Community Development

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

We want to hear from you about housing and community development needs. Your input is valuable to us during the preparation of annual action plans.

For more information contact Mark Sirois or by phone at 503-655-8591.

CDBG funds are awarded through a process that involves citizen participation and coordination with participating cities within Clackamas County. To receive CDBG assistance, a proposed project must:

• meet a national objective of the CDBG program
• be an eligible activity under federal CDBG regulations
• have a commitment of matching resources equal to at least 20% of the total project cost
• meet other funding criteria of Clackamas County's Community Development Program

National Objectives

In order for any project to be considered for funding, it must meet one of the three broad "National Objectives" established by Congress. A CDBG project must:

• benefit low and moderate-income persons
• prevent or eliminate slums
• blight or meet an urgent community development need

Primary emphasis is placed on the objective to benefit low and moderate-income persons.

Benefit to low- and moderate-income persons

A CDBG project meets this goal if it:

• benefits all residents of a residential area recognized by HUD as a low and moderate-income area. Click on the maps below to see areas that meet HUD criteria:
  • Clackamas County 
  • Canby/Barlow
  • Johnson City
  • Estacada
  • Gladstone
  • Milwaukie
  • Molalla
  • North Clackamas
  • Oak Grove
  • Oregon City
  • Sandy
  • Wilsonville
• benefits a group of individuals of which 51% have low or moderate incomes.
• benefits low or moderate income individuals.

Preventing or eliminating slums or blight

Prevention or elimination of slums or blight is the second major national objective of the CDBG program. A limited array of projects may meet this objective if they meet HUD recognized criteria for slums and blight.

Urgent needs

CDBG funds may also be used to meet the third national objective of "Urgent Needs." In this category, the project proposed must address a problem which is demonstrated to have arisen or escalated in the past 18 months, which poses a serious threat to the health and welfare of the community, and for which other financial resources cannot be provided or have been denied.

Eligible improvements

Improvements listed below which meet national objectives are eligible for funding under the CDBG program.

Public facility improvements

CDBG funds may be used for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or installation of public facilities. Examples include improvements to publicly owned properties and properties owned by private non-profit entities which serve the public, neighborhood facilities, centers for the handicapped, senior centers, utilities, streets and sidewalks, water and sewer facilities, parks and shelters for persons with special needs.

Historic preservation

CDBG funds may be used for the rehabilitation, preservation or restoration of historic properties. Historic properties are those sites or structures that are either listed on or eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic places, listed in a State or local inventory of historic places, or designated as a State or local landmark or historic district by appropriate law or ordinance. Historic preservation of buildings used for the general conduct of the government may not be assisted with CDBG funds.

Architectural barrier removal

CDBG funds may be used for projects designed to remove material and architectural barriers which restrict the mobility and accessibility of elderly or handicapped persons to buildings, facilities and improvements.

Economic development

CDBG funds may be used to assist economic development activities including:

• acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or installation of commercial or industrial buildings structures, and other real property
• assistance for private non-profit business
• help for neighborhood-based non-profit organizations, small business investment companies, or local development corporations to carry out a neighborhood revitalization, community economic development or energy conservation project.

Housing rehabilitation

CDBG funds may be used to finance the rehabilitation of:

• privately owned buildings and improvements for residential purposes
• low-income public housing and other publicly owned residential buildings and improvements
• manufactured housing

Emergency shelter grant program

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) to improve the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters. The grant can be used to assist with the rehabilitation or conversion of buildings into homeless shelters and to provide funding for related social services, shelter operating expenses, homeless prevention activities, and administrative costs. HUD's purpose in funding the shelters and related social services is to provide a foundation for homeless people to begin moving to independent living.

HUD allocates ESG funds annually based on the formula used for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Under HUD rules, the county may administer the entire grant itself or distribute the funds to private nonprofit organizations. The county must also match ESG grants dollar-for-dollar from non-ESG sources. The county distributes the funds to the following existing shelters to assist with covering operating costs.

For more information on the ESG program, visit HUD's web site.

Many agencies in Clackamas County which offer housing and services to people who are homeless participate in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The HMIS is designed to collect data on the housing and services provided to clients. The system is only accessible to employees of contracted agencies, and the county works to protect the privacy of clients. This Tri-county HMIS is administered by the Multnomah County Department of County Assets on behalf of Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington County. The software product used in Clackamas County is Community Services Software (CSS) by Wellsky.

All questions about HMIS should be directed to hmisadmin@clackamas.us.

Visit Continuum of Care for information and reports about homelessness in Clackamas County.

