By Jim Bloch
The city of Port Huron will direct about $870,000 in federal housing dollars to rental assistance for unhoused residents and those in danger of losing their housing.
The city council voted unanimously at its regular meeting June 9 to amend to the 2021 Annual Action Plan and HOME-American Rescue Plan Allocation Plan to reallocate the funds to tenant-based rental assistance and authorize the submission of the amended plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Before you is an amendment to our 2021 Action Plan to move $798,000 to tenant-based rental assistance,” said Jasmyn Thomas, deputy director of planning and community development for the city, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on YouTube. “It will be given to Blue Water Community Action if you approve the amendment to the agreement. They currently have a waitlist for their tenant-based rental assistance program, which funds one year of rental assistance for homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness. Right now, they have a really great demand for the program.”
Tenants would receive a total $798,000 in rental support; BWCA will receive $80,000 to administer the program.
The money originated under the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Congress directed $5 billion of the money to develop affordable rental homes, provide tenant-based rental assistance, launch support services for at-risk renters and develop non-congregate homeless shelters.
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority received nearly $64 million of the HOME-ARP funds.
BWCA has until 2030 to spend the funds.
“Because of the HUD regulations, the money is not easy (to administer) for new subrecipients,” said Thomas. “Blue Water Community Action knows what they’re doing. They’ve been doing rental assistance for a very long time. So, it’s a really good fit for them.”
Mayor Anita Ashford asked why rental assistance being recommended for the money.
“Their waitlist,” said Thomas. “The need is too great right now for rental assistance.”
Thomas said that efforts to build non-congregate housing or develop support services for at-risk renters did not work out.
“We’ve met with nonprofits and tried to give out this money in different capacities,” said Thomas.
She said the Community Services Coordinating Body for two years explored creating a new homeless shelter. But the federal mandate for a non-congregate facility – with individual bedrooms and bathrooms as opposed to an open sleeping hall and public restrooms– proved too expensive.
“It was cost prohibitive,” said Thomas.
Thomas also met with a half-dozen social service organizations to launch supportive services.
“We got one proposal but then that nonprofit pulled out,” said Thomas. The organization had staffing changes and could no longer administer the funds.
That’s another reason for moving the funds to BWCA, which offers wrap-around services to the individuals who receive assistance.
The vote was 6-0. Council member Conrad Haremza was absent.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
