Bend committee backs fast-tracked Pro Housing Fund application amid federal budget uncertainty

The Bend Affordable Housing Advisory Committee voted to support an accelerated timeline for the city’s Pro Housing Fund application process, with staff proposing to open applications in June, hold presentations and deliberations in July, and seek City Council approval in August.

City affordable housing coordinator Melissa Kamana told the committee the move was prompted by uncertainty in a proposed federal “skinny budget” that would eliminate the Pro Housing Grant; she said the city is considering an earlier timeline so it can access funds if the federal award remains available. Kamana said, “the funds will be targeted to developments with a high feasibility of success, low risk, near term deadlines, who without additional funding would be unable to proceed in the near term.”

Kamana outlined what would be available if the city moved faster: a $4,000,000 Pro Housing Fund award, $1,500,000 in local affordable-housing funds, and about $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant program income — a combined total the staff estimated at roughly $5,700,000. She said the CDBG amount is program income from loan repayments and that if it is not drawn down in time it could create timeliness issues. Kamana also said the federal award is structured as a reimbursement grant: the city would spend funds first and seek reimbursement from the federal government.

City Attorney Elizabeth Ochoa warned the committee about the legal framework that governs federal grants: “every grant agreement … typically has a term that says if budgeted authority is not there, if the money does not come through, then this can be terminated and it can be over.” She added that where the city has already made reimbursements it would seek reimbursement from the federal government and that many subrecipient agreements include language describing the financial risk borne by applicants until the city reimburses them.

Committee members asked about workload and applicant readiness for a condensed schedule. Kamana said staff can support applicants with office hours and additional guidance; she said the proposed June application window would be roughly the month of June, with two weeks for committee review before the July meeting when presentations and deliberations would occur. The committee discussed quorum availability for a July deliberation and whether applicants could be ready on short notice.

A voice check of committee preference produced a consensus in favor of the accelerated option. Committee members did not record a formal roll-call vote in the transcript; staff were directed to prepare a timeline and next steps and to post updates on the city website. Kamana said partners and media would be notified later in the week and that staff would publish office hours for applicants.

Ending: Staff emphasized the reimbursement structure and the residual risk if federal budget authority is reduced before reimbursements occur; the committee asked staff to return with a timeline and materials and to proceed with public notification if staff confirm operational readiness.