AGENDA DATE: 11/2/2022
TITLE:
Tle
Funding Requests to Support Homeless Services and Affordable Housing
.BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Consider funding for non-congregate shelter services and the construction of four affordable homeownership units.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, DeLoria, Dimock, Pethia
PRESENTER (S): Stacy Pethia, Housing Policy Manager
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: On July 7, 2021, the Board adopted CPA2020-00001 Housing Albemarle, a new housing policy for Albemarle County. Housing Albemarle contains 12 policy objectives addressing the housing needs of County residents, with a particular focus on expanding housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income households, including individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
On April 20, 2022, the Board approved the use of $1,296,520 from the Housing Fund Reserve to support the construction and preservation of 78 affordable housing units (see File No. 22-226).
With the adoption of the FY 2023 Budget on May 4, 2022, the Board approved a total of $548,870 in Agency Budget Review Team (ABRT) funding, and $2,735,680 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) - State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funding to support additional affordable housing projects and programs, which included $2.4 million in ARPA funds to support the construction of 80 units of permanent supportive housing, as well as an additional $600,000 in ARPA-SLFRF funds to support the provision of non-congregate shelter services in the Premier Circle project.
On July 20, 2022, the Board approved the use of $3,306,504 from the Housing Fund Reserve to support the construction of 121 Low Income Housing Tax Credits in the Southwood Apartments project, as well as providing up to two years of rental assistance for 40 Southwood households needing temporary relocation to accommodate construction activities in the Southwood Redevelopment Project (see File No. 22-338).
In August 2022, staff received two additional funding requests from local organizations seeking support for projects that would advance Housing Albemarle.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations - Ensure County government’s capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: On August 25, 2022, staff received a request for funding from the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (BRACH), a charitable non-profit organization, in the amount of $200,000 (see Attachment A). If approved, the funds would be used to help support the continuation of non-congregate emergency shelter services for 84 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness from January 1 - April 30, 2023. An award of these funds would help BRACH leverage additional funding from the City of Charlottesville ($200,000) and the University of Virginia Health system ($100,000) for the same period.
On August 26, 2022, staff received a request for funding from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville (Habitat), a charitable non-profit organization, in the amount of $80,000 (see Attachment B). If approved, the funds would be used to support the construction of two affordable homeownership opportunities in the Lochlyn Hill IV development and two affordable homeownership opportunities in Old Trail, which will be made available for purchase to households with incomes at or below 60% of area median income. The funds would be used as match funds for Habitat’s Affordable and Special Needs Housing (ASNH) grant application to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Habitat will request a total of $320,000 ASNH grant funds to support each project.
BUDGET IMPACT: If the Board approves the total requested funding amount of $280,000, the Housing Fund Reserve will have a remaining available balance of $850,362 that can be used to support future affordable housing projects.
RECOMMENDATION:
mendation
Staff recommends the Board approve the full amount of funding requested.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Request for Funding from Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless
B - Request for Funding from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville