MCPHERSON, Kan. – McPherson City and County Commissioners have agreed to allot funds to the McPherson Housing Coalition for the purchase of property north of the Oak Harbor Cottages for the development of future housing after a federal grant fell through at the last minute.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development had originally committed $1.2 million for the project through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. Housing Coalition Director Chris Goodson said all parties involved had been led to believe funding for this and other Kansas projects was a done deal.
Goodson said HUD slashed the amount of funding allocated to Kansas from $11.2 million to $1.2 million, with those dollars going to projects in larger communities. Money diverted from Kansas was instead allocated to projects in major metropolitan cities.
The proposed project involves the construction of permanent supportive housing and would be located along South Oak St. immediately north of the Oak Harbor project.
McPherson City Commissioners agreed to commit $35 thousand, with McPherson County Commissioners approving a like amount on a 2-1 vote.
