WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: County narrows focus for federally funded housing projects

Karina Andrew reports from the Island County Commissioners work session on Mar. 2.

Island County commissioners narrowed down the types of housing-related projects toward which they may put American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds during a meeting March 2.

Commissioners Melanie Bacon, Janet St. Clair and Jill Johnson determined they were most interested in funding pre-development work, such as studies, permitting and design; acquisition of lots where affordable housing could be constructed; rehabilitation of existing structures to low-income or transitional housing; and consultation services to help the county determine the best projects to invest in.

They Said It

For [Commissioner Janet] St. Clair, housing projects at the Langley Fairgrounds and a county-owned lot in Oak Harbor may meet that requirement [of being capable of completion within a reasonable time frame]. She expressed her interest in putting ARPA funds toward pre-development costs for these projects during the meeting…

[Commissioner Melanie] Bacon said she feels it would help the county to establish a housing-related goal. According to one estimate from the Human Services department, the county is about 2,000 affordable units short of what it needs, she said. She proposed a goal for the county to assist in funding 200 affordable units each year.