Title
Process and Schedule for HOME Fund Program Implementation
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Briefing only. No action requested.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on the proposed implementation of the HOME Fund.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on the proposed implementation of the HOME Fund.
Staff Contact:
Steve Hall, City Manager, 360.753.8244
Keith Stahley, Director, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8227
Presenter(s):
Steve Hall, City Manager
Keith Stahley, Director, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
In February 2018, Olympia voters approved the HOME fund ballot proposal. The proposal called for a heavy investment in long-term supportive housing plus smaller allocations to short term needs to address homelessness in the greater Olympia area.
In 2018, the City will receive about $550,000 in funding and in 2019, a full year; receipts are expected to be about $2.3 million.
The City funds will be helpful in combating the larger problem of homelessness in Thurston County, but are only a fraction of the resources needed to address growing needs. Therefore, it is essential that the City plan and invest wisely to maximize our impact. This will require a HOME Fund program manager to work closely with other public, nonprofit, business, faith based and social service groups to leverage funding for capital and operating needs.
In addition, the program manager will need to develop recommendations for best practices to address homeless needs.
As part of the measure, the City committed to having an advisory body to ensure the funds are spent in concert with information provided to voters.
City staff met with Councilmembers Cooper and Bateman to begin the conversation about the HOME Fund implementation.
Below is a list of initial suggestions for discussion by the Committee:
• Hire the HOME Fund manager in 4th quarter 2018
• In the meantime, we will recommend the consultant Keith mentioned, Noah Fey, to help us establish city priorities related to the HOME fund.
• The main criteria for establishing priorities will be reliance on the vulnerability index in consultation with the Thurston County Coordinated entry providers to support and house those with the highest VI scores.
• The main job of the HOME Fund manager will be to nurture and develop partnerships with groups that can provide the additional capital funding and operational support to the long-term supportive housing priority of the City.
• The HOME Fund manager will also work to align HOME dollars, CDBG and other resources (Thurston County pipeline funds, etc.) to support our priorities.
• The advisory committee will be screened by the General Government Committee during its regular review process and be appointed in April 2019.
• Groups will be ask to nominate representatives to serve on the advisory committee and the General Government Committee will interview nominees.
• The Advisory committee will not focus on specific sites or projects but will be asked to ensure the City is complying with what we told the voters.
• Need to look at the pros/cons of short term borrowing or bonding of future HOME Fund proceeds.
• Collaboration with Thurston County on using their State and Federal housing dollars to support our projects is critical.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is widespread community interest in the city’s planning and implementation.
Options:
1. Discuss the implementation plan.
2. Do not discuss the implementation plan.
3. Discuss the implementation plan at another date.
Financial Impact:
Funding will be provided though the HOME fund revenues.
Attachments:
HOME Fund Financial and Administrative Plan