Funds for Affordable Housing and Homelessness

At its March 18 meeting the Budget and Finance Committee approved an administration proposal for $3.5 million in funding for affordable housing and homelessness. You can watch the meeting here. The proposal will go before the full Council on March 20th for first reading.  You can find the packet here when it is posted. 

The funding comes from the current year budget surplus. As proposed, no money will be spent until program guidelines are approved, which should be presented before summer break. Subsequent year funding from a dedicated source will still need to be approved, but I am pleased with Council’s major step towards addressing this challenge.

The issue of affordable housing has been before the Council in one form or another for six years.  I have been deeply involved in the issue during my time on Council and I am gratified by this latest action.  Many thanks to the Mayor, my colleagues on Council, Co-Chair Debra Hensley and fellow members of the Mayor’s Commission on Homelessness, and the many, many citizens who have worked diligently and doggedly as advocates for this issue over the years.