Housing Catalyst gets grant to provide more housing vouchers in Fort Collins

Housing Catalyst, the Fort Collins agency that helps provide affordable housing to those in need, will be able to provide housing for 34 more non-elderly residents with disabilities through a $300,000 grant from U.S. Housing and Urban Development. 

It is one of seven public housing agencies in Colorado and 325 across the country to share in a $131.3 million grant.

The grant is part of HUD’s Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program that provides funding to agencies to help people with disabilities, particularly those who are homeless, previously homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, transitioning out of institutional or other separated settings, or at serious risk of institutionalization, according to a press release from HUD announcing the grant.

Housing Catalyst had to get other partner agencies to commit to providing things like home modifications, housing search assistance and tenancy support to win the grant, said Michele Christensen, chief operating officer of Housing Catalyst. 

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"We are fortunate that we have such strong existing partnerships in Fort Collins and were able to send 11 letters from partnering agencies committing to providing supports along with our application," Christensen said in an email.

The agency is still evaluating the best way to notify those who meet the eligibility criteria and create an application process, Christensen said. HUD has not released the funds yet, so it is unlikely the vouchers would be given out before the new year. 

The last two times Housing Catalyst won a grant to expand housing vouchers it was for non-elderly people with disabilities. It received 45 mainstream vouchers a year ago and has been issuing them throughout this year, she said. There is still a small wait list for the vouchers, however. 

The grant was announced by U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse's office. Neguse, who represents Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, visited Housing Catalyst Village on Horsetooth, an affordable housing development, in July. 

Pat Ferrier is a senior reporter covering business, health care and growth issues in Northern Colorado.