CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County is currently soliciting applications for affordable housing projects. The projects will be funded through the county’s Affordable Housing Funds, announced Jodi Brennan, director of planning & development at Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting.
According to her, the types of projects, which would be eligible for funding, include owner-occupied rehabilitation; rental rehabilitation; first-time home buyers programs; housing counseling programs; emergency repair programs; elderly, special needs and disabled housing; veterans housing; new home construction; land banks; transitional housing; homeless shelters; community stabilization programs; foreclosure prevention; emergency rental assistance; and bridge loans for rental housing development.
The affordable housing funds are available to providers for projects and not to individuals, said Brennan. She said projects must increase the availability of quality affordable housing either through sale or rental to any county resident whose annual income is less than the median income of the county.
She said the funds can be used to match federal, state and or local program funds for affordable housing projects in Clearfield County. Eligible applicants, she said, include municipal governments, housing and or redevelopment authorities or other related agencies, non-profit organizations and or developers and a match is required.
Since the affordable housing program was established in 2012, Brennan said that approximately $160,000 has been awarded to fund local projects. In addition, she said the affordable housing funds have leveraged another $244,000 in support match funds, resulting in a total local investment of $404,000 in three years.
Program guidelines and an application are available upon request by contacting the Clearfield County Planning & Development Office at 212 E. Locust St., Suite 128, Clearfield, PA 16830 or by phone at 814-765-5149. The deadline for application is 4 p.m. Dec. 29.