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MARYSVILLE, Wash., September 27, 2021 – The City of Marysville is focusing $248,750 from federal Community Development Block Grant funds toward projects addressing homelessness. 

The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program provides annual grants to develop urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment. The program expands economic opportunities, specifically for low- to moderate-income persons, authorized under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93-383. 

The City of Marysville has partnered with Snohomish County and the City of Everett to develop their 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan which published the findings of the city’s housing assessment. The assessment found that homelessness is on the rise with the number of unsheltered households rising 9 percent from 2017 to 2018. In January 2019, 794 reported being unsheltered and by September, of the same year, that number rose 16.7 percent to 926. 

Additionally, the Census Bureau’s 2013 American Community Survey found that Snohomish County had a total of 302,725 housing units, 93 percent of which were occupied. Of these occupied units, 84 percent were three-bedroom, averaging a Fair Market Rent of $2,733. The report finds that even if all affordable to extremely low-income units were made available to low-income renters, there would still not be enough units to house them all.

As of 2019, the Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO) has had 2,419 individuals on the waitlist for Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), reflecting a substantial need for additional affordable housing within Snohomish County. The average timeframe on the HASCO waitlist is 2,845 days. 

In response to this data, Snohomish County Executive Dave Sommers assembled a Housing Affordability Regional Taskforce (HART) to develop a 5-year action plan to meet the housing needs within Snohomish County. 

Within the Consolidated Plan SP-60, 91.415, the strategy, which will utilize these grant funds, involves assessing unsheltered individuals and families and connecting them with homeless prevention navigators who work with those facing eviction, exiting treatment programs, or other similar issues. 

Marysville is currently accepting grant applications to support these projects until Wednesday, October 20, at 4 p.m. with the funds becoming available for 2022 and 2023. Another estimated $56,250 from these grant funds will be used for public services. 

Eligible applicants are:

• Private non-profit organizations that have received 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and are registered as non-profit corporations in the State of Washington
• Faith-based organizations in accordance with 24 CFR 570.200 (j)
• Public agencies and city departments
• For-profit entities authorized under 24 CFR 570.201(o)
• Any party which is debarred or suspended or is otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal Assistance programs under Executive Order 12549, is NOT eligible per 24 CFR 85.35
• Activities must be consistent with the City of Marysville 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan. 

To view the application and more information online visit https://www.marysvillewa.gov/434/Community-Development-Block-Grants.

Author: Kienan Briscoe