Documents and Forms

• CSS HCDD HMIS Administrative Agreement
• CSS HCDD HMIS Agency Participation Agreement
• CSS HCDD HMIS End Users Agreement (EULA)
• CSS HMIS Privacy Notice
• CSS HMIS Privacy Poster
  • Amharic
  • Arabic
  • Persian
  • Russian
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Spanish
  • Somali
  • Ukrainian
  • Vietnamese

HMIS User Work Instructions

• 6-Month Follow Up Entries
• Accessing and Utilizing ESG CAPER and COC APR Reports
• Accessing BusinessObjects & Running Reports
• Case Managers and Case Plans Tab
• Client Files: Finding and Creating
• Creating a New Household
• Entry Assessment Tips
• HUD Verification Tables
• Incoming CHA Housing Referrals
• MovingOn Assistance for CoC-Funded PSH
• Program Entries and Exits
• Program Performance Reports
• Removing Members from an Existing Household
• ROI Tab
• Service Transactions
• Service Transactions for Housing Related Coordinated Entry

Guidance Documents

• CHA Exit Guidance
• Population A&B Determination Guidance

Clackamas County receives grant funds from 3 HUD programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG). In order to receive these funds the county must prepare a number of plans, the most important being the Consolidated Plan. The development of the Consolidated Plan has been designed as a collaborative process allowing cities, community organizations and residents to participate in creating a unified vision for community improvements in their neighborhoods.

Key components of the plan include:

• assessment of housing and community development needs and development of long-range strategies
• description of how we plan to use the federal funds to put the strategic goals of the consolidated plan in place
• maps identifying concentrations of low- and moderate-income residents
• an examination of barriers that limit fair and equal housing opportunities to county residents

Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG)

The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act) revised the Emergency Shelter Grants program and renamed the program the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program. The HEARTH Act also codified the Continuum of Care (CoC) planning process that is part of HUD’s annual application for funding of programs and services that assist homeless persons. Here is our ESG and CoC Policy manual.

If you have a question or would like to request more information, please call 503-655-8591.

Annual Plans and Performance Reports

*Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report

Housing development

Current home rents and income limits

The HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) was created under Title II of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 to:

• Expand the supply of decent and affordable housing, particularly rental housing, for very low- and low-income Americans;
• Strengthen the abilities of state and local governments to design and implement strategies for achieving an adequate supply of decent, affordable housing; and
• Extend and strengthen partnership among all levels of government and the private sector, including for-profit and non-profit organizations, in the production and operation of affordable housing.

The regulations that govern the HOME Program are found at 24 CFR Part 92.

Clackamas County receives an annual allocation of HOME funds through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Clackamas County must set aside at least 15% of the grant for housing developed by Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs).

Applying for HOME funds

HOME program guidelines

Project Sponsors or Developers must submit an application to Clackamas County Community Development Division (CDD) in order to be considered for funding. Applications are accepted on a first come first serve basis; however, proposed projects must meet the criteria and priorities identified in the County's Consolidated Plan. CDD evaluates each application and makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

Eligible applicants

Public agencies, nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations are eligible to apply for Clackamas County HOME funds. The agency or organization must provide evidence that it has the administrative and financial capacity and experience necessary to administer the complex requirements of the HOME Program throughout the period of affordability.

Eligible beneficiaries

HOME funds may only be used for units that will be occupied by low- or very low-income households which are defined by HUD as follows:

• Very low-income households are those with incomes at or below 50% of the area median income.
• Low-income households are those with incomes between 51–80% of the area median income.

Only the units that receive HOME dollars are considered HOME-assisted units, therefore, only HOME-assisted units must adhere to HOME expenditure limits, income targeting guidelines, and affordability requirements. This allows HOME funds to be used in mixed income projects.

Eligible projects

Clackamas County's HOME Program provides funds to projects that benefit low-income people. Eligible projects are ones that result in:

• Safe, decent affordable rental opportunities for individuals, families, the elderly and persons with disabilities or special needs;
• Assistance for homebuyers;
• Affordable home ownership opportunities; or
• Preservation of existing owner-occupied housing units.

A project may include one or more buildings on a single site under common ownership, management and financing. Structures scattered on more than one site that are under common ownership, management and financing are also considered a single project. There must be at least one HOME-assisted unit in each building of the project. HOME-assisted projects may:

• Contain any number of units;
• Contain any combination of unit sizes and styles; and
• Be privately or publicly owned.

Project selection guidelines

To be considered for HOME funding a project must be:

• Located within Clackamas County;
• Eligible under HOME Program regulations; and
• Consistent with Clackamas County's Consolidated Plan and HOME Program priorities.

Projects meeting the threshold requirements are further evaluated based upon the extent to which the project:

• Is ready to proceed;
• Sponsor has the experience and ability to carry out the proposed project;
• Cost-effectively increases the supply of housing that is affordable to low-income persons, particularly in areas that are accessible to expanding job opportunities;
• Exceeds the HOME Program minimum requirements to serve very low- and low-income residents;
• Provides matching resources;
• Has other reliable funding sources committed to the total cost of the project;
• Provides supportive services if proposed project targets persons with disabilities;
• Provides facilities and services that permit elderly or handicapped residents who become frail and need assistance to continue to reside in the project;
• Preserves the affordability of housing that may be converted, demolished or abandoned;
• Remedies the effects of discrimination and improves housing opportunities for disadvantaged minorities; and
• Stimulates investment and participation by the private sector.

