City Council to allocate $575,000 for housing support funds

More than five years have passed since Charlottesville City Council adopted an affordable housing plan that called for $10 million a year in spending for ten years to accomplish a large amount of goals.

Page 12 calls for that money to be used toward three distinct goals:

• Increase the number of subsidized affordable homes by 1,100 homes (on top of an existing stock of 1,630 actively subsidized homes
• Preserve 600 existing subsidized affordable homes
• Stabilize 1,800 to 2,200 owner and renter households facing housing instability

While there is not yet a central dashboard to keep track of progress toward those goals, the city government has organized the way that $10 million is distributed each year into several different funds.

The largest of these is the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and each year the city issues a request for information from developers seeking major assistance. This usually happens in the fall so submissions can be considered as part of the budget development process. Learn more here.

Another is the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund (CAHF) grant program for slightly smaller amounts to provide “critical financial resources to nonprofit organizations and developers for the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable housing units.”

City Council approved the latest round of $823,000 in funds in May as I reported. You can learn more in the CAHF report.

Tonight, City Council will hold first reading on the allocation of $575,000 from a third pool called the Housing and Program Support (HOPS) Grant program.

“Unlike the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund (CAHF), which targets development and preservation, HOPS focuses on service-oriented programs such as rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and eviction prevention,” reads the city’s website.

HOPS funding also comes from the city’s Capital Improvement Program. This year there were fourteen applications requesting a total of $1.39 million. These were reviewed by the CAHF Committee, a body that currently has two vacancies for three slots reserved for beneficiaries of affordable housing. Applications were ranked on a series of tiers in order to spread the money around to multiple organizations.

Only one of the organizations was awarded Tier 1 status which meant their three requests were funded at 70 percent of the ask.

• The Haven requested $110,000 for their Day Shelter operations on Market Street in downtown Charlottesville. The money “will maintain daily operations and staff support to meet growing demand for essential services.” The committee recommended $77,000.
• The Haven manages the region’s Homeless Information Line and is considered the “primary access point for individuals seeking housing assistance.” They sought $50,000 in funding and the committee recommended $35,000.
• The Haven also requested $160,000 for “vital housing services” which includes “delivers housing interventions, including homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, and financial assistance, while administering the region’s Coordinated Entry System.” The committee recommended $112,000.

The other applications:

• The Albemarle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP) requested $225,000 in funding for its System of Care which “provides pre-construction services to prepare low-income city residents for future home repairs through AHIP’s rehabilitation programs.” The committee recommended $42,905 to cover “staff and administrative costs.”
• Community Services Housing (CSH) requested $100,000 to “sustain key staff positions that oversee property management and resident support, ensuring housing stability and operational continuity.” The committee recommended $44,700 in funding.
• Georgia’s Friends requested $10,000 for its structured recovery program for women. The Committee recommended $1,900.
• Habitat For Humanity of Greater Charlottesville requested $75,000 to pay for a “dedicated financial empowerment coach and expanded counseling for families preparing to purchase homes in Charlottesville. The committee recommended $33,525.
• The International Rescue Committee sought $45,000 for funding to support its housing navigation support program. Specifically the money would pay for a part-time housing specialist, interpretation services, and emergency assistance for households facing eviction. The committee recommended $20,115.
• The Legal Aid Justice Center requested $50,000 to fund its work to prevent evictions through free advice. The funding “will support services that protect tenancy rights and prevent homelessness through legal advocacy.” The committee recommended $22,350.
• The Monticello Area Community Action Agency (MACAA) requested $30,000 to support Hope House which “offers rent-free transitional housing and intensive case management for families experiencing homelessness.” Funding will go to staff support. The committee recommended $13,410.
• People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM) requested $120,000 to support case managers to “help guests access resources, secure documentation, and transition to stable housing.” The committee recommended $53,640.
• The Piedmont Housing Alliance requested $200,000 to support “frontline staff who deliver housing and financial services that stabilize households and strengthen community equity.” The committee recommended $89,400.
• Restoration and Hope House requested $150,000 for “staffing and operational costs to provide secure housing and counseling that promote successful reintegration” of women recently released from incarceration. The committee recommended no funding.
• SupportWorks Housing requested $65,000 for the Crossings, an example of permanent supportive housing. The funding is for case management and other functions and to “prepare for future permanent supportive housing developments.” The committee recommended $29,055.

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