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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

County seeks affordable housing proposals

The Spokane Association of REALTORS®

The Spokane County Housing and Community Development Department is seeking proposals that address local, affordable housing priorities serving persons or households considered to be extremely low and very low-income.

Approximately $1.36 million in revenues, generated through document recording surcharge fees, is being made available. Also to be available are about $1 million for capital projects and $360,000 for operation and maintenance projects.

The department has established activities and funding priorities based on consultation with residents, municipalities, and affordable housing advocates who participated in program design workgroups conducted in 2002.

2005 Activities, Funding Priorities

Priority 1: Housing rehabilitation and new housing development loans and grants. Preference will be given to proposed projects that serve persons with disabilities and considered extremely low-income (30 percent or less of Area Median Income “AMI”); proposed projects located in rural areas of Spokane County; homeless shelter development; and rehabilitation of existing properties.

•Priority 2: Operation and maintenance assistance through either grants or loans for rental projects developed, or in the pre-development stage using (state) housing trust funds. Assistance may be provided for a period of up to three years.

Renewal of operation and maintenance assistance is not guaranteed beyond the three-year period. Proposed rental housing projects must provide permanent housing for persons or households considered very low-income (50 percent or less of AMI), which requires a revenue supplement to cover ongoing operation expenses.

Operation assistance to non-profit emergency shelters and licensed overnight youth shelters through either grants or loans. Renewal of operation assistance is not guaranteed beyond the three-year period.

•Priority 3: Rent assistance (short term), including gap rental assistance and assistance with security deposits for permanent rental housing projects, or units within the housing project that are affordable to persons or households with income deemed to be very low (50 percent or less of AMI). Rent assistance must be administered by a local public housing authority, or another local organization that has an existing rental assistance voucher program, consistent with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 Rental Assistance Voucher program.

Eligible applicants include: Individuals, local governments, nonprofit (including faith-based), for-profit agencies, and public housing authority. Faith-based organizations and churches may not restrict participation based on required religious affiliation or activities.

The department will not accept applications from individuals for single-family homeowner repair or rental assistance. Such activities must be sponsored by an organization willing to complete homeowner repairs and rental assistance on a larger scale. Funding is limited, please prioritize application in the order of importance.

Application Deadline

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund Guidelines and Application is now available and due Sept. 20 (2005). The application and guidelines can be found at the department’s Web site at www.spokanecounty.org or by contacting the department at 477-2521.

Applications must be postmarked by midnight Sept. 20 (2005), and must be mailed to Spokane County Housing and Community Development Department, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, 312 W. 8th Fourth Floor, Spokane, WA 99204.