HJM Budget Demands

Demand 1

$80 million for Emergency Rental Assistance Program

HJM estimates that 6,300 households will need an average grant of about $12,000 to cover back rent. The county’s data shows 4,723 households needed assistance with average grants of about $10,581 in 2023. Rent increases escalation and expired federal help justify increasing the per‑household grant to $12,000.

Demand 2

$20 million for rapid rehousing 

HJM projects that around 1,150 clients will need RRH from July 2026 - June 2027. Average cost per household is roughly $25 000–$26 000 (rent plus case management). The county’s Rapid Rehousing program served 812 households in 2024.

Demand 3

$27 million for permanent supportive housing

Permanent Supportive Housing tenants—people with chronic health conditions or disabilities—require long‑term subsidies and intensive services. Federal funding cuts threaten 700-800 people already in the program, so HJM calls for $27 million to maintain and expand PSH.

Demand 4

$182 Million for the Housing initiative fund—Money for Building & Buying Existing Apartments

HJM’s ask reflects the capital needed to finance both new construction and acquisition/rehabilitation of affordable apartments. The county plans roughly $170 million between July 2025 and June 2026 in loans to buy or build affordable housing; scaling up to meet deeper affordability and rising construction costs will require even more money next year.

Demand 5

$3.3 Million for emergency moving assistance and storage 

HJM proposes adding moving assistance so that families forcibly removed from housing (perhaps via sheriff’s eviction) can secure movers and have six months of storage for their belongings. Rising eviction filings and limited storage programs mean more families risk losing their possessions and becoming homeless.

Demand 6

$9.5 Million for short-term housing and resolution program

Based on FY2025‑26 caseloads, HJM projects 350 households will need SHaRP in FY2027 (the County reported an inflow of ~28 families per month and 95 new households housed since July 2025). Each household would receive a year of rent support, deposits, and navigation of ~$26,000.