County and STEP detail demand for fair-funded housing programs as commissioners approve three agreements
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Summary
A county presenter described high demand for Lycoming County's fair-funded housing programs — 682 homeowners on the waiting list — while commissioners approved three subrecipient agreements totaling $525,000 for Homes in Need, Master Leasing and Supportive Housing.
Lycoming County commissioners approved three fair-funded subrecipient agreements during their meeting and heard a detailed presentation on how those funds are used to support local housing stability.
The board approved Homes in Need/Urgent Need funding of $200,000, Master Leasing funding of $150,000 and Supportive Housing funding of $175,000. The agreements are paid from county fair dollars and are budgeted items; staff said these funds are often leveraged with weatherization, NAP funds and other sources to maximize impact.
Michelle, a housing program presenter, told commissioners the county has a long history with these programs and provided outcome figures: historically 355 households served through the Homes in Need program with roughly $4.5 million invested over the last 20 years; in the past three years the county received 1,175 referrals for housing support programs, reviewed 264 applications, enrolled 136 households and 130 of those maintained long-term housing stability. "We have a current waiting list in Lycoming County of 682 homeowners," Michelle said, underscoring local demand for repair and supportive services.
Staff and commissioners emphasized that these programs are targeted: Homes in Need focuses on repair, energy efficiency and accessibility modifications for low- to moderate-income homeowners; the Supportive Housing program assists people in crisis to bridge short-term gaps to regain self-sufficiency; and Master Leasing builds relationships with landlords to house people experiencing homelessness, including referrals from the prison system and juvenile probation.
Commissioners and staff noted real costs beyond capital donations: one commissioner said the YWCA received a large donation for infrastructure but continues to face high operating and HVAC costs; county staff explained that leveraging multiple funding streams helps cover program operations.
Next steps: the agreements were approved and staff are responsible for contract execution and meeting state fair grant reporting requirements; commissioners did not set additional public hearings. The record shows no in-person or online public comments on the agenda items at this meeting.
