The City of Owensboro is seeking public comment before submitting an application for a grant that officials say will enhance housing opportunities and remove barriers to affordable housing within the community.
The Owensboro City Commission recently approved applying for a Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In preparation for the application submission, the City’s Community Development Department has posted the application for public review and comment at owensboro.org.
The public can submit written comments from September 30 through October 14 by:
- Mailing the comments to the Community Development Department, P.O. Box 10003, Owensboro KY, 42302-9003
- Dropping comments off at City Hall – ATTN Abby Shelton
- Emailing comments to Abby Shelton at [email protected].
The City will also hold a public hearing for comments on September 30 at 3 p.m. in City Hall Commission Chambers at 101 East 4th Street.
Shelton, the City’s community development director, previously said the grant would be used to create affordable rental units in Owensboro, either through new construction or rehabilitation of existing structures.
Shelton emphasized the pressing need for affordable housing in the region, noting that the demand for housing has pushed many low- and even median-income residents into precarious living situations.
“There’s a significant shortage of affordable housing in Kentucky, and Owensboro is no exception,” Shelton said previously. “The housing supply hasn’t kept up with the demand, and it’s creating competition between middle-income residents and those struggling to afford substandard rental properties.”
Shelton explained that this round of PRO Housing funding follows a previous allocation, which was primarily directed towards larger metropolitan areas. However, Owensboro hopes to be more competitive this year by leveraging local matching funds, including $900,000 from the city’s existing Home ARP funds, which could increase the overall project’s impact beyond the initial $7 million ask.