HOME funds are allocated in amounts appropriate to the scope and needs of the proposed project. HOME funds are provided in the form of low interest loans. The County reserves the right to:

• Adjust the amount of funds allocated to projects and to negotiate modifications to the proposed work plan and budget prior to executing an agreement; and
• Fund those projects which reflect the highest and best use of HOME funds.

CHDO Certification

The county receives applications from nonprofit organizations for certifications as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) in the spring of each year. A CHDO is defined in the HOME Rule at 24 CFR 92.2. Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofit 501(c) (3) or 501(c) (4) organizations that include the provision of decent, safe, affordable housing to low- and moderate-income persons among their purposes. If designated, the organization may be eligible for HOME funds specifically set aside for projects developed by CHDOs in each HOME Program Year. However, nonprofits are not required to be a designated CHDO to access HOME funding as a sponsor, owner or developer. For more information, please contact Mark Sirois, Housing and Community Development Manager at 503-655-8591.

Coordinated Housing Access (CHA) helps people in Clackamas County resolve a housing crisis.

Call 503-655-8575
Si necesitas ayuda en espanol, llama 503-655-8575
We are now able to answer calls live, daily from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m..

Online
If you don't have a phone, or are unable to call, please fill out the form below. Somebody will reach out to you within 3 weeks.

If you are currently experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you may contact the Clackamas Women's Services at 503-654-2288. There is extra security to protect the confidentiality of survivors.

Do you need help paying your rent?

We may have resources available to  help you pay rent, including back rent, if you qualify.

If your household income is less than $61,900 for a family of two, or $77,350 for a family of four, you may be eligible for assistance.

To apply, please call the Coordinated Housing Access Line 503 655-8575 or complete the online form.

Learn more about how to protect you and your household if you are unable to pay your rent:

LASO - Tenant Termination Handbook LASO - Stipulated Agreements

Did you know that Resolution Services has a new Housing Mediation pilot program? Learn more about this program and fill out their intake form.

Personalized help for those experiencing a housing crisis

Clackamas County Coordinated Housing Access is the starting point for housing and support services.

Free services that may be available:

• Emergency, transitional and permanent housing referrals 
• Problem-solving and resources to prevent loss of housing 

Filling out this form helps us get the information we need to help you. It is not mandatory. If you prefer to talk to someone, you can also call 503-655-8575 and leave a message. 

How does Coordinated Housing Access Work?

1. Call Coordinated Housing Access at 503-655-8575 and leave a message or fill out the online form. Due to the very high call volume, our response time is longer than normal. 
2. Staff will call or text you as soon as possible to set up a phone screening. At times, it could take up to 3 weeks to receive a call back.
3. During the phone screening, you will be asked some basic questions regarding your household and current housing situation. The goal of this screening is to help you problem solve, and possible get you matched with housing programs that could best meet your needs. Some of the housing programs we screen for have waitlists.
4. Keep us updated if your contact/household information changes.
5. You will be contacted by a program when there is an opening.

Long-term housing programs participating in CHA

• Bridges to Housing
• Central City Concern's Chez Ami
• Clackamas Social Services' Aurora Shelter
• Clackamas Women's Services
• Clayton Mohr 
• Dev NW
• HOPE I
• HOPE II
• Housing our Families
• Housing our Veterans
• Housing Authority of Clackamas County's Shelter+Care
• Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) Rapid Rehousing for Survivors of Domestic Violence
• Lake Oswego Transitional Shelter Ministry
• Northwest Housing Alternative's (NHA) HomeBase Rapid Rehousing
• Parrot Creek HomeSafe
• Programs that utilize Regional Long-term Rent Assistance (RLRA) vouchers
• RentWell Rapid Rehousing
• Supportive Services for Veteran Families Rapid Rehousing
• Tukwila Springs
• Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
• Veterans Rapid Rehousing
• Veterans Rental Assistance Program
• Veterans Village

Steering Committee ("Governing Board" mandated by HUD) - Decisions

• Final decision maker for the CoC
• Elected by CoC every 2 years
• One homeless or formerly homeless member
• Represents populations of the CoC
• Backbone of the system
• Planning functions involved in Consolidated Plan and 10 Year Plan (eventually)
• Measure progress towards goals
• Make decisions around bonus projects, prioritization
• Analyze data on homelessness

CoC/Homeless Council - Operations

• Programs, operations, and activities around addressing homelessness
• Open membership
• Meet for training and networking
• Experts on the community and providing services
• Members complete HUD applications for funding
• Recommends bonus projects to Steering Committee
• Expands system to address community needs
• Implements HUD requirements
• Helps identify unmet needs
• Makes progress towards 10 Year Plan Goals
• Strengthen programs/best practices/data driven/funding compliance

Homeless Policy Committee - Policy

• Ambassadors
• Membership by invitation of County BCC
• Raise awareness of homelessness
• Impact Policy
• Advocates for funding
• Coordinate community response
• Expand system to address identified community needs outside of current/traditional providers
• Review and comment on 10 Year Plan