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Commissioners approve Morgan County's participation in Eastern Panhandle HOME Consortium; Martinsburg details HOME uses
Summary
Morgan County commissioners voted to join the Eastern Panhandle HOME Consortium for program year 07/01/2026'06/30/2027 and granted signature authority to the commission president. Martinsburg's community development director outlined eligible HOME activities, an estimated allocation of $455,810.89 for the consortium and recent local homebuyer assistance.
Morgan County commissioners voted to participate in the Eastern Panhandle HOME Consortium of West Virginia for the 2026'27 program year and authorized the commission president to sign the participation resolution.
Corey Roman, community development director for the City of Martinsburg, told the commission that the City administers the HOME (Home Investment Partnerships) grant for the Eastern Panhandle (Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties). Roman said HOME funds can be used for new construction, rehabilitation, reconstruction or conversion to affordable housing; site improvements; refinancing and acquisition; soft costs such as architectural and engineering work; and administrative and planning expenses.
"We're expecting to receive $455,810.89 for the upcoming program year," Roman said, noting the federal appropriation (the THUD bill) held funding levels steady and HUD had not yet issued final allocations. He also described the homebuyer assistance product: "It provides a deferred, no-interest loan, up to $24,500 for down payment and closing cost assistance," Roman said. Roman told commissioners the consortium submitted this year's Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) late for the program year but HUD accepted it with no findings.
Roman highlighted recent local outcomes: within the past six months the program assisted two Morgan County residents with down-payment and closing-cost help to keep them in-county. He encouraged outreach to developers about using HOME and HOME-ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds for affordable rental development, and said the consortium can structure assistance as loans or grants depending on project size and developer capacity.
An unidentified commissioner moved to approve the resolution with signature authority for the commission president. The commission approved the resolution by voice vote. The resolution covers participation for the period 07/01/2026 to 06/30/2027 and authorizes the president to sign the participation documents.
Roman said staff will provide final allocation figures when HUD issues them and that consortium materials and contacts will be available to commissioners and the public.
Next steps: the resolution authorizes participation and signature authority. Staff will circulate final HUD allocation numbers when available and continue outreach to promote HOME-funded development and homebuyer assistance in Morgan County.
