County uses contingency funds to support additional housing‑affordability projects after strong applicant interest

The Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee on Aug. 14 approved a resolution to use contingency funds to support additional applicants to the Housing Affordability and Supportive Infrastructure (HASSEG) grant program after the committee heard that this funding round produced many worthy proposals.

Legislator Deborah Dawson explained that the HED committee saw strong demand for these funds and that historically the county underspent the HASSEG allocation in past years; unspent amounts reverted to unassigned fund balance. To accommodate the current round of applicants, the committee approved a contingent appropriation to finance qualifying projects.

Committee members said the grants would support a variety of locally proposed housing solutions, including rehabilitating vacant homes and addressing mobile‑home park infrastructure; legislators noted the county has limited direct mechanisms for permanently providing affordable housing and that small, targeted grants can leverage local partnerships. The vote to use contingency funds was recorded as unanimous.