Housing & Community Development Division
312 W. 8th Avenue, Fourth Floor, Spokane, WA. 99204
Phone (509) 477-5722 Fax: (509) 477-2561
Contacts
The Spokane County Community Services, Housing, and Community Development Department administers programs to address high priority needs for lower income residents of Spokane County.
A brief description of each is provided below, with links to additional pages and information about these programs within our website.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program allocates an estimated $1.9 million in federal funds per year to subrecipients throughout the Spokane area to conduct activities that improve the lives and living conditions of these residents. The department allocates these funds each year through a Request For Proposal (RFP) process and provides technical assistance and oversight to subrecipients to ensure compliance with all applicable federal requirements.
These subrecipients use CDBG funds to improve local infrastructure, provide needed human services, improve parks and public facilities, increase recreational opportunities, and create jobs for low-income persons.
Community Development Block Grant - Recovery (CDBG-R)
In August 2009, Spokane County received funding for infrastructure projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding stream required a substantial amendment to the 2008 Consolidated Annual Action Plan. Projects funded through this act needed to be shovel-ready and all materials were required to be American Made. Three projects were initially selected and have been completed, which included a Water System Improvement Project in Spokane Valley's Carnhope Irrigation District, Sewer System Improvement in Fairfield, and a Water System Telemetry Project in Rockford. The substantial amendment is being altered to include an additional project which is a Wastewater Collection System Improvement Project in Fairfield, Washington.
This additional project will allow for the proper and efficient use of the remaining funds which were provided by the ARRA funding. It is expected to start construction in the spring of 2012 and will be complete by the summer of 2012. It will provide manholes and sewer mains in the final section of the watewater collection system, upstream from the wastewater treatment plant, allowing for an affordable sewage treatment system, benefitting the town's 494 residents. $19,000 of CDBG-R funds will be used, along with $93,185 of regular CDBG funds, and $9,300 of town funds. Information regarding all ARRA funded projects can be viewed at www.recovery.gov.
Affordable Housing Program (HOME)
The Affordable Housing Program provides Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds to address the priority housing needs of County residents.
Community Aquifer Protection Assistance Program (CAPA)
The Housing and Community Development Division administers the Community Aquifer Protection Assistance (CAPA) program which provides grants and/or zero-interest loans to eligible low-income homeowners to help with paying the costs of connecting their homes to the county's centralized sewer system.
This assistance is available only to eligible homeowners within previously defined "sewer basins" which are currently under construction, have been recently completed, or are slated for construction in the following year.
Zero-interest loans are provided to eligible low-income participants to pay the costs of connecting their homes to the sewer. Grants are additionally provided to eligible very-low income homeowners to pay the Capital Facilities Rate (CFR) levied against their property in connection with the installation of the sewer mains.
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Substitute House Bill 2060 (SHB-2060)
On April 30, 2002, the Board of County Commissioners of Spokane County appointed the Housing and Community Development Division to administer funding created through SHB-2060. The division is responsible for developing and submitting plans for allocating funds, policies and procedures governing all activities that are expected to receive funding; and develop inter-cooperation agreements with each of the twelve cities and towns.
Homeless Housing and Assistance Act (HHAA) ESSHB 2163/1359
Please contact Tim Crowley at (509) 477-4488 or tcrowley@spokanecounty.org for more information.
Please note: The county does not provide direct housing assistance to individuals, but rather allocates these funds through a competitive process to both non-profit and for-profit developers to achieve the goals stated in the County's Consolidated Plan and meet the housing needs of county residents.
Citizen's Advisory Committee
The Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee serves as an advisory committee to the Housing and Community Development Division, and through the division, to the Board of County Commissioners.
The purpose of the committee is to provide citizen representatives of Spokane County with the opportunity to participate in, comment on, and review the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) Programs.