Richland County unveils draft 2026 HUD action plan, seeks public input

Callison Raw, Richland County’s community development division manager, presented the county’s draft 2026 annual action plan at a noon public hearing, outlining how the county proposes to use federal HUD grants for housing, community development and homeless services.

Raw said the draft covers three formula grants the county receives: an anticipated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award of about $1.78 million, a HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) award of about $795,000 and an Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) award of about $154,000. “Our staff in the community development office manages all of the HUD grants…to impact low to moderate income residents in the unincorporated areas of Richland County,” Raw said.

The draft proposes using up to 20% of CDBG for staff costs and the 15% public‑services cap to prioritize subsistence payments (rent and utility assistance). Raw identified a proposed $550,000 CDBG set‑aside for housing rehabilitation (minor home repairs, primarily for senior citizens) and $300,000 for acquisition and rehab support tied to a partnership with the Columbia Housing Authority to retain single‑family homes as affordable units. Raw said the county expects about $1.6 million in remaining COVID‑era CDBG funds to be used to rehab and sell roughly 10 houses; proceeds would return as program income, and the county would reserve the 15% maximum allowable of program income for rental assistance, with the remainder reinvested in additional rehab projects.

On HOME funds, Raw said the county plans to direct the bulk of the $795,000 award to down‑payment assistance through the Richland County Home Ownership Assistance Program (RHAP), which provides up to $24,500 per eligible household, with remaining HOME funds available for affordable housing development and the CHO set‑aside for partnering organizations.

For ESG, Raw described the county’s ongoing approach of having local homeless‑services providers apply for state ESG allocations while the county provides a matching amount, and he listed eligible ESG activities including rapid re‑housing, homelessness prevention (rental/utility assistance), the HMIS database, street outreach and emergency shelter support.

Raw offered examples of recent projects funded with block grant dollars—sewer upgrades in Green Lakes, ADA and day‑center rehabs, pool rehabilitation, community center acquisition/rehab and transitional housing support—and said the county will advertise requests for proposals this fall (possibly August) in two tracks: nonprofit partners to deliver rent/utility assistance (an estimated $280,000) and facilities/infrastructure projects serving low‑ and moderate‑income residents in unincorporated areas.

The county is accepting public comment in July: Raw stated the draft will be on display in July and provided multiple date references in the hearing; he invited oral testimony at the hearing (two minutes, with a request to state name and address) or online comments via the county’s community development web page (richlandsc.gov/communitydevelopment). Raw said comments submitted during the advertised 30‑day comment period will be integrated into the plan before it goes to county council and then to HUD; if HUD approves, funds are expected to be available starting Oct. 1.

Raw closed the session noting no one had signed up for public comment at the noon hearing and thanked attendees.