The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates funding to the City of Spokane as part of an Entitlement Program. Administered by the City of Spokane's Community, Housing and Human Services Department (CHHS), the Entitlement Program includes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The City of Spokane reserves the right to determine which eligible activity will be funded in accordance with community-based needs and goals.
The CDBG Program is designed for the benefit of low and moderate-income individuals. Each activity supported by CDBG funds must meet one of three national objectives as outlined in 24 CFR 570.208. The most commonly used national objective is for activities 1) benefiting low and moderate-income persons (earning less than 80% area median income). Other ways to qualify projects include 2) activities which aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight and 3) activities designed to meet community development needs having particular urgency.
The City of Spokane is required to assemble a Consolidated Plan every 5 years as outlined in 24 CFR Part 91. The overall goal of the Consolidated Planning Process is to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities principally for low and moderate-income persons.
Through the Consolidated Plan (often called the "Con Plan"), The City of Spokane engages the community, both in the process of developing and reviewing the proposed Plan, and as partners and stakeholders in the implementation of the CDBG Program. By consulting and collaborating with other public and private entities, the City can better align CDBG funded activities, leveraging a range of other plans, programs and resources to achieve greater impact.
Prior to awarding CDBG funds, CHHS develops a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP lists priority needs and goals outlined in the Consolidated Plan. Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate how their project/activity aligns with the intent and purpose of the Consolidated Plan and the specific Annual Action Plan goals set for each Program Year.
CHHS conducts a threshold review of CDBG applications to ensure they meet national objective criteria and determine the project/activity is eligible. HUD affords some flexibility in program design, but they must meet a national objective. HUD provides a list of potentially eligible activities in 24 CFR 570.201. The City establishes the local priorities through consolidated planning, therefore, not everything allowed by HUD will be included in the City’s CDBG RFPs.
Applications that meet threshold requirements are reviewed by the CHHS Board. The Board will review each eligible application and provide recommendations for funding. CHHS Board funding recommendations are then presented to a City Council Subcommittee, during a City Council briefing session, and finally approved with the Annual Action Plan for that Program Year.
All CDBG funded projects are subject to environmental review procedures as outlined in 24 CFR Part 58. CHHS staff assumes primary responsibility for conducting the appropriate level of environmental review as defined in Subpart D. No project will be allowed to proceed without an appropriate environmental review being completed. Doing so without an appropriate (completed) environmental review may make the project ineligible for reimbursement.
The 2012 General Fund Human Services priorities were adopted by City Council per Resolution 2010-0052: Reducing or preventing homelessness among the most vulnerable populations such as the disabled, veterans, youth and families; Promoting and ensuring nutrition and food security; Improving access to and utilization of mental and physical care.
The Human Services Board worked with City Council and the Mayor's Office to establish criteria and recommendations for City funding of human service programs. Request for Proposals are made available, applications are reviewed by a CHHS committee and funding recommendations are made to the CHHS Board. The Board's recommendations are forwarded to City Council for approval. Upon Council approval, contracts are executed with the funded programs.
These General Funds are budgeted annually by the Mayor and City Council.
The City of Spokane was approved to spend $4,628,671 dollars in one-time HOME-American Rescue Plan (not to be confused with ARPA) regional planning funds from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD).
HUD approved the City of Spokane to allocate the HOME-ARP funds as follows:
| Supportive Services | $ 462,867.00 |
| Development of Affordable Rental Housing | $ 3,471,504.00 |
| Administration and Planning | $ 694,300.00 |
| Total HOME ARP Allocation | $ 4,628,671.00 |
A request for proposals (RFP) will be published in August 2023 to identify eligible projects for funding. Please refer questions to Heather Page at hpage@spokanecity.org.
The City of Spokane Multifamily Housing Program provides loans for the creation of affordable rental housing within the Spokane City limits. The program utilizes Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The City awards HOME funds as low-interest loans to for-profit, non-profit, and Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) project sponsors. HOME funds must assist in the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of low-income rental housing. In exchange for HOME funding, a project must commit some or all of a project’s housing units to a HOME period of affordability.
HOME funds can only be spent on eligible expenses and projects must comply with certain federal requirements. Projects awarded HOME funds must agree to tenant rent and income restrictions for a period of affordability. Per unit subsidy limits are regulated by HUD and cannot be exceeded. You can find those limits, and the HOME Program Policy and Procedure Manual in these linked documents:
If you have questions or comments please contact the CHHS department at spokanechhs@spokanecity.org.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity. We encourage and support affirmative advertising and marketing in which there are not barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
HOME funds are provided as a loan. In addition to the RFP process, sponsors must undergo an underwriting process to be eligible for HOME funds. HOME Loans accrue interest and payments are required. Terms are negotiable.
Some HOME funds may be set-aside for Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) that are nonprofit housing developers meeting specific criteria. The City must certify CHDO designation for any application for CHDLO set-aside funds.
