Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Program for Housing

To respond to the State’s housing crisis, Governor Newsom, in the 2019-20 Budget Act, created grant programs to help accelerate housing production. The REAP program provides grants to councils of governments (COGs) to collaborate on planning projects that have a broader regional impact on housing.  The REAP program is meant to help local governments reach their housing production goals (as set in the sixth cycle of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA, pronounced "ree-na")).  

REAP's one-time grant funding can be used for technical assistance, for preparing and adopting planning documents, and for improving government processes to accelerate housing production.  Humboldt County's REAP grant is $783,000 (allocated based on population), and must be expended before December 2023.  Based on input from local agency staff and residents, HCAOG devised the program activites: (i) Identify best practices that promote sufficient supply of housing [required activity per grant]; (ii) inform local agencies of need and benefits of taking early action on housing need allocation [required activity per grant]; (iii) grant  $199,000 to local jurisdictions for housing-related technical assistance, with $45,000 in extra funds for under-resourced communities; (iv) grant $375,000 for development of the Regional Climate Action Plan and associated environmental assessment (CEQA).  

Housing Stories via the Arts

On March 30, 2022, HCAOG released a Call for Projects inviting artists to apply for funding to tell the stories of Humboldt's housing struggles through their chosen creative medium.  HCAOG was able to fund eight multimedia grants for a total of $39,510. See the MULTIMEDIA HOUSING STORIES here.

REAP Grants Program Background 

REAP Grants Program Details | California Dept. of Housing & Community Development (HCD) [External website]

REAP Program Intro/Update (slidedeck presented at 11.19.20 HCAOG Board Meeting)

Best Practices for REAP Eligible Activities