Human Services

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

Purchasing a home is out of reach for many families while monthly rents stretch household budgets. The local homeless population is increasing. There is a shortfall in area housing for people with a wide range of incomes. Many people who were once financially comfortable now struggle – taking money away from basics in order to keep a roof over their heads.

2020-2021 Public Services Application Community Development Block Grant
Presentation Scheduled May 20th, 2020

• Presentation
• Federal Citizen Participation Requirements
• Fact Sheet

2020-2021 Homeless Crisis Response System NOFA

Annual Action Plan for the year 2020

Skagit County, as Lead Agency for the Skagit County HOME Consortium, is undertaking the planning process leading to the submission of the Annual Action Plan for the year 2020 and amendments to the 2019 Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Annual Action Plan is a planning document and a requirement for the HOME Consortium’s use of HOME Investment Partnership Program grants. The one-year Annual Action Plan describes how the Consortium’s HOME grant will be used to carry out the Consortium’s Strategic Plan to meet local housing needs. The HOME Consortium’s 2020 HOME estimated grant allocation will be approximately $1,015,097. Proposed amendments to the 2018 and 2019 Annual Action Plans include updates to incorporate specific details on HOME-funded projects.

• DRAFT Annual Action Plan FY 2020 Incorporating Amendments to FY 2018 and 2019 Annual Action Plan

The public hearing will be broadcast online and will be telecast live on Comcast Channel 21. In response to the COVID-19 emergency, Governor Inslee issued Proclamation 20-28, prohibiting public agencies from conducting in-person public meetings.  To comply with this order, the Skagit County Board of Commissioners will hold a virtual public hearing on April 28, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. The public hearing will be available by telephone, broadcast online, and will be telecast live on Comcast Channel 21. Please call the Clerk of the Board at (360) 416-1300 before the meeting is scheduled to start if you would like to sign up to provide public testimony.  The Clerk will need your name and the town or city where you reside.  To participate in the public hearing, call 1 (872) 240-3311 (access code: 516 290 549).  Once the public hearing is opened, those who signed up will be called on one-at-a-time to provide public testimony for up to 3 minutes. Additional arrangements to reasonably accommodate special needs, including accessibility or interpreter, will be made upon receiving three-day advance notice. Contact Linda Hammons at (360) 416-1300, or for Spanish language contact, contact Maria Vivanco at (360) 416-1532.

The public comment period for the 2020 Annual Action Plan and 2018 and 2019 Amendments opens on April 1, 2020 and closes at 4:30 p.m. on May 1, 2020.

Copies of the draft plan and amendments may be downloaded here. Written comments may also submitted to George Kosovich, Skagit County Public Health, 700 S. Second Street Room 301, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 or georgek@co.skagit.wa.us.

Accepting Letters of Inquiry for Pre-Development Funding from Skagit County
Skagit County is accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOI) to fund pre-development activities for affordable housing. Letters are accepted on a rolling basis and more information can be found here.

The plan was guided by a task force of community members and developed by assessing data collected through surveys, community meetings, focus groups, individual interviews, state specific tools and support from the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Technical Assistance Collective (TAC). Objectives for Skagit County’s plan were determined by Commerce’s Local Plan Guidelines. If you would like to provide comments or have questions, email or call Sarah Hinman at sarahh@co.skagit.wa.us or 360-416-1507.

• Skagit County 2019 Homeless Housing Plan
• Skagit County Housing Plan Projections [xlsx]

Now Accepting CDBG Pre-Applications

Skagit County seeks preliminary applications for projects eligible for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) through the Washington State Department of Commerce. This pre-application process is intended to help inform Skagit County about CDBG-eligible projects that may be a priority for a full application in 2020.  Application materials are due by 4:30 p.m., January 31, 2020 and are available here.

Measuring Local Homelessness & Our Response

Homelessness: FAQ's

Reports:

Skagit County Housing Action Plan

Skagit County Affordable Housing Needs
Local Community Housing Profiles

Recovery Housing and Employment Needs Assessment

Community Report: Housing in Skagit County

Housing Summit documents and presentations:

• Powerpoint Presentation from the Housing Summit
• Is There Enough Affordable Housing in Skagit County?
• Housing Summit Report (posted March 4, 2016)
• Press release (posted March 4, 2016)
• Introduction of local data and effective models
• Solutions and Strategies

Building a Skagit County Housing Affordability Strategy
Updated Report: 2016
Two out of every five households in Skagit County cannot afford the home they occupy. The attached report describes in detail the scope of our affordable housing shortfall and 12 recommendations to address this crucial issue.

Homelessness in Skagit County
At any point in time, at least 957 people in Skagit County are homeless (2011 Homeless Count). Throughout the year, hundreds more face the prospect of losing their homes due to precarious financial conditions, domestic violence, health crises, and chronic mental health and chemical dependency conditions. Furthermore, the rising cost of housing and stagnant wages increases the risk of people losing their housing, and makes it increasingly difficult to find affordable housing.
Skagit County: The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness [Pdf]