Whatcom
County Housing Advisory Committee (WCHAC)
The WCHAC will
review applications for certain housing related projects and
make recommendations to the County Executive.
Re-Entry Housing Pilot Project Report (year 3) 2011 
City Gate Re-Entry Housing Project Final Report 2011
Whatcom County Homeless Housing Plan
2011 Homeless Person Count Report
Press Release for 2011 Report
2010 Homeless Person Count Report
2009 Homeless
Person Count Report
2008 Homeless Person Count Report
2007 Homeless Person Count Report
2006 Homeless Person Count Report
Stakeholders Forum April 1, 2009
HGAP Homeless Project 2007-2010
2060
Very low-income
housing funds
The
2002 Washington State Legislature passed SHB 2060 that requires
county auditors to charge a ten-dollar recording fee on all
recorded documents with the exception of those previously
excluded from any fees. One of the purposes of the
fund is to support operations and maintenance costs of housing
projects or units within housing projects that are affordable
to very low-income persons with incomes at or below 50 percent
of the area median income and that require a supplement to
rent revenue to cover ongoing operating expenses.
The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Fund subsidy
enables housing to be affordable to a broader range of very
low-income households than would be possible without such
subsidy. Funds will be used to fill the gap between
eligible operating costs and project income.
In
2004 Whatcom County entered into 2060 Interlocal Agreement
with the all the municipalities of Whatcom County. The County
Executive has established a citizens advisory committee to
advise the County on the allocation of the 60% county portion
2060 funds (40% of funds collected are returned to the state)
. This Advisory Committee is currently named the Whatcom County
Housing Advisory Committee and is an Advisory Committee to
the Whatcom County Executive.
Information regarding the membership, activities and minutes
of this advisory committee can be found on the Whatcom County
Health Department website under
http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/health/hlipac/index.jsp#housing.
(as of 9/26/05 this website has not been updated)
ELIGIBLE
PROJECTS
Based
upon recommendations of the Whatcom County Housing Advisory
Committee, Whatcom County will fund projects for very low-income
households (50% and below of area median income), and projects
for very low-income persons with special needs. (including
disabilities and homelessness).
ELIGIBLE
APPLICANTS
Non-profits,
Agencies/ Providers of affordable housing, Cities, Towns,
the County, providing affordable housing in Whatcom County,
Washington in accordance with SHB 2060 Affordable Housing
Program.
ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES
These
funds will be allocated as required by RCW and the Interlocal
Cooperation Agreement in the following manner:
- Operating
Funds: Maintenance and operation funds for shelters, transitional
housing, or for rental assistance voucher programs.
- Housing
Retention: To provide home rehabilitation and emergency repairs
for housing occupied by Whatcom County residents at or below
the 50% of the area median income.
- Capital
Funds: For the development of transitional and permanent housing
including the acquisition and rehabilitation or construction
costs. These funds can be used as a matching contribution
with other funding sources such as (but not limited to)
CDBG and Home Funding.
The
Whatcom County Health Department, 512 Girard Street Bellingham,
and Human Services Division supports the citizen advisory
board and provides administrative services for 2060 funds.
Contact:
Human Services Division at 360 676-6724
2163
The Homelessness housing and assistance act
The
2005 Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed Second
Substitute House Bill 2163 or ESSHB 2163 an ACT Relating to
preventing and ending homelessness in the State of Washington.
HB 2163 requires county auditors to charge an additional
surcharge of ten dollars on recorded documents. One
of the purposes of the fund is to support operations and maintenance
costs of housing projects or units within housing projects
that serve needs identified in the county ten-year homeless
housing plan. The county plan is required to include a minimum
goal of reducing homelessness by 50% by July 1, 2015.
Whatcom
County has chosen to add the responsibilities for the administration
of 2163 funds to the established citizens advisory committee
established by the County Executive in 2004 advise the County
regarding the allocation of the 2060 funds. This Advisory
Committee is currently called the Whatcom County Housing Advisory
Committee and is an Advisory Committee to the Whatcom County
Executive Office. The citizens advisory committee will advise
the County on the allocation of the county portion of 2163
funds.
Information regarding the membership, activities and minutes
of this advisory committee can be found on the Whatcom County
Health Department website under housing. http://wwwdev/health/wchac/index.jsp
ELIGIBLE
PROJECTS
Based
upon recommendations of the Whatcom County Housing Advisory
Committee, Whatcom County will fund projects for homeless
individuals ,families and families with children based upon
the priorities established in the county ten-year homeless
housing plan and meeting guidelines established by the Washington
State Department of community Trade and Economic Development.
ELIGIBLE
APPLICANTS
Non-profits,
Agencies/Providers of affordable housing, Cities, Towns, the
County, providing affordable housing in Whatcom County, Washington
in accordance with HB2163 Affordable Housing Program.
ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES
These
funds will be allocated as required by RCW and the Interlocal
Cooperation Agreement in the following manner:
Eligible
activities under the local plans include:
(a) Rental and furnishing of
dwelling units for the use of homeless persons;
(b) Costs of developing affordable
housing for homeless persons, and services for formerly homeless
individuals and families residing in transitional housing
or permanent housing and still at risk of homelessness;
(c) Operating subsidies for
transitional housing or permanent housing serving formerly
homeless families or individuals;
(d) Services to prevent homelessness,
such as emergency eviction prevention programs including temporary
rental subsidies to prevent homelessness;
(e) Temporary services to assist
persons leaving state institutions and other state programs
to prevent them from becoming or remaining homeless;
(f) Outreach services for homeless
individuals and families;
(g) Development and management
of local homeless plans including homeless census data collection;
identification of goals, performance measures, strategies,
and costs and evaluation of progress towards established goals;
(h) Rental vouchers payable
to landlords for persons who are homeless or below thirty
percent of the median income or in immediate danger of becoming
homeless; and
(i) Other activities to reduce
and prevent homelessness as identified for funding in the
local plan.
The
Whatcom County Health Department, 512 Girard Street Bellingham,
and Human Services Division supports the citizen advisory
board and provides administrative services for 2163 funds.
Contact:
Human Services Division (360)
676-6724
Committee Bylaws, minutes, agendas and timeline for committee actions will be available at this site.
Contact
Whatcom County Health Department
Human Service Division
(360) 676-6724
Links
For information on homelessness in Whatcom County see The City of Bellingham human services and homelessness web site .
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