County Receives Housing Grant

Sonora, CA– Tuolumne County has been awarded an $800,000 grant to help lower-income families buy their first home.

The HOME Program Grant is funded by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and is administered by the California State Department of Housing and Community Development.

“These are federal funds that we use for our existing affordable housing programs,” said County Housing Program Coordinator Sheila Shanahan. “So we’ll use the funds for our first time home buyer program, a housing rehabilitation program for home owners, and a rental assistance program that’s based on referrals from case managers.”

Shanahan says the grant process is competitive and the County is one of the few who received funds. The funds not only provide affordable housing, but they also benefit the local economy by generating work for the real estate community, contractors and local businesses.

“I’m delighted that we’re able to offer the program,” said Shanahan. “Everybody knows that there are very limited resources right now.  To offer this in our county, I think we’re really blessed.”

For more information on the County’s affordable housing programs or to apply, contact Sheila Shanahan, Housing Program Coordinator at 533-5633.