Homeless housing programs move forward
Published on Mon, Aug 17, 2009Read More County & State
Three Snohomish County agencies will share more than $2 million to increase housing units for low-income and homeless families and individuals.
Under the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), Snohomish County Human Services will distribute nearly $2.2 million to the Housing Authority of Snohomish County, Washington Home of Your Own and Home For Good. Each will construct new properties at foreclosed locations or purchase foreclosed homes for rent to low-income and homeless families.
“Through this funding, we’ll be able to provide housing to more than 30 families and individuals,” said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. “We still need more affordable housing here, but this is a positive step.”
The NSP funds were authorized under Title III of the federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Snohomish County received the third highest award of NSP funds. Snohomish County’s Office of Housing, Homelessness and Community Development received eight applications for more than $6.3 million in projects.
A community advisory committee rated each application. The evaluation criteria included organizational capacity, project soundness, financial feasibility, community need and benefit and readiness to proceed. In addition, bonus points were available for projects that benefitted homeless households or households at-risk of homelessness; households at 50 percent of or below the median income; projects located in zip codes with high foreclosures; and construction projects that used state sustainability standards.
Below is a summary of each project selected by the advisory committee.
Housing Authority of Snohomish County, Marysville Multi-Family New Construction, $992,348: The project will acquire two foreclosed property parcels in Marysville that will be developed into 19 rental units for families with incomes at or below 80 percent of area median income. The project will consist of 11 two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units. The project will use other funds for construction and is hoping to have project based rental subsidies available for the residents.
Washington Home of Your Own, In-Home Community Living Program, $572,878: The project will purchase two single-family foreclosed homes in Marysville and in unincorporated Snohomish County outside Everett. The homes are three- and four-bedroom models and will provide rental housing for seven adults with mental, physical and/or developmental disabilities with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income. All of the households will receive project-based vouchers and will receive direct care services and mental-health services from Sunrise Services.
Home for Good, Post Foreclosure Rapid Re-Housing and Homeownership, $632,905: The project will purchase five three-bedroom foreclosed homes in Marysville, Lake Stevens or unincorporated Snohomish County outside Everett. The homes will initially be used as rental housing for five homeless or at-risk-of-homelessness families with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) primarily due to foreclosure. In two to three years, the homes will be converted to permanently affordable Community Land Trust units for formerly homeless families at or below 50 percent of the AMI. The homes will also be purchased with Fannie Mae loan funding.
For more information on the program or Snohomish County’s involvement, contact Dean Weitenhagen, supervisor of the county’s Office of Housing, Homelessness & Community Development, at 425-388-3267.
Under the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), Snohomish County Human Services will distribute nearly $2.2 million to the Housing Authority of Snohomish County, Washington Home of Your Own and Home For Good. Each will construct new properties at foreclosed locations or purchase foreclosed homes for rent to low-income and homeless families.
“Through this funding, we’ll be able to provide housing to more than 30 families and individuals,” said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. “We still need more affordable housing here, but this is a positive step.”
The NSP funds were authorized under Title III of the federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Snohomish County received the third highest award of NSP funds. Snohomish County’s Office of Housing, Homelessness and Community Development received eight applications for more than $6.3 million in projects.
A community advisory committee rated each application. The evaluation criteria included organizational capacity, project soundness, financial feasibility, community need and benefit and readiness to proceed. In addition, bonus points were available for projects that benefitted homeless households or households at-risk of homelessness; households at 50 percent of or below the median income; projects located in zip codes with high foreclosures; and construction projects that used state sustainability standards.
Below is a summary of each project selected by the advisory committee.
Housing Authority of Snohomish County, Marysville Multi-Family New Construction, $992,348: The project will acquire two foreclosed property parcels in Marysville that will be developed into 19 rental units for families with incomes at or below 80 percent of area median income. The project will consist of 11 two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units. The project will use other funds for construction and is hoping to have project based rental subsidies available for the residents.
Washington Home of Your Own, In-Home Community Living Program, $572,878: The project will purchase two single-family foreclosed homes in Marysville and in unincorporated Snohomish County outside Everett. The homes are three- and four-bedroom models and will provide rental housing for seven adults with mental, physical and/or developmental disabilities with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income. All of the households will receive project-based vouchers and will receive direct care services and mental-health services from Sunrise Services.
Home for Good, Post Foreclosure Rapid Re-Housing and Homeownership, $632,905: The project will purchase five three-bedroom foreclosed homes in Marysville, Lake Stevens or unincorporated Snohomish County outside Everett. The homes will initially be used as rental housing for five homeless or at-risk-of-homelessness families with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) primarily due to foreclosure. In two to three years, the homes will be converted to permanently affordable Community Land Trust units for formerly homeless families at or below 50 percent of the AMI. The homes will also be purchased with Fannie Mae loan funding.
For more information on the program or Snohomish County’s involvement, contact Dean Weitenhagen, supervisor of the county’s Office of Housing, Homelessness & Community Development, at 425-388-3267.
