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Board amends HOME‑ARP plan to prioritize tenant-based rental assistance and supportive services
Summary
The Board amended the HOME‑ARP Allocation Plan to reallocate the county’s $1,371,401 award toward tenant‑based rental assistance (approx. $1,081,113), supportive services (~$194,290), and administration (~$95,998), citing reduced emergency housing funding and the need for service-enriched supports.
On May 5, 2026, the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved a substantial amendment to the HOME‑ARP Allocation Plan to shift most HOME‑ARP funds from new housing development to tenant‑based rental assistance (TBRA), including Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) or Rapid Rehousing (RRH). The HOME Consortium recommended allocating $1,081,113 to TBRA, $194,290 to case‑management and supportive services, and $95,998 for administration of the federal award ($1,371,401 total).
Staff justification: Housing staff reported that local funding options for development have increased since the original plan, that emergency housing assistance has fallen from the ARPA-funded peak (previously about $8 million in a high‑spend year), and that medium‑term, service‑enriched supports are the most effective intervention to reduce homelessness. Staff also noted that developing new housing specifically targeted to HOME‑ARP populations is currently unfeasible.
Public comment and implementation: Delores Bailey, a community housing advocate, said she appreciated the targeted federal eligibility but was disappointed that many struggling families do not meet HUD’s qualifying definitions and therefore cannot access these funds. Housing Director Blake Rosser said the plan anticipates serving roughly 30 families per year with the TBRA approach and that awards will be administered through a competitive process similar to HOME grants; staff expect the administrative allocation to remain fixed while subsidy/support amounts may be adjusted to fit awardees’ proposed models.
Vote: the Board approved the amendment unanimously.
Next steps: staff will issue solicitations for providers to administer TBRA/PSH/RRH models and take award recommendations through the HOME Consortium process.
