Each member of the Sedona City Council agreed that it was one of the most difficult decisions they have had to make in quite some time. 

Following nearly 3½ hours of presentation, discussion and public input on Tuesday, Jan. 22