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Board approves Home ARP amendment to limit non-congregate shelter activity to youth to address foster care capacity
Summary
Haywood County commissioners approved an amendment to the Home ARP allocation plan, at the Southwestern Commission's request, to limit non-congregate shelter activity to youth (birth–18) to expand foster care housing options; approval was unanimous.
The Haywood County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a Home ARP allocation plan amendment June 2 that limits non-congregate shelter projects to youth (birth–18) populations. Lennay Schuler of the Southwestern Commission told the board the restriction is required by HUD when a project is population-specific and that the amendment responds to urgent foster care housing needs in the region.
"We are requesting an approval to amend that plan, to limit the non congregate shelter projects, to just youth populations," Schuler said, adding the activity is intended to increase foster care housing capacity and to provide safe, furnished rooms with supportive services rather than placing children temporarily in office spaces. Commissioners discussed intermediate placement needs and local capacity, and the board approved the amendment by voice vote.
The presentation said the amendment narrows eligible non-congregate shelter activities to foster-care youth only; HUD requires population-specific limits in allocations where projects are designed to serve particular groups. Schuler said the amendment would allow counties to design annexes or tiny-home clusters dedicated to foster-care placements and would keep the funds in compliance with federal requirements.
