The City of Yakima’s Office of Neighborhood Development Services (ONDS) is requesting public comment on a proposed amendment to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program – American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funding allocation plan and opening a 15-day public comment period (January 17, 2025, to February 3, 2025) to receive and record public comments.

Explanation:

The approximately $1,600,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships Program – American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is for developing affordable rental housing and has gone through a competitive application process. Special consideration has been given to applications that demonstrated the use of HOME-ARP funds to leverage additional funding from other public and private sources.

The federal HOME-ARP funding is restricted to serving the Qualifying Populations as listed in HUD’s HOME-ARP Implementation Notice, which are as follows: individuals or families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and individuals fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.

Proposed Amendment:

This proposed amendment would give preference to the Qualifying Population of homeless persons, especially homeless youth, as indicated by City of Yakima housing need analyses. This preference would in no way be a restriction to only one group of the Qualifying Populations. Accordingly, the proposed units could still be used to house anyone from any of the Qualifying Populations and would be so used if the need for the preferred Qualifying Population does not match the units available.

For more information:

The original City of Yakima HOME-ARP Allocation Plan and additional background information are available here, or in-person at the Office of Neighborhood Development Services, 112 S 8^th St., Yakima, WA, 98901, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How to comment:

Comments from the public regarding this amendment must be submitted in writing no later than February 3, 2025, to be recorded and considered and may be delivered in-person or via mail to the ONDS office (address listed above), or via email to ask.planning@yakimawa.gov.