Residents press Franklin County over $4.4 million housing trust fund and homelessness concerns

Public commenters at the Franklin County commissioners meeting urged officials to preserve funds for affordable housing after expressing concern that $4.4 million from a housing trust fund had been moved into the general budget.

John Jordan, a resident, said Chambersburg bears much of the county’s visible homelessness and asked whether $4,400,000 from the county’s affordable housing trust was used to avoid a property tax increase. "That should be used for affordable housing projects," Jordan said.

Valerie Jordan, a resident and volunteer, spoke in support of the county’s housing trust fund and described local volunteer work to repair homes through Chambersburg Project Inc. She said the trust fund was established in 2002 using deed and mortgage fees and asked the commissioners to return $4.4 million to the fund rather than use it to offset budget shortfalls.

County staff responded that the $4.4 million referenced by commenters was emergency rental assistance funded with federal COVID‑related dollars and that the grant funds were expended while the county "performed well by the standards of working within the program," Carrie said. Carrie also said the housing trust fund allocation in the 2024–25 budget increased by 49%.

During public comment, a resident also asked that jail spending be returned to the agenda for further review and urged expanded online public access. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the concerns and noted existing programs and referral options for people experiencing homelessness.

No formal action was taken during public comment; staff said they would follow up on the questions about the origin and use of the funds.