Stimulus funds to enhance housing programs

Vancouver, WA – The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, signed into law last February, will infuse more than $6 million into Clark County’s housing and community development programs. Planning is underway for the management and distribution of funds.

Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) will be issued for each project. RFP’s will be posted on the Clark County Web site: http://www.clark.wa.gov/general-services/purchasing/documents. General ARRA information may be found by visiting: http://www.clark.wa.gov/commserv/index.html or by calling (360) 397-2130.

The following is a breakdown of programs impacted and anticipated amounts to be received:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): $365,690

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates these funds with the objective of improving communities. Funds will be used for projects or activities that maximize job creation and retention that can be implemented quickly. The Urban County Policy Board allocated the funds through the annual CDBG process.

Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP): $559,180

This program provides financial and other assistance to prevent individuals and families, at or below 50% of Area Median Income, from becoming homeless and help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. The funds will provide short-term or medium-term rental assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services, including such activities as mediation, security or utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance, and case management. The Community Action Advisory Board will allocate the funds based on the priorities of the 10-Year Homeless Plan through a competitive process. (RFP #554 was issued May 11, 2009).

Weatherization: approximately $1,970,000

These funds are used to significantly increase the number of low-income households receiving cost effective and energy efficient improvements while ensuring the health and safety of people served. Funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible renters and homeowners whose earnings are below 200 percent of the poverty limit.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG): $543,451

This program is a federally funded, anti-poverty reduction program that was created in 1964 to promote and provide an array of services and activities to encourage self-sufficiency and to make permanent improvements in the lives of low-income families and individuals. The Community Action Advisory Board will allocate the funds based on the priorities of the 10-Year Homeless Plan and a pending community needs assessment through a competitive process. (RFP to be posted June or July 2009).

Housing Preservation – Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant:
approximately $200,000

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated a fund to the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development for Community Action Programs to undertake comprehensive activities to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible low-income, privately owned rental or owner-occupied housing.

Public Housing Capital Fund (VHA): $1,167,376

Public housing authorities shall give priority to capital projects that can award contracts based on bids within 120 days from the date the funds are made available to the public housing authorities. Public housing agencies shall give priority consideration to the rehabilitation of vacant rental units and capital projects. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide these funds directly to the Vancouver Housing Authority.

The following program is authorized under Title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008:

Neighborhood Stabilization Program: $1,577,664

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new Neighborhood Stabilization Program will provide emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities. Clark County will contract with Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) for these funds. The Urban County Policy Board will allocate funds based on a Request for Proposal. (The RFP will be posted June 2009).