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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/15/2020 07 Letter of Support for Justice Housing Grant App. to WA DoC for Permanent Supportative Housing a\'4\lyy bxk ik 1 1-:41 PPPPPP+Pd s' lii it tYlltYlA.\ta. BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 7. For Meeting of: September 15, 2020 ITEM TITLE: Consideration of Letter of Support for Justice Housing grant application to Washington State Department of Commerce for Permanent Supportative Housing SUBMITTED BY: Joan Davenport, Community Development Director Randy Beehler, Communications Manager SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Justice Housing of Yakima is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop a "micro- housing" village for very low income residents. These units will be permanent supportive housing. Justice Housing is request a letter of support for a grant application from Washington State Department of Commerce. ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: Approve letter and direct a final version to be provided to Justice Housing to accompany their grant application. ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type L uest from Justice F1ousin fora rant Stapp rt Letter 9/3/2020 backup Material D sup letter tom yakima city council 9/3/ 020 r Me o 2 Zr 4 I x P.O. Box 1097, Yakima, WA 98907 www.iusticehousinq.orq (509) 406-6443 August 7, 2020 TO: Mayor Patricia Byers City of Yakima Council Members FROM: David Helseth President, Justice Housing Yakima RE: Letter of Support Justice Housing Yakima (JIIY), a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization in Yakima is requesting a letter of support from the City of Yakima for the application we will be making to the Washington State Department of Commerce to their 2020 Community Housing and Cottage Community funding grant. The application is due September 29, 2020.. The mission of Justice Housing Yakima is to build and maintain a micro (tiny) housing complex that will help formerly homeless folk with affordable housing in a caring and supportive community. This will be a Permanent Supportive Housing model where residents will pay rent (up to 30% of their income). JHY will partner with other agencies in Yakima to provide the case management(supportive senrces) that are essential for their wellbeing. We are currently purchasing 3.34 acres of land behind Milroy Park for this project from the Baur family who previously operated a family garden nursery on this site. They were excited to work with us on making this project happen. The site is ideal for Cottage Hill Village in that is near a bus line, close to services like grocery store and medical services, Inyour letter of support, you may want to reference steps the City of Yakima has taken to address housing issues and in particular housing for homeless. For example, • The City of Yakima recognizes the need for at least 300 new housing units every year. • Serious shortage of affordable housing units for low income families/homeless • The City of Yakima voted to recognize micro (tiny) housing developments as multi- housing project - R-3 zoning. The property we are purchasing is already zoned R-3 • The need to infill lots within the City of Yakima - this project addresses the maximizing of limited lots: • The City of Yakima supports organizations seeking innovative forms of housing. Because Justice Housing Yakima is a fairly new organization (2016), we lack proven capacity to undertake all aspects of this project. The Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund is looking for organization with this proven,record which puts us at a disadvantage. To that end, we are currently seeking to connect with an established organization in Yakima that has the financial, technical and administrative resources that will partner with us to make this a stronger 3 proposal. You will need to recognize this element in your letter. The Housing Trust fund is looking for organizations with this proven record, which puts us at a disadvantage. Hopefully you can support our efforts in finding a potential p er. Thank you for your support in this effort. We will keep in touch with you as this project moves forward. Together we want to make Yakima a stronger and better community. Providing affordable housing far people experiencing homelessness is a major step in reaching this goal. Sincerely, tom: David C. Helsetl President• Justice Housing Yakima 4 September 15, 2020 Washington State Department of Commerce, Housing Trust Fund 2020 Community Housing/Cottage Communities Program Subject: City of Yakima Letter of Program Support for Justice Housing of Yakima Project Dear Housing Trust Fund Grant Manager, This letter is will acknowledge the full support of the Mayor and.Yakima City Council for the Justice Housing of Yakima application for funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce "2020 Community Housing and Cottage,Community Funding Grant"to fund Permanent Supportive Housing of approximately 30 micro-homes within the City of Yakima, Washington. These units are intended for Permanent Supportive Housing which is an identified need in the City of Yakima 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Justice Housing has worked extensively with the Yakima Community to gain public trust and acceptance with their conceptual program. This will be the first "micro-home" village in Yakima. Affordable housing, particularly for low to moderate income residents is a desperate need in our community and is a "Strategic Priority' for the Yakima City Council. The City of Yakima has taken a number of actions to promote and encourage the development of in-fill housing, construction of new housing and maintenance of existing housing. These include extensive amendments to City Zoning ordinance that promotes micro-housing developments as a permitted use in R-3 zoning district, amendments to the City Ordinance for the State Environmental Policy Act(SERA) to increase the flexible threshold for exemptions to the maximum of 60 units, reduced the level of review for many types of residential development, increased the number and range of zoning districts where housing is permitted and various other techniques. Additionally, the City of Yakima is currently preparing a Housing Action Plan, under the Department of Commerce Program HB 1923 fund. At this time, the City of Yakima has not processed the land use permits for development of this project and we understand that Justice Housing will partner with an established community partner to manage the project. Patricia Byers, Mayor