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Spokane Valley plans CDBG applications to aid Grace neighborhood sewer hookups and homeless outreach
Summary
City staff proposed two Spokane County HCD grant applications: CDBG funds to help Grace neighborhood homeowners connect to new sewer infrastructure (est. $10,000–$15,000 per hookup) and funding to expand homeless outreach services; council provided support to apply.
City staff told the Spokane Valley City Council Feb. 3 they intend to submit two Spokane County Housing and Community Development (HCD) grant applications due Feb. 20: a CDBG capital request to help low-income property owners in the Grace neighborhood connect to sewer infrastructure, and a funding request to support homeless outreach services.
Accounting and finance program manager Sarah Farr and city services administrator Gloria Mance described the Grace neighborhood proposal: the county will construct sewer infrastructure on nearby streets and homeowners will be required to connect by 2028. Staff proposed a CDBG-funded program to pay hookup fees charged by the county (estimated around $10,000) and the on-site construction cost to connect the house to the street (estimated $10,000–$15,000 depending on site conditions). Mance said about 51% of the parcels meet low-income thresholds by census estimates and at least 10 households are senior-property-tax-exemption-eligible, making the neighborhood a good fit for CDBG assistance.
Staff also reported a homeless outreach funding opportunity (about $635,000 available in the RFP) and noted the city currently funds outreach through a contract with Frontier Behavioral Health; staff said the additional funding could cover a coverage gap and expand services. The council granted staff consensus to prepare the applications and authorized staff to pursue available funds with the understanding the awards are competitive and amounts requested are subject to HCD allocation decisions.
Staff will refine cost estimates and eligibility criteria with contractors and county staff before finalizing the application. If successful, the grant would help mitigate connection costs and improve water-quality outcomes near the river.