HOME Project sponsors must commit to certain tenant income and rent restrictions on some or all project units for periods of affordability. The HUD period of affordability is 20 years for new construction and 5-15 years for acquisition/rehabilitation based on the amount of HOME funds invested in the project.
Tenants of HOME-assisted units must have incomes below specified low-income limits for the Spokane area. Also, rent cannot exceed affordable rent limits. Recent HUD-supplied income and rent limits are linked below. Program staff annually monitors HOME income and rent restrictions using these linked forms.
Income and rent restrictions are recorded as a covenant running with the land. The City monitors projects annually for compliance with program affordability requirements. During the City period of affordability, loan balances may be eligible for forgiveness and early loan repayment can extinguish HOME affordability requirements.
Projects are evaluated, in part, on how they meet the housing needs of Spokane's priority populations as identified in the City's Consolidated Community Development and Housing Plan and the annual Action Plans.
HOME funds cannot be provided for commercial space improvements, improvements to owner-occupied units, land-banking, off-site improvements, or debt refinance.
The Homeless Housing, Operations, and Services Grant Program (HHOS) combines federal, state and local homeless resources into a single grant opportunity. The HHOS is designed to support an integrated system of housing assistance to prevent homelessness and quickly re-house households who are unsheltered. This grant provides resources to address the needs of homeless and at risk households as established and documented in the updated Regional 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, The Road Home.
The City of Spokane Community, Housing and Human Services Department is the local grantee with the Washington State Department of Commerce and Housing and Urban Development.
Congress passed the HEARTH Act in May 2009. Among other changes, the Act expanded the Emergency Shelter Grant by adding rapid re-housing, more robust homelessness prevention, and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) as eligible activities. The HEARTH Act also renamed the program the Emergency Solutions Grant. It emphasized the importance of helping people to quickly connect with or remain in permanent housing after they experience a housing crisis or homelessness. HUD's goal is to help communities improve integration with mainstream services, strengthen system-level coordination, and build on lessons learned from years of practice and research to invest in proven solutions such as rapid re-housing.
ESG regulations allow funds to be used for several components such as street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, HMIS and the necessary administrative costs for each.
The Emergency Solutions Grant program is included along with the HUD Formula Grants (CDBG and HOME). In 2012 HUD made significant changes to the ESG program which resulted in 2 separate allocations for that year.
Funding recommendations are reviewed and approved by the CHHS Board after the applications have been reviewed and scored by the committee. CHHS Board recommendations are forwarded to City Council for approval and contracting with agencies.
The Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG) is designed to support an integrated system of housing assistance to prevent homelessness and quickly re-house households who are unsheltered. This grant provides resources to address the needs of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, as supported by the Community, Housing and Human Services Board and local homeless plan. The CHG provides funding for operations, facility support, rental assistance for all households and rental assistance for TANF families in addition to funding for the Housing and Essential Needs program.
Funding from the CHG program provide agencies, selected through a competitive RFP process, with funds needed to assist the city meet its goal of reducing homelessness.
The Homeless Housing Assistance Grant (HHAA) funds provide an opportunity for innovation and collaboration in delivering homeless services in the City of Spokane. Homeless Housing Assistance Act funds are one of the most flexible funding sources to local communities. Communities are able to use these funds to leverage other funding sources and to implement innovative practices.
In 2010, the City of Spokane opted to establish its own homeless housing assistance act program, thereby becoming an eligible recipient of the City's share of the revenue generated through the Act. The City of Spokane has been a community leader in homeless planning since the 1980's. The City has been the lead in developing the 10-year plan, implementing the annual point in time count and most recently the development of the Spokane Regional Homeless Governance Council. The 2010 point in time count of homeless individuals showed that approximately 84% of Spokane's homeless population resides with the City of Spokane limits. This fact, coupled with the City's extensive history and experience as a leader in homelessness reduction efforts, leads the City to exercise the option to establish our own HHAA program.
Funding from HHAA provide agencies, selected through a competitive RFP process, with funds needed to assist the city meet its goal of reducing homelessness.
As of November 1, 2011, the Washington State Disability Lifeline program was replaced with the Housing and Essential Needs program. It is estimated that the Housing and Essential Needs program will have the capacity to serve approximately 50% of those previously enrolled in the Disability Lifeline program.
The program will serve clients eligible for Department of Social and Health (DSHS) Medical Care Services (MCS). Housing and Essential Needs may provide assistance with rent and utility payments, personal health and hygiene items, cleaning supplies and bus passes. It should be noted that recipients are not entitled to assistance, as assistance is dependent on available funding and services.
The City of Spokane Community, Housing and Human Services Department is the local grantee with the Department of Commerce for the program in Spokane County. The department has awarded a sub-grant to Goodwill to implement the program. For more information on the program or to see if you qualify, please contact:
Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest
130 E. Third Avenue
Spokane, WA 99202
509.462.0518 or 509.838.4246
The City of Spokane Minor Home Repair and Single Family Rehabilitation programs provide grants and loans to low and moderate-income homeowners for health and safety repairs and home rehabilitation projects.
