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Community Development Advisory Board

BEL-CDA-2024-11-14 November 14, 2024 Community Development Advisory City of Bellingham 50 min
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The Community Development Advisory Board reviewed housing service providers and approved funding processes for the upcoming grant cycle. Two prominent local housing agencies presented comprehensive overviews of their rapid rehousing programs, demonstrating how city funding translates into direct services for homeless families. The Opportunity Council serves 133 families annually with 98% exiting to permanent housing, while Lydia Place supports 193 families across multiple housing intervention models, with 70% exiting to permanent rental subsidies. The board approved the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) applications for 2025, which will release $2.1 million for housing and human services over a two-year period. A significant discussion centered on equity scoring criteria, with some members advocating for increased weighting but ultimately maintaining current standards. The board also approved reducing the minimum required meetings from nine to four per year, providing more flexibility while ensuring adequate oversight of funding decisions. Two critical trends emerged from the presentations: the increasing need for permanent rental subsidies as housing costs outpace wage growth, and the growing population of immigrant and asylum-seeking families requiring specialized language and legal support services.

**NOFA Applications Approved (Motion: Aran Clauson/Matt Unger)** - Vote: 7-0 unanimous approval - Staff recommendation: Approve as written - Council action: Maintained equity scoring at 15 points despite proposal to increase to 25 points - What this means: $2.1 million in grants will be available for housing and human services applications, releasing November…

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**Equity Scoring Weight Debate**: The most substantive policy discussion centered on whether to increase the equity and social justice scoring category from 15 to 25 points in the Community/Public Facilities NOFA. Matt Unger argued this category deserves equal weight with consolidated plan priorities and population served. However, other members noted equity principles are woven throughout other scoring categories. The board ultimately maintained the current weighting, citing concerns about diluting other scoring categories without removing points elsewhere. **Housing Crisis Indicators**: Both presenting agencies highlighted concerning trends in housing affordability. Lydia Place reported that…
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**Matt Unger (CDAB)**: Advocated strongly for increasing equity scoring to 25 points, arguing this category covers core strategic plan goals and should receive equal weight with other priorities. **Samya Lutz (City Staff)**: Explained that equity criteria were newly added to capital NOFAs this year for consistency across funding programs, providing context for current weighting decisions. **Andrew Calkins (Housing Authority)**: Noted the limited supply of 1,900 housing vouc…
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**Lindsay Brewer (Opportunity Council), on their housing model:** "I actually really love this model in that it gives families the power to choose where they see their family being most successful. Think about choosing where within a community or your proximity to your kid's school or school district or your employment or public transit, your support community, any and all of the above. It's very empowering to be able to pick where you see your family living and choosing your own home." **Loui…
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**November 19, 2024**: NOFA applications release with $2.1 million available for housing and human services **November 18, 2024**: CAPER goes to City Council for approval **December 3 & 5, 2024**: Application office hours for NOFA applicants **December 9, 2024**: Administrative and Financial Plan for Housing Levy goes to City…

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**NOFA Funding Process**: The 2025 funding cycle is now officially approved and will proceed with $2.1 million available across multiple funding streams, maintaining current equity scoring weights despite proposed changes. **Meeting Requirements**: CDAB minimum meeting requirement reduced from 9 to 4 annually, providing operational flexibility while maintaining current service levels of 6-7 meetings per year. **Severe Weather Shelter Protocol**: Whatcom County h…
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## Meeting Overview The Bellingham Community Development Advisory Board gathered on November 14, 2024, for their monthly meeting in the Mayor's Boardroom, with attendance both in-person and via Zoom. Ten of thirteen board members were present, including Chair Karin Jones, with the notable absence of City Council representative Jace Cotton. The meeting featured comprehensive presentations from two key housing service providers, followed by work sessions on funding processes and municipal code revisions. The evening centered on understanding the community's rapid rehousing ecosystem and finalizing the city's funding mechanisms for the coming year. Both presentations illuminated the complex landscape of housing assistance in Bellingham, while the work sessions addressed procedural matters that will shape how the city allocates millions in housing and community development funds. ## The Reality of Rapid Rehousing in Whatcom County Lindsay Brewer from the Opportunity Council opened the presentations with a detailed look at their rapid rehousing program, painting a picture of both the challenges and successes in getting families from homelessness to stable housing. The program serves unsheltered families with minor children, with families entering through the county's coordinated entry system based on vulnerability assessments. "We do let families define what is a family to them," Brewer explained, emphasizing the program's inclusive approach. "It could be multi-generational, it could be one parent, two parent families are self-defined." The program requires families to have minor children 17 years or younger with at least 50% custody, be staying in Whatcom County, and meet area median income guidelines of 50%. The mechanics of the program reveal the complex choreography required to move families from emergency situations to permanent housing. Families often stay in emergency hotels for extended periods – sometimes over a year – while case managers work to reduce barriers and secure permanent housing. During this phase, case managers provide comprehensive support: letters of explanation for rental applications, credit reports, assistance with applications, and critically, advocacy with landlords. "I think one of the biggest benefits is twofold," Brewer noted. "We do have a landlord liaison who can work on connect our clients to? Who can advocate for our clients, and then we also work very closely with property management companies on a monthly basis to ma…
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### Meeting Overview The Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) met November 14, 2024 to review housing services and approve grant application processes. The main focus was hearing presentations from two housing service providers and finalizing Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) applications that will allocate $2.1 million in housing and human services funding. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB):** A city board that advises the mayor and council on housing and community development funding decisions, including reviewing grant applications from nonprofits. **Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA):** The city's competitive grant application process that allocates federal and local funding to nonprofits providing housing, human services, and community facilities. **Rapid Rehousing:** A short-term housing intervention that helps homeless families move into permanent housing and increase their income to maintain housing independently. **Coordinated Entry:** A standardized assessment and referral system that prioritizes the most vulnerable homeless households for available housing resources. **Area Median Income (AMI):** The midpoint of a region's income distribution, used to determine eligibility for affordable housing programs. Different percentages of AMI (like 50% or 80%) define income limits. **Campus Housing:** Housing units owned and managed directly by service organizations, giving them more control over tenant screening and services. **Permanent Supportive Housing:** Long-term affordable housing with wraparound services for people with disabilities or chronic health conditions who need ongoing support. **Housing Choice Voucher:** Also known as Section 8, a federal rental assistance program that helps low-income families afford housing in the private market. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Karin Jones | CDAB Chair | | Lindsay Brewer | Opportunity Council, Housing Programs Ma…
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Housing Social Services Budget & Finance Government Operations City Bellingham Housing Authority Lydia Place Mercy Housing Opportunity Council United Way Whatcom Community Foundation Whatcom County Andrew Calkins Aran Clauson Heather Aven Jasmine Fast Karin Jones Lindsay Brewer Louis Walbreck Matt Unger Meridith Stamey Samya Lutz Shannon Laws Affordable Housing Behavioral Health Case Management Community Partnerships Emergency Shelter Equity Scoring Family Services Homelessness Housing Levy Housing Vouchers Immigrant Services Rapid Rehousing Rental Subsidies Severe Weather Shelter