CSPDC seeks $65K grant to improve five low-income units

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission is applying for a grant that would provide emergency repairs and health or home safety modifications to low-income households in its coverage area.

The $65,000 request is for a Housing Preservation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is the CSPDC’s first request for funding under the program.

If approved in full, the grant would assist approximately five households in an area that encompasses Augusta, Bath, Highland Rockbridge and Rockingham counties, the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro, as well as the 11 towns in the region.

Eligible households would be identified through housing non-profit waiting lists and referrals from local partner agencies.

The two-year HPG grant would specifically target:

• Owner-occupied single-family homes: Eligible very low- and low-income homeowners may receive grants for health, safety, and code-related repairs, emergency repairs and accessibility modifications.
• Eligible rental properties: Repairs and improvements may be provided to rental units owned by landlords who agree to make the rehabilitated units available to eligible very low- or low-income tenants for the required affordability period in accordance with USDA program regulations.

The repairs would be made at a cost of $52,000, assuming approximately $10,400 in improvements to each rental unit or single-family home for low-income households, and if approved, $13,000 would be applied to administrative costs.

The grant application states that a $52,000 match will be provided by subrecipients carrying out the projects through volunteer labor and donated materials.

In total, Virginia’s HPG allocation is $271,593, so the application if granted, would represent approximately 24 percent of funds allocated to the entire state. The CSPDC is one of 21 planning district commissions in the state.

Doing the math: Housing Preservation Grants for Virginia

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• $271,593: Amount allocated to state for Housing Preservation Grants
• $65,000: Grants funds requested by CSPDC in application, represents 24 percent of funds available to entire state
• $52,000: Allocated toward repairs at five units in region, assuming approx. $10,400 of improvements per unit
• $52,000: Match provided by partner agencies through volunteer labor and donated materials
• $13,000: Administrative costs for grant ($9,750 to CSPDC and $3,250 to subrecipients)

The CSPDC has expanded its role in housing in recent years by administering two programs through Virginia Housing that assist first-time homebuyers. It has also directed nearly $3 million toward the development of new affordable homeownership and rental units in the region. A housing study was also completed earlier this year which demonstrated housing rehabilitation as a critical need in the region, particularly in rural communities.

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As part of the process, the CSPDC will accept public comments on the proposal through Sept. 4 to be submitted with its pre-application to the USDA.

Comments may be sent to Regional Planner Philippe Bone at [email protected].

For information about other CSPDC’s housing initiatives, visit https://www.cspdc.org/programs-services/housing/.

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