The Minor Home Repair program provides small home repairs at no cost to the homeowner. Typical repairs include fixing plumbing leaks, repairing appliances, furnace servicing, and window and door repair. This program also improves accessibility, including installation of grab bars and wheelchair ramps.
The Single Family Rehabilitation program provides larger home repairs as low interest loans up to $50,000. Typical rehabilitation includes updating electrical service, replacing windows, and modifying homes for aging or multi-generational families. This program can also replace failing roofs, water lines, and sewer lines.
You may be eligible if you are low-to-moderate income, and your owner-occupied single family home is located within Spokane City limits. Certain requirements apply.
The City of Spokane's home rehabilitation programs are managed through SNAP. Staff can help you complete an application and assess the work needed to make your home safe, healthy, and more energy efficient. SNAP will prepare a list of eligible repairs, as well as grants and loans available. All work is performed by licensed and bonded contractors authorized to perform work provided by this federally-funded program. You will be asked to approve all work before the contractor is paid.
Contact information:
Single Family Rehabilitation
Phone: (509) 319-3080
SNAP: Neighbors by Your Side – Single Family Home Rehab
Minor Home Repair
Phone: (509)319-3007
SNAP: Neighbors by Your Side – Home Repair
Contact the City of Spokane with all your loan questions at (509) 625-6327 or CHHSLoans@spokanecity.org. We can discuss loan status, balances, payments, coupon books, and finance options.
We currently cannot receive electronic payments. Mail your monthly loan payments to:
CHHS Loans
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd #650
Spokane, WA 99201
Email CHHSLoans@spokanecity.org with the borrower name(s), property address, payoff date, and borrower's signed authorization to release loan information. We cannot accept or send payoff requests via fax.
The City of Spokane is a grantee of the City of Spokane Single Homeless Outreach Project. The Community, Housing and Human Services Board is initiating efforts through outreach to collect data on single homeless individuals to help in the design of a coordinated assessment system that best meets the needs of the single homeless client population. The development of an effective Coordinated Assessment System for this population is required by our funders, the federal Housing and Urban Development and the Washington State Department of Commerce funding sources.
As a recipient of Consolidated Homeless Grant, Emergency Solutions Grants, and Continuum of Care Program grant funds, the City of Spokane, must implement a coordinated assessment system that serves all populations in the community by December 31, 2014. Currently our community lacks adequate data to provide sufficient documentation of the single homeless population and information on the populations housing needs and barriers. Data is essential in the planning of a coordinated assessment system for single homeless individuals. This outreach project would provide the capacity needed to reach these individuals, document their needs and refer them to appropriate services.
As a local grantee-the City of Spokane intends to distribute portions of the HHOS funds to local sub-grantee's through a competitive Request for Proposal process.
Single Homeless Outreach Project funds outreach, assessment, engagement and referral activities, staffing costs, administrative costs and data collection and reporting to the single homeless population served in this project.
Purpose The purpose of the Guidelines is to:
This document is incorporated into City of Spokane Single Homeless Outreach Project contracts and may be modified at any time during the grant period.
The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act) amended the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Among the changes, the HEARTH Act consolidates the three separate McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs (Supportive Housing program, Shelter Plus Care program, and Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation SRO program) into a single grant program known as the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program. The HEARTH Act also codifies into law the Continuum of Care and the year-round planning requirements that have long been encouraged as part of HUD's annual, competitive application for funding to assist homeless persons.
The CoC Program is designed to assist individuals (including unaccompanied youth) and families experiencing homelessness and to provide the services needed to help such individuals move into transitional and permanent housing, with the goal of long-term stability. More broadly, the program is designed to promote community-wide planning and strategic use of resources to address homelessness; improve coordination and integration with mainstream resources and other programs targeted to people experiencing homelessness; improve data collection and performance measurement; and allow each community to tailor its program to the particular strengths and challenges within that community.
The City of Spokane in an effort to develop a coordinated, integrated approach to ensuring homeless and/or at-risk families, as well as vulnerable homeless individual being discharged from health care institutions are provided the appropriate level of care, at the right level of intensity and in a coordinated and timely manner, ultimately leading to improved housing outcomes for these individuals. As such, the City of Spokane Community, Housing and Human Services Department contracted with non-profit agencies to implement the following Coordinated Assessment Initiatives;
The HFCA program is designed to serve families with children who are experiencing homelessness or residential instability and are at a high risk of homelessness. $270,000 is available for this initiative.
The H3 initiative aims to ensure vulnerable homeless individuals being discharged from health care institutions are discharged with an on-going multi-disciplinary system to ensure successful health and housing outcomes for these individuals. $95,000 is available for this initiative.
The City of Spokane Community, Housing and Human Services is the local grantee with the Washington State Department of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, and Empire Health Foundation.
