PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County commissioners unanimously approved a $500,000 American Rescue Plan Act direct assistance grant Tuesday to help pay for infrastructure for Habitat for Humanity’s 50-unit affordable housing project being built on the southeast corner of East Brownfield Road and South Sequim Avenue.
“Being able to go onto 6 acres and put 50 units in is very beneficial to what’s going on. I have to commend (Colleen Robinson, chief executive officer for Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County),” said Timothy Dalton, the county’s housing and grant resource director.
“It is very centrally located within Sequim. I think the access from Clallam Transit and everything else plays a big part in what the housing solutions committee is looking for. These are the types of developments that do fit into the model that we are looking for.”
The project’s current infrastructure costs — excluding permitting, general facility charges and impact fees — are estimated at $5.8 million, with $1.55 million secured. Habitat is pursuing another $4 million in state and federal grant funding. The $500,000 awarded Tuesday will go toward those costs.
Phase 1 of the project will include 50 units for households with incomes between 30 percent and 80 percent of the county’s “area median income.” Clallam County’s AMI is $80,800. So, residents with annual income between $24,240 and $64,640 would qualify.
The development’s land and related infrastructure will be retained and owned by Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County through a land trust and the deed of trust for each unit will require that the unit may only be sold to a subsequent buyer meeting the 30 percent to 80 percent income limit, ensuring the units remain affordable housing.
Mark Lane, the county’s chief financial officer, said according to his “back-of-the-envelope math,” the county has $543,000 remaining of the $15 million in federal ARPA funds first awarded in May 2021.
That amount reflects various placeholder amounts the county is holding back to support its ongoing recruitment efforts.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
