Olympia's Community Livability and Public Safety Committee approved the city's 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding recommendations, in turn allocating $341,000 to support programs addressing community needs.
CDBG is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program supports community development and housing activities, focusing on low- and moderate-income residents.
Since 1982, the city has received CDBG funding. At its initial level of funding, Olympia received $322,000 — a sum that would equate to over $1 million in today's dollars.
The city's allocation rose steadily from 1998 to 2003, reaching $482,000. However, due to declining federal allocations and the addition of more entitlement communities, Olympia's funding has steadily been reduced over the past several years. For the program year 2025, the city will receive $341,583.
Senior Housing Program Specialist Anastasia Everett presented the funding recommendations at a CLPS meeting on Wednesday, May 28.
She listed support for several programs that aligned with the region's priorities, such as preserving and expanding affordable housing and supporting vulnerable residents including low-income homeowners, unaccompanied youth, and residents with disabilities.
Rebuilding Together Thurston County, Critical Home Repair, $60,000. The funding will support critical home repairs for five to eight low-income households.
South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, Energize Thurston, $48,397. Fully subsidized heat pumps will be installed in three to five low-income homes through South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity. There are already 16 households on a wait list after previous grant funding was exhausted.
Enterprise for Equity, Microenterprise Assistance, $50,300. More than 40 low- and moderate-income local entrepreneurs will receive specialized training through this program, which aims to foster economic opportunity and self-sufficiency among underserved business owners.
Interfaith Works, Sandy's Flats security fence installation, $24,570. Funds will be used to install a security fence at the permanent supportive housing. Residents of this housing complex are individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness and co-occurring disabilities. The fence will prevent unsafe alley access and protect against property damage and break-ins.
Interfaith Works, Sergio's Day Center Support, $12,500. The funding will help support hygiene services and access to critical health and social services for people experiencing homelessness. In 2024, Sergio's Place served more than 1,325 individuals. A similar reach is expected in the upcoming year.
Together!, Host Homes, $12,500. The program provides safe, temporary housing for unaccompanied youths in Olympia. The program aims to support youths not connected to the foster care system nor under state supervision, mainly young people who have aged out of child welfare intervention. Together! anticipates serving 28-36 young people.
Mercy Housing Northwest, Resident services at Evergreen Vista, $12,500. CDBG funding will support staff salaries and operating costs for expanded services at Evergreen Vista, a multifamily housing complex serving 462 residents — 47% of whom are youths. Services will include on-site food pantry access, mental health care, life skills training and out-of-school programming.
Senior Services for South Sound, Home Share Program, $12,500. The funding will support the Home Share Program, a match-making service, where home providers who have an extra room in their home are matched with home seekers needing affordable housing. The program provides a unique, cost-effective solution to housing insecurity among the senior population in Thurston County. Senior Services for South Sound anticipates 50 seniors will receive assistance from this program.
South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, Critical home repair, $40,000. This program will provide mold remediation, roof repairs and bathroom accessibility improvements for three to five low-income households in Olympia.
Everett identified contingency projects in case any planned activity is canceled or additional program income is received. That includes Rebuilding Together Thurston County's Critical Home Repair, and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity's Critical Home Repair and Energize Olympia.
Council member Clark Gilman raised concerns about recent House budget proposals that eliminate CDBG and Section 8 housing funds. He urged staff to explore alternative funding mechanisms to support critical services should CDBG funding stopped.
The funding recommendations will now move to the full city council for final approval, with the program year set to begin on Sept. 1.
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Southsoundguy
If you have to rely on gibs, you ought to reduce spend.
Monday, June 2 Report this