Montgomery County Receives $5 Million in Housing Funds

Montgomery County is pleased to share that $5,080,650 in new funding is available to support housing services. This funding is made available through the HOME- American Rescue Plan program and is available in addition to the $161.4 million already allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act- Pandemic Recovery Fund.

In order to determine how to spend these funds, Montgomery County invited residents, nonprofits, developers, municipal leaders, and others to share their priorities for this funding via a virtual town hall and/or through an online survey. 

1. Input was shared during our virtual Housing Funding Town Hall held on Tuesday, October 11 from 6 -7 pm (click here to view recording)
2. Feedback was also collected through October 16, 2022, via survey and responses are currently being reviewed to aid in identifying the usage of funds 

The County will be using this feedback, as well as current data on housing needs, to determine the priority project types and populations to serve through this funding. The County will then share a draft of the funding plan to the community for feedback by the end of this year. The draft funding plan will include the broad categories for funding and the targeted populations- this plan will not include specific projects to be funded. The community-reviewed plan will be sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for final approval.

Following HUD approval, the County will allow partners to apply for project funding, based on the priorities already established by the community. Information on how to apply for project funding will be distributed in late fall.

About HOME-ARP

The American Rescue Plan Act made available $5,080,650 to Montgomery County specifically dedicated for housing/ homeless projects, called HOME-ARP, in addition to other American Rescue Plan Act funds. The funding is allowed to be used for the following project types:

• Emergency shelter
• Rental assistance for individuals and families
• Construction of new affordable housing
• Housing-related services to support individuals and families

Each community must prioritize which populations it will serve with HOME-ARP funds, for the eligible populations that can be served. The eligible populations are:

• Households already experiencing homelessness (e.g. sleeping in a shelter or outside)
• Households at risk of homelessness (e.g., facing eviction)
• Households experiencing homelessness because they are fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking
• Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness
• Any other specific population (e.g., youth, families with children, seniors, LGBTQIA+ population) at risk of homelessness

On Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at 11 a.m., a virtual public hearing was held to discuss the Draft Allocation Plan.   The draft allocation plan is currently available here. 

Once a community has established priority project types and populations for funding, and the draft funding plan is approved by HUD, individual projects can be funded to support these goals.

Questions about this funding opportunity can be directed to RecoveryOffice@montgomerycountypa.gov.