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Martin County approves Assessment of Fair Housing tied to $900,000 CDBG-CV award
Summary
Martin County authorized an Assessment of Fair Housing to implement its $900,000 CDBG-CV award, with officials and consultants saying affordability remains the primary impediment; the board approved the resolution unanimously.
Martin County authorized an Assessment of Fair Housing on April 14 as part of its Community Development Block Grant–Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) program implementation tied to a $900,000 award, the county’s economic coordinator said.
Kyle Touchstone of The Wooten Company and county staff described the Assessment of Impediments/Affordable Housing analysis and said updated data show access to affordable housing remains the primary local impediment. The CDBG-CV funding, distributed by the North Carolina Department of Commerce from CARES Act allocations, is intended to prevent evictions and utility disconnections through short-term emergency assistance among other pandemic-response activities.
Touchstone told commissioners the county completed the required public hearings and selected The Wooten Company to provide grant administration and technical assistance. The board previously executed a grant agreement and approved a contract with The Wooten Company to help with income verification and program administration.
The board also reviewed program requirements: projects must serve households under 80% of area median income (the five-county average low-income threshold for a family of four was described as just under $46,500), a 25% nonfederal match is required, 15% of the award must be set aside for Community Housing Development Organizations, and up to 10% can cover eligible administrative costs.
Vice Chairman Dempsey Bond Jr. moved to approve the resolution authorizing the Assessment of Fair Housing; Commissioner Emily Biggs seconded and the board approved the motion unanimously (5-0).
The board’s action clears the county to proceed with program administration for CDBG-CV activities; staff said outreach and coordination with local housing partners will follow.
