Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Application of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Grant for the Older Adults Home Modification Program
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing the application of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant for the Older Adults Home Modification Program.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing the application of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant for the Older Adults Home Modification Program.
Staff Contact:
Anastasia Everett, CDBG Program Manager, 360.233.6197, Office of Community Vitality
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite eligible applicants to apply to the Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP). The purpose of the OAHMP is to assist experienced nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities in undertaking comprehensive programs that make safety and functional home modifications, repairs and renovations to meet the needs of low-income seniors. The goal of the home modification program is to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes through low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications to reduce older seniors’ risk of falling, improve general safety, increase accessibility, and to improve their functional abilities in their home. This will enable seniors to remain in their homes and “age in place” rather than move to assisted care facilities.
The minimum grant award is $1,000,000 and the maximum is $2,000,000. The grant is due to the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes by November 19, 2024. The grant period of performance is 3 years, ending in 2028. There is a limit of $5,000 in modifications for each unit.
The City has prepared a grant application to meet HUD’s goals with the OAHMP. The City is requesting $1,500,000 in OAHMP funding to create and launch a program offered to Olympia’s senior residents. The City will enter a subrecipient agreement with Rebuilding Together Thurston County and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity to carry out program activities. The City will also make OAHMP funding available to seniors in rental housing by incorporating program funding into the City’s Rental Registry program.
Rebuilding Together Thurston County and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity will each contract for $350,000 and are expected to make modifications to 60 units each. The Rental Registry will have $175,000 for home modifications and is expected to assist 35 units.
OAHMP requires the usage of Occupational Therapists (OTs) for determining the scope of work for modifications at each unit. The City is requesting $175,000 to contract with OTs through the period of performance. The City is requesting $450,000 for a senior program specialist position to manage the City’s participation in the OAHMP. This dedicated manager will work with the subrecipients and OTs to create the program, oversee contracting and procurement requirements, complete required environmental reviews, verify participant eligibility, create and facilitate outreach efforts to senior residents, monitor program activities and complete HUD reporting requirements.
Climate Analysis:
Funding for the OAHMP is limited to low-cost accessibility and safety modifications for seniors. While energy efficiency improvements such as the replacement of gas appliances is not eligible under the grant, the City will include weatherization improvements as eligible and needed. Weatherization improvements can assist in strengthening a building’s envelope, lower energy costs, and increase efficiency in a housing unit. There is no other anticipated effect on greenhouse gasses through the proposed grant activities.
Equity Analysis:
OAHMP funding will be used for seniors aged 62 and above and at or below 80% area median income. Seniors are often living on fixed incomes without the ability to make critical repairs to their homes for safely aging in place. Additionally, seniors with disabilities often require specialized accessibility improvements that are out of budget.
According to the City’s Assessment of Fair Housing, Local Veteran’s Affairs staff who work with veterans experiencing homelessness indicate that it is very difficult to find both affordable and accessible units. Many of the senior housing units with greater accessibility or newer multifamily units are above the payment standards for HUD VASH (Veteran’s Affairs Supportive Housing) voucher participants. Many of the VASH participants are in their sixties or seventies, use wheelchairs, and cannot reside in units with stairs. VA staff report that it is very difficult to find ground floor units and units with other accessibility features like walk-in showers.
The City will use affirmative marketing and work with local By-and-For organizations to market program offerings to hard-to-reach seniors and communities.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The housing stock Citywide is relatively aging and requires investment and preservation throughout. The program will be available City-wide and will be prioritized in the City’s five census tracts that are designated as a disadvantaged community according to the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CJEST). The map of the census tracts that qualify as disadvantaged is an attachment in this report.
Financial Impact:
The City is applying for $1,500,000 of federal OAHMP funding for program delivery. All program activity will be funded by the grant if awarded, having no impact on the general fund or other City funds.
Options:
1. Approve the resolution authorizing the submission of the OAHMP grant application
2. Provide staff feedback on the draft application and upon amending, approve the resolution authorizing the submission of the OAHMP grant application
3. Do not approve the resolution of the submission of the OAHMP grant application
Attachments:
Resolution
Map of CJEST Census Tracts