Now that the Colfax Housing Element Update has been approved by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the race is on to obtain funding..
At next Tuesday’s City Council meeting, staff will present a recommendation to submit a grant application to conduct a Housing Conditions Survey.
The goal is to get assistance for housing rehabilitation, create affordable housing, and other needs as identified in the 2009 Housing Element.
Competition is Key
According to Colfax Planning Director Gary Price, “Grant funding agencies are expecting intense competition for the limited funding that is available. Virtually every California city is experiencing economic difficulty.”
John Almanza, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) representative for Placer County adds, “We’re expecting more applications this year than ever before.”
Price reasons that, like any business, Colfax has to position itself well to beat the competitors. The first step is taking inventory.
Why a survey?
“Housing Conditions Surveys provide helpful information to support grant requests and make them more competitive, “ Price explained.
Funding agencies examine submitted materials carefully to determine which cities or projects will get funded. Most grants exist to fulfill very specific housing needs. To win grant money, it is important to accurately describe Colfax’s needs and to do it before the money runs out.
Cities across California are updating their Housing Elements as required by state law.
But, Colfax’s Housing Element is done. That fact alone is an entrance ticket to the race for grants.

What does it mean?
Anyone try getting a loan lately? It’s more difficult to qualify than it used to be, as reflected daily in headlines throughout the country.
But state and Federal money is available to the cities that present the best argument of need. It is also a game of “first come, first serve.”
What about sewer repairs? Can grant money help pay for sewer repairs? What about lateral repairs? (Laterals are the lines that run from private homes to the City’s sewer mains.)
“Yes,” says Price. “That is one of the main reasons why we would be going for this (grant). It can help. When funding is available, the City can develop a program to assist with lateral repairs or other home repairs. “

Is survey invasive?
It will be a drive-by survey, same as the last one done in 2003. According to Price, Housing Conditions Surveys do not identify specific addresses.
Survey results describe in total quantities how many Colfax houses are in excellent shape, how many need minor repairs (repainting, new windows, minor roof repairs, etc.), and how many need substantial repairs (roof replacement, major foundation work, etc.).
As recommended by City staff, the work will be done in-house, and not by outside consultants. The advantage of obtaining grant money to fund the survey is that it saves on the City’s budget. Using grant money for the study means that the city’s hourly time is paid by the funding agency, not the general fund.