Bartlett House Receives Grant for Affordable Housing

With the help of Clear Mountain Bank, Bartlett Housing Solutions will be receiving a $700,000 grant to increase affordable, multi-bedroom housing for people experiencing homelessness in Monongalia County, WV. Each year housing developers partner with Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh members to apply for funding through the bank’s Affordable Housing Program (FHLB AHP). This grant opportunity is offered through one competitive funding round each year.

Grants are awarded to the highest-scoring projects until the round funds are exhausted. FHLB AHP received 165 competitive applications for 2019 AHP funding, and they were able to commit funding to 64 of those projects. Bartlett, a provider of services of people experiencing homelessness, was a successful applicant. “Bartlett Housing Solutions provides vitally important programs and services to our community,” said Robert Flockvich, Director of Community Outreach and Retail Lending for Clear Mountain Bank. “We are pleased to be able to support them in the successful submission of their application and providing the funds to enable them to provide affordable housing through the Affordable Sustainable Housing Opportunities Require Empowerment (ASHORE) grant project.” Bartlett will use the grant award to construct four 3-bedroom apartments on the West Run Road in Morgantown, WV. “Many people in Monongalia County struggle to find multi-bedroom, affordable housing that is also acceptable to rental subsidy program guidelines,” says Keri DeMasi, CEO and Director of Bartlett Housing Solutions. “Future residents will benefit from reliable, short-term housing, says DeMasi. “These residents will receive intensive case management, and resources for transportation and child care, if they need it.

Also, the ASHORE apartments will provide the opportunity for people to secure employment and move from the threat of homelessness to permanent housing.” DeMasi believes, “The community will benefit from their project, as it will increase employment opportunities and contribute to local businesses through commerce.” An estimated 18 to 24 individual family members will be directly helped annually, with each having an income that is 50 percent or less of the area median income. The apartments include two fully accessible apartments, a playground, a fenced-in yard for pets, and a community garden. The ASHORE project is to be built in a U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development area. Construction is on schedule to begin in late Spring or early Summer of 2020.