HomeMy WebLinkAboutFund 148 Carryover Request 3.26.24PO Box 658, Port Townsend, WA 98368 tel (360) 379-2827 info@habitatejc.org www. habitatejc.org
Date: March 25, 2024
To: Housing Fund Board c/o Carolyn Gallaway
From: Maria Drury, Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County (Habitat EJC)
Re: Request for carryover of unspent funds from 2023 Fund 148 grant
On behalf of Habitat EJC, I am writing to request a carryover of Affordable Housing funds awarded to
Habitat EJC for critical-repair work planned for 2023, and that the balance be added to the funding
awarded for work in 2024. These funds will be used as originally proposed: for critical repairs to
homes owned by very low-income residents in Jefferson County, primarily in the Quilcene/Brinnon
area.
Habitat is confident that we will be able to use the total funds (approximately $100,000) by
December 31, 2024. As of March 2024, $6,628 has been spent on eligible critical-repair projects.
MOUs are in place and the Habitat board has approved approximately $47,000 in future spending on
six active projects estimated to be completed by June 30, for a total of over 50,000 in the first half of
the year. We anticipate spending a similar amount in the second half of 2024.
Habitat is fully aware that awarded funds are intended by the County to be spent in the year for
which they were awarded, and that “carryover of unspent funds into the next program year upon
request is permissible with HFB approval.” This request was made via email on December 19, 2023;
however, we have only recently learned that it was made too late to be included in the Q4
appropriations request. We are hopeful that the HFB will recommend this carryover so that Habitat
can continue to build momentum for this vital work for very low-income residents of East Jefferson
County.
The reason for our request – and for similar requests in the past – comes down to “critical repairs in
rural areas are tricky to identify, scope, and execute.” As a result, even repairs that are identified and
approved in a given timeframe are subject to unexpected delays due to various factors including
contractor availability, supply chain issues, volunteer scheduling, and other unexpected challenges.
While Habitat successfully completed 5 critical repairs for very low-income residents in 2023, two
other projects initially scheduled for 2023 for extremely low-income residents <30% AMI (20% and
27%) were delayed, and the scope expanded, due extenuating circumstances. In one case there was
vandalism of the property before work could begin. In another, a tree fell on the home damaging the
roof and deck. In both cases the scope of work needed to be redefined in order to effectively
maintain the property and steward the resources already committed. In the case of the fallen tree,
the new scope included removal of additional hazard trees as well as repair of the roof. These are
two examples of challenges faced by both our repair partners and Habitat as the service provider.
Because the funds are released after work is completed, expenditures are far less predictable than if
they were tied to a centralized service program, such as a shelter facility.
We build strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter.
Habitat EJC is sensitive to the County’s challenges resulting from funds remaining unspent and would
like to work with the County staff to resolve any process hiccups that may contribute. We propose
providing a progress report in July 2024, to demonstrate accountability and so that the County is
reassured that spending is on track for 2024. Going forward, Habitat will confirm the County’s
invoicing and request deadlines so that communication and timeliness are both improved.
In closing, we encourage the Housing Fund Board to recommend to the Board of County
Commissioners that they approve the carryover of 2023 funding from Fund 148 for use in 2024.
Thank you for your consideration.
In partnership,
Maria Drury
Director of Engagement