Incomplete applications block groups from grants

Several area organizations seeking funds from the Missouri Housing Development Commission have been turned down because their applications didn't meet every technical requirement, representatives of those groups said last week.

Among the applications that won't be considered by the commission at a Dec. 15 meeting include Project Hope's request for $500,000 to support the construction of nine small, energy-efficient homes in the 500 block of North Main Street.

Denis Rigdon, chief executive officer of Project Hope, said he apparently forgot to include a CD version of the group's application with the two three-ring binders of details that he sent to the commission. And the rules make no provision for submitting that material late, Rigdon said.

"It would have been nice," Rigdon said. "It would have gotten it off the ground and running, but it is delayed."

The money Rigdon was seeking was part of $18.8 million in requests from across the state for funding from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund. The trust fund, which raises money from a $3 fee for recording documents at recorder of deeds offices across the state, will be able to distribute $4.75 million this year, said Brandon Laster, a spokesman for the commission.

Most applications that pass initial scrutiny get some funding, Laster said. "We try to stretch it as far as we can."

The commission has a formula for distributing the money that calls for 15 percent of the available funds to be given to the 32-county "Central Region" that stretches from Cape Girardeau to Sedalia and includes the cities of Columbia, Jefferson City, Rolla and Warrensburg. Organizations in those counties sought a total of $3.2 million in grants.

Attempts to reach Laster or another spokesperson for the commission Friday for comment on the rejections were not successful.

Seven of the 26 central region applications were from Cape Girardeau, totaling $848,786. But interviews showed that at least three applicants, seeking a total of $588,759, were rejected for improper form of the application. Two of the applications that made it through the initial screening process were requests from Vision House, a faith-based program dedicated to helping women with substance and alcohol abuse problems.

Vision House is seeking $49,330 for rental assistance and $50,997 to be used as matching funds for other grants. Last year, Vision House applied for the same amounts and received $40,000 and $25,000, respectively.

Theresa Taylor, founder and executive director of Vision House, said her application almost failed to pass initial scrutiny this year. "They almost threw it in the trash," she said. "They had changed things quite a bit. Last year, they didn't require small agencies to do an audit."

Vision House has been in operation for about five years. Paperwork filed with the IRS in May showed that in the year ending June 30, 2006, Vision House operated on a budget of about $53,000, spent all its funds on programs and paid Taylor no salary.

There was no money to pay for an audit and little spending to audit, Taylor said. "I raised a little Cain," she said.

Things are on the upswing for Vision House. It received a $275,220 grant from federal funds for supportive housing in February, but needs the trust fund money to match that two-year grant.

Vision House provides transitional housing. The grants make it possible for Vision House to provide long-term help with housing costs while the women it helps build their earning power. "Prior to coming here, they are homeless," Taylor said. "When they are leaving here, their income levels make it difficult for them, and that can trigger a relapse."

A proposal for short-term rental help from the Community Counseling Center didn't pass the initial scrutiny. Jay White of the center said he included two letters from officials supporting the application -- but the rules said the letters had to be from two elected officials. One was from the mayor of Ste. Genevieve, but the second letter was from the director of the Ste. Genevieve Housing Authority. The Community Counseling Center was seeking $33,759 for rental assistance -- help with lease and utility deposits -- for its activities over a multicounty region, White said.

"I just wish I would have read it over with a fine-toothed comb," White said with a resigned laugh. "I would rather laugh than cry about it."

The intense scrutiny caught White unprepared. Last year, the center received $75,000 for construction and rehabilitation of housing. "They have really tightened up their criteria."

Another group that won't receive the homeless prevention money it sought is a relatively new organization, 4-Sight Counseling. Tim Gould, president of 4-Sight, said his application for a $55,000 grant was denied because it was submitted with the wrong category code.

"It is so competitive, they wanted to make sure everyone has their i's dotted and their t's crossed. They said the application looked good, the program looked good, but there are like five different categories. They said I could have gone under another. but they wouldn't let me change it."

The money would have supported counseling as well as helped with down payments and closing costs.

The goal, Gould said, was to help 30 to 40 people repair their credit over the course of year with perhaps five becoming homeowners.

Gould isn't discouraged. He'll keep applying and seeking additional sources of money for his program.

And the failure of Project Hope to obtain a grant won't scuttle the housing project on North Main Street. The project has been approved for Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits, Rigdon said, a program that gives businesses a 50 percent return on donations. He's ready to start pursuing donations that would help leverage foundation grants, Rigdon said.

"I'm not extremely concerned," he said. "I don't know that we would have been funded anyway."

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

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Grant requests

The Missouri Housing Development Commission will decide in December how to divvy up $4.75 million in Missouri Housing Trust Fund money and $4 million in federal home repair funds. Seven private not-for-profit groups applied for grants from the trust fund and Cape Girardeau is seeking repair funds.

Housing Trust Fund applications

Agency amount grant type

Community Counseling Center $33,759 homeless prevention

New Vision Youth & Family Services $60,000 match funds

4-Sight Counseling $55,000 homeless prevention

Vision House of Cape Girardeau $50,697 match funds

Vision House of Cape Girardeau $49,330 rental assistance

Caruthers Street Charities $500,000 construction/

(Project Hope) rehabilitation

Community Caring Council $100,000 homeless prevention

Home Repair applications

Cape Girardeau $150,000 rural area

Cape Girardeau $102,000 DREAM city

Source: Missouri Housing Development Commission

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grant request list

Grant requests

The Missouri Housing Development Commission will decide in December how to divvy up $4.75 million in Missouri Housing Trust Fund money and $4 million in federal home repair funds. Seven private not-for-profit groups applied for grants from the trust fund and Cape Girardeau is seeking repair funds.

Housing Trust Fund applications

Agency amount grant type

Community Counseling Center $33,759 homeless prevention

New Vision Youth & Family Services $60,000 match funds

4-Sight Counseling $55,000 homeless prevention

Vision House of Cape Girardeau $50,697 match funds

Vision House of Cape Girardeau $49,330 rental assistance

Caruthers Street Charities $500,000 construction/

(Project Hope) rehabilitation

Community Caring Council $100,000 homeless prevention

Home Repair applications

Cape Girardeau $150,000 rural area

Cape Girardeau $102,000 DREAM city

Source: Missouri Housing Development Commission