The Greensboro City Council allocated all $59.4 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds in August 2022.
The City Council then allocated the $59.4 million in the general fund that was freed up by dumping the $59.4 million in ARP funds into the budget.
But that doesn’t mean all the ARP funds have been spent.
On Tuesday, March 7, the City Council will hold a public hearing on allocating $6.6 million the city received from the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
This money is specifically for assisting individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness.
The HUD ARP funds are to be used to help those who are:
- Homeless
- At risk of homelessness
- Fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking
- Populations where providing supportive services or assistance would prevent the family’s homelessness or would serve those at greater risk of homelessness
- Veterans and families that include a veteran that meet one of the preceeding criteria
In order to accomplish those goals, the $6.6 million in HOME-ARP funds can be used for production or preservation of affordable housing, tenant based rental assistance, supportive services including homeless prevention services and housing counseling and the purchase and development of non-congregate shelters.
The city proposal for spending the HOME-ARP money includes spending $2.5 million on supportive services, $1.5 million on tenant based rental assistance, $2.3 for development of affordable rental housing and $330,000 for administration and planning.
According to the report from the Greensboro Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, the No. 1 need identified by stakeholders was for affordable housing. The estimate is that 10 new housing units will be built for the homeless population, 50 households will be supported by tenant based rental assistance and 150 will be served with permanent supportive housing units with supportive services.
I have a novel idea. REduce taxes & regulations so that businesses & individuals can create more jobs. No bureauacraps necessary.
Keep your eyes on this money. Can’t wait to see how this council will waste it….and they will.
Hey! I ain’t their money.
Dear John,
I have been homeless and still feel insecure in my current housing situation (LivGreenGardens, Utah Place), bought by NJ Management a year ago February. One of the first things the new owners did was kick out anyone who was on Section8. At the time, there were no Section8 open, and there was an up to two-year waiting list.
I’m 66 now and spent about a quarter century of my life in the building trades, possessing a builder’s license at one time. I have designed several stick-built-on-slab houses in the 400-600 square foot range that could be built efficiently and inexpensively. These homes could be constructed in dedicated communities and would be affordable to rent or purchase. By the way, Section8 will also pay for mortgages as well as leases. These units would be detached multi-housing and are not intended as charity, but rather as purchased or leased for modest profit. The demand for such housing units is astronomical and building them could satisfy a well-known, underserved market that is desperately in need.
If I had the financial wherewithal, building these communities would be my absolute mission and passion. Everyone deserves a secure home.
Thank you for covering this severe need.
Blessings and peace to you and yours.
It’s a wonderful idea Mr. Eichhorn. They’ve tried this in my hometown of Petaluma CA. Many of these types of homes were built and filled with individual homeless occupants last summer. This winter when the rains came and some of the homes leaked, contractors were unable to enter the homes to make needed roof and floor repairs because the hoarding situation was so severe they couldn’t see into the home or move about. The people occupying these dwellings were angry that they were then relocated to hotels so the places could be cleaned out until repairs were made and that some of their moldy and rotted belongings were discarded.
Unfortunately, most homeless people don’t want to live in permanent housing, won’t be responsible for taking care of nice things given to them, and won’t abide by any requirements to live in decent housing. And most of them will complain and expect more when given stuff for free.
Yes, there’s a serious need and the more we give people free stuff the greater the need will be. Providing job opportunities, a chance for benefits like health care and mental health care through work, the ability to rent their own low-cost housing, serious drug rehab, and economic/budget education is the best way to help people who have no home currently. People will change if they want and nothing will help if they aren’t motivated within themselves to do better. It’s really that simple.