By LAURA JAMESON ljameson@lockhaven.com
LOCK HAVEN - The Clinton County Housing Authority is looking for support in its efforts to combat an ever-present homeless crisis within the county.
The Clinton County Commissioners heard from Jeff Rich, executive director of the authority, and Jackie Condor, northern tier regional manager, about a proposed grant - the 2023 Fair Housing Grant.
Rich acknowledged he often speaks about the housing crisis many in the county face.
"I probably sound like a broken record but the issue is not improving," he said. "In fact, most recently it appears that it's edging upward just slightly."
Rich noted that the definition of homeless can vary from the Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the school district's and even an individual's idea of what homelessness is.
"These are folks that are living in their cars, living in the streets and the ones who are bouncing around to friends. Then there are those that are just on the cusp. If something happens with their car tomorrow they're probably not going to be able to pay their rent next month," he said. "Those folks are important to consider along with the other's we've talked about.
Rich said the county has 451 applications for public housing. Of that number, 234 are county residents.
"We have to accept those applications," Rich said of the out-of-county applicants. "But we have preferences set up in place that gives our own community access to our services before those who are not in our community."
Rich further noted the authority's shelter is full and always is. "I know we've had conversations with Roads to Peace and their shelter is also full," he added.
The authority also provides a Returning Citizens Program for individuals who are recently released from incarceration.
"Those folks who are leaving incarceration and have no home plan," Rich said.
The authority can support six individuals at a time in this program.
"We actually have three folks that can qualify for the program. I don't have the space for them right now," he said.
Rich said he shared this information to stress the need for additional assistance for those in need within the county. Assistance he hopes the commissioners will support in its quest for Fair Housing funds.
Included in this grant application is the creation of the Hope Mitchell House. A facility located along Bellefonte Avenue in the city which formerly housed a gym.
Rich said this program could create six one-bedroom units and is the first of its kind in the community.
"Five of the units are going to be permanent supportive housing," he said.
Condor provided an overview of this new program - the Permanent Supportive Housing Program.
Condor noted, although the program would be new to the county, she and other authority staff have worked with other agencies that have similar programs.
"It is permanent housing in addition to supportive services to households with at least one adult household member living with a disability," Condor said.
She noted the individual who qualifies would have to sign a lease or something similar and it would be treated like a normal housing situation.
Condor said this program would provide not only permanent housing but also a more intensive support services system for those in need.
"The truth of the matter is that some households do not succeed in rapid rehousing programs because they require more supportive services and wrap around services that we cannot provide with our other programs," she said.
The program, Condor said, would assist in preventing some households from finding themselves in crisis again.
Rich noted that at least 4 to 8 households often qualify for this program each month.
"If this project moves forward and we start to lease up, preference is given to folks who meet the criteria," he said. "But if the community doesn't have enough folks to fill the units, we can fill them with other folks that are experiencing homelessness."
In terms of funding for the project, Rich said the authority already received $818,425 in a Rural Housing grant. $750,000 of that is earmarked for rehabilitation of the facility. The remainder would be put towards operating expenses for three years.
"The idea is that, if we can put this in place at minimal cost, minimal debt then we can make this a very affordable and attractive rental opportunity for this community," he said. "It will be self sufficient."
Currently, the total cost for the project is $1.3 million. However, Rich said he is in talks with the project's architect to cut that down.
The project has also received a $200,000 commitment from the housing authority and the Clinton County Housing Coalition is looking to pull together $100,000 through future grant opportunities.
"We want to show commitment from our organizations. We don't want to ask for everything to be handed to us," Rich said.
Rich stressed that the property will also remain on the tax rolls.
"We would qualify for that but our intent is to make this project self-sufficient and be just an average, everyday rental property like any other that we find in our community," he said.
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