Housing and Community Development Commission reviews requests for 2024 funds
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Housing and Community Development Commission met Wednesday to start the decision process of where 2024 funds will go.
Representatives from other community housing groups also joined the meeting at City Hall.
The commission heard proposals from 11 organizations during the meeting. Projects were presented to the commission including a request for a certain amount of funds.
According to the commission, there are three different areas where the funds are coming from. That includes about $820,000 from the Community Development Block Grant Program, $540,000 from the HOME investment partnerships program and an estimated $644,726 in Reallocated Funds. The goal of those funds is to have them spent before Dec. 31.
Wednesday’s requests fell under both CDBG and HOME funds. Overall, there was $1,464,975 requested in CDBG funding requests and $1,245,000 in HOME funding requests for fiscal year 2024.
Some of the groups giving their proposals included the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, Habitat for Humanity, Central Missouri Community Action and the Voluntary Action Center.
The Voluntary Action Center proposed $100,000 of the funds to go towards their Opportunity Campus. A commission member said that the project has been in discussion for about four years now. The group also expressed their frustration during the meeting.
"I can't resist. My only comment is it's just taking forever," Michael Fletcher, a Housing and Community Development Commission member, said after the pitch. "You've come to us here after year, after year for a long time trying to get this off the ground. This seems like it's taken forever."
VAC representatives added they were frustrated, as well, and said the problem lies mostly in getting fund approvals and building site permits. VAC added that they’ll be ready to start construction in the fall if “the dominoes fall into place.”
The group said the construction would take 12-18 months.
The 23,600-square-foot shelter would be built at Bowling Street and Business Loop 70 East. In February, City Council approved a conditional use permit for its construction. However, the plan has been met with some criticism from nearby companies also in the area.
Plans for the Opportunity Campus include 75 beds that could expand to 100 if needed. The center would host showers, laundry, access to the internet, some transportation and is considering a limited medical clinic.
In their proposal, the group adds that they believe the center could provide shelter to 500 individuals in a year. They also included the 2020 Missouri Balance of State report, that there were 237 sheltered and unsheltered individuals in Boone County.
