Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approves three resolutions totaling $9.9 million

ANN ARBOR—At their May 6 meeting, The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved three resolutions totaling $9.9 million to support human services and crisis and permanent supportive housing during the next phase of the Covid-19 pandemic reponse. The Board also approved hazard pay for first responders through an agreement with the Police Officers Association of Michigan.

HUD Urban County Action Plan amendment: In response to the COVID-19 emergency, the Federal Government provided additional support to communities through the CARES Act. The Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) serves as steward for some of these resources and is re-focusing efforts on helping residents to secure permanent housing. A portion of the CARES Act funding flows through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and reaches communities though the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). 

The CDBG grant allocation to the Washtenaw Urban County is $1,267,964 and will be used to create and expand activities that serve low to moderate income communities and those with urgent housing needs.

The ESG allocation of $643,403 will assist those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The Board voted to allocate Supportive Housing Awards to several organizations using funds from the Public Safety and Mental Health millage. On recommendations from the CMH Advisory Committee, the awards, totaling just under $1.3M over three years, were granted to Avalon Housing, the Washtenaw County Shelter Association, the Ypsilanti Housing Commission and Ozone House.  The organizations will use the funds towards supportive housing initiatives as well as crisis and prevention housing for youth in the county.

CMH Deficit Elimination Plan: The resolution, sponsored by Board Chair Jason Morgan and Ways and Means Chair Katie Scott, addresses Community Mental Health’s $8.1M shortfall.  In February 2019, when it was discovered CMH would end the fiscal year in a deficit, the Mental Health Financial Taskforce was established, and discovered the shortfall was less than the original estimate of $10M. The adopted plan uses $2M of general fund property tax revenue to pay off the debt over four years.