A little more than three-quarters of a million dollars to help families avoid eviction has been added to a Grays Harbor County Public Health contract for 2024.

Grays Harbor County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an amendment to its Consolidated Homeless Grant contract with the Washington state Department of Commerce, adding $788,699 in eviction prevention funds.

Cassie Lentz, a housing program manager with the county health department, said the contract amendment will provide funding for the eviction prevention programs from July 2024 to June 2025 at the same level as the current fiscal year.

“Essentially this is just ensuring we can continue status quo with eviction prevention programs next year,” Lentz wrote in an email.

The rent assistance money is available to households which earn 50% or less of the area median income who are behind on rental payments. Due to limited resources, Lentz said, priority is given to households at risk of becoming homeless if evicted.

The county partners with Coastal Community Action Program and the Equity Institute to administer the program to families.

The current fiscal year for the grant is about halfway over, Lentz said.

The state’s Consolidated Homeless Grant is part of the state Commerce department’s homelessness assistance unit. Funding for the grant comes from the state’s general fund and document recording fees, and can be used on several different programs that respond to the homelessness crisis, including transitional housing, permanent housing, street outreach and emergency shelter. To date, the county has received $9.4 million through the Consolidated Homeless Grant.

Contact reporter Clayton Franke at 406-552-3917 or clayton.franke@thedailyworld.com.