Williamson County accepts ESG homeless services funds, declines HOME program funding
Summary
The court voted 4-0 to accept Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding for rapid rehousing managed by Bluebonnet but declined the larger HOME program that would require local matching and administrative capacity.
Williamson County Commissioners on June 3 decided to accept federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds for rapid rehousing and to decline acceptance of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds (agenda item 52). The court recorded the approval 4-0.
Sally Bardwell, who manages the county's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, told the court that the HOME program requires either a county match of approximately $89,000 or the state to provide matching funds; HUD had no assurance the state match would be available and the county lacks the implementation capacity Bardwell said. "I do not believe that the county is in a place at this time to receive these HOME funds," Bardwell told the court.
Bardwell recommended accepting ESG dollars and partnering with Bluebonnet to use funds for rapid rehousing services; she said HUD and the Texas Homeless Network have been involved in setting up the program. Commissioners amended the motion to accept only ESG funding; Commissioner Covey moved the amendment and Commissioner Cook seconded. The court then approved the amended motion 4-0.
County staff said they will notify HUD that the county accepts ESG funding for fiscal year 2025 and will not accept HOME funding. Bardwell said final HUD approval of the ESG arrangement with Bluebonnet remained pending as of the meeting.
Ending: The county will proceed with ESG-funded rapid-rehousing activities through a partnership with Bluebonnet and declined the HOME program because of local capacity and matching-fund concerns.
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