amended fiscal year 2024–25 annual action plan and further authorize the city manager as applicable to execute all documents necessary to implement the action plan in accordance with HUD rules.” The motion carried unanimously.
The council and staff said the work is part of a broader push to increase affordable and supportive housing in Corvallis, including other projects already underway.
What’s next: city staff will finalize grant paperwork and an intergovernmental agreement with Benton County to operate the property once acquired and rehabilitated.
