County Council hearing scheduled for April 2

All comments are welcomed and encouraged regarding the draft Clark County 2024 Annual Action Plan and substantial amendments to the Annual Action Plans for program years (PY) 2022 and 2023. Annual Action Plans detail the programs and activities that will be carried out for funding received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

The draft 2024 Annual Action Plan outlines the proposed activities to support the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan using PY2024 entitlement funds and reprogrammed funds. Reprogrammed funds are a combination of unused funds from previous projects and program income from the repayment of loans. The full draft report can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/community-services/cdbg-and-home-documents.

The substantial amendments to the 2022 and 2023 Annual Action Plans outline how Clark County proposes to reprogram unused Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. 

In accordance with Consolidated Plan requirements at 24 CFR Part 91 Subpart B and the county’s Citizen Participation Plan, draft Annual Action Plans and changes to the Annual Action Plan through this Substantial Amendment are advertised to provide opportunity for public comment.

A Public Hearing will be held April 2, 2024, at 10 a.m. before the Clark County Council. Information about how to access this meeting is available at https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/council-meeting-information.

Comments about the proposed changes may be submitted by email to Rebecca.Royce@clark.wa.gov or by calling 564.397.7863.

Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2024.

Program Year 2024 proposed activities:

Evergreen Habitat for Humanity Affordable Homeownership Program. Assist 10 homebuyers with subsidies to create affordable mortgages through a land-trust model to ensure properties remain permanently affordable. Requested $300,000; fully funded with PY2024 CDBG entitlement funds. 

Proud Ground Homeownership Assistance. Assist three first-time homebuyers purchase a home through a land-trust model to ensure properties remain permanently affordable. Requested $300,000; fully funded with PY2024 CDBG entitlement funds.

Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber Latinx Business Assistance. Business technical assistance and individual development account (IDA) match for Latino/a-centric small businesses. Services are bilingual and bicultural. Requested $130,000; fully funded with CDBG reprogrammed funds. 

Fourth Plain Forward BIPOC Business Assistance. Business technical assistance and IDA match for BIPOC small businesses. Requested $299,371; fully funded with PY2024 CDBG entitlement funds.

Clark County Homeowner Rehabilitation Program. Assist 20 low-income households with rehabilitation needs to remain safe and stable in their homes in Clark County, outside the city of Vancouver. Receives set amount of funding each year plus program income created by the program. Receiving $346,110; $232,110 through CDBG PY2024 entitlement funds and $114,000 of reprogrammed and program income.

YWCA Clark County Domestic Violence Survivors TBRA program. Tenant-based rental assistance program for survivors of domestic violence using a rapid rehousing services model. 

• Requested $210,000 in HOME funds for rental assistance; fully funded with PY2024 entitlement funds.  
• Requested $63,000 in CDBG housing case management funds; fully funded with reprogrammed funds.

Janus Youth Programs The Nest TBRA program. Tenant-based rental assistance program for youth using a rapid rehousing services model. 

• Requested $150,000 in HOME funds for rental assistance; funded with reprogrammed funds.  
• Requested $45,000 in CDBG housing case management funds; fully funded with reprogrammed funds.

Lifeline Connections Recovery TBRA program. Tenant-based rental assistance program for people with behavioral health disorders using a rapid rehousing services model. 

• Requested $83,940 in HOME funds for rental assistance; fully funded with PY2024 entitlement funds.  
• Requested $25,182 in CDBG housing case management funds; fully funded with PY2024 entitlement funds.

Share Affordable Housing & Stability Program TBRA program. Tenant-based rental assistance program for survivors of domestic violence using a rapid rehousing services model. 

• Requested $275,000 in HOME funds for rental assistance; fully funded with $226,075 of PY2024 entitlement funds and $48,925 of reprogrammed funds.  
• Requested $25,000 in CDBG housing case management funds; fully funded with PY2024 entitlement funds.

Vancouver Housing Authority Weaver Creek Commons. Construction of a four-story, 100-unit affordable housing community in Battle Ground for people who are low-income, including units designated for people exiting homelessness and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Requested $300,000; partially funded at $56,982 with $11,982 of PY2024 HOME entitlement funds and $45,000 of reprogrammed HOME ARP funds. 

Program Years 2022 and 2023 activities and amounts to be reprogrammed:

Agency Canceled Project. New Heights Clinic rescinded its request for funding to construct a primary care clinic for low-moderate income residents. Returned PY2022 CDBG funding: $600,000. 

Agency Canceled Project. The City of Camas has rescinded its request for funding for the NW Benton Street Improvements. Returned PY2023 CDBG funding: $280,000. 

New Funding. Battle Ground North Parkway Avenue Sidewalks. Installation of sidewalks along the east side of North Parkway Avenue between North 25th Street and North Onsdorff Boulevard where gaps exist. This will provide a continuous walkway for pedestrians and bicyclists along North Parkway Avenue. Requested $300,000 in PY2024 funding, providing $300,000 in PY2022 CDBG reprogrammed funding.

New Funding. Council for the Homeless Housing Solutions Center Acquisition. Purchase of an existing building for use as a single, centralized access point for the Housing Solutions Center and Administration office. The building is located at 7723 NE Fourth Plain Blvd. Requested $300,000 in PY2024 funding, providing $300,000 in PY2022 CDBG reprogrammed funding. 

New Funding. Ridgefield Sargent Street Improvements. Project will include ADA-compliant sidewalks where there are none, replace a fire hydrant, upgrade the main waterline and complete stormwater improvements on Sargent Street from South Third Avenue east and wrapping around the corner heading north on South Main Avenue approximately halfway to Pioneer Street. Requested $200,000 in PY2024 funding, providing $200,000 in PY2023 CDBG reprogrammed funding.

New Funding. Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Business Assistance. Provide business assistance to low-income microenterprise businesses. Requested $78,000 in PY2024 funding, providing $78,000 in PY2023 CDBG reprogrammed funding. 

The balance of PY2023 reprogrammed funds is included in the PY2024 awards. 

CONTACT:
Rebecca Royce, Community Services 
564.397.7863, rebecca.royce@clark.wa.gov