Committee recommends CDBG and CICT awards to local service providers; motion passes unanimously

The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend a set of Community Investment and Community Trust (CICT) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards to local service providers and to allocate remaining CICT funds to a previously established contingency for the Home First development.

Committee members approved the allocations in a single motion moved by Mandy Dalrymple and seconded by Isabel (Isabelle) Milkovich. The motion lists specific award amounts for both CICT and CDBG requests and includes a contingency for any future increases or decreases in CDBG funding to be distributed evenly across awarded CDBG recipients.

The recommendation covers CICT awards to Ben Church ($10,000), Bethlehem Inn ($82,400), Thrive Central Oregon ($223,687), J Bar J Youth Services / The Loft ($25,000), Home More Network ($12,500), and directs the remaining available CICT funds ($7,913) to the Home First development contingency established in December. CDBG awards recommended were Volunteers in Medicine ($40,000), Thrive Central Oregon ($30,000) and Saving Grace ($25,000). Committee members explained that some applicants are eligible for both funding sources and that awards may be a combination of CICT and CDBG when eligible.

The award motion included an explicit contingency instruction: any reduction in CDBG funding would be distributed evenly across the awarded CDBG recipients; likewise any increase in CDBG funds would be distributed evenly across those awardees. Committee members also agreed that any remaining CICT funds should go to a previously identified contingency award tied to Home First development. Committee Chair Richard Rees and members Lisonbee Hoingarden, Isabel Milkovich, Heather Simmons, Mandy Dalrymple and Helen Silfen voted in favor; the motion carried unanimously.

Committee staff reminded members that CDBG funds must be spent by June 30, 2026, and that timeliness is a HUD requirement; the city was previously found untimely in June 2023 but remains compliant at present. Staff also noted differences between exported spreadsheets and the on-screen allocation spreadsheet; the on-screen spreadsheet was identified as the accurate allocation record.

The committee’s decision will be forwarded to city council for final action on the dates provided by staff: affordable housing fund recommendations go to council on February 19, CICT recommendations on March 5, and CDBG recommendations after congressional appropriations allow drawing funds.

Votes at a glance Ben Church (CICT): $10,000 — recommended Bethlehem Inn (CICT): $82,400 — recommended Thrive Central Oregon (CICT): $223,687 — recommended J Bar J Youth Services / The Loft (CICT): $25,000 — recommended Home More Network (CICT): $12,500 — recommended (first-time applicant; reduced award) Home First development (CICT contingency): $7,913 — recommended (remaining funds to prior contingency) Volunteers in Medicine (CDBG): $40,000 — recommended Thrive Central Oregon (CDBG): $30,000 — recommended Saving Grace (CDBG): $25,000 — recommended

Staff clarified that some applicants had earlier federal awards (for example Home More Network previously received funds under a houseless services grant) and that newly awarded organizations unfamiliar with federal reporting can be funded at a reduced amount to allow a period of capacity building under city oversight. The committee directed staff to forward the recommended allocations and the motion’s contingency language to the city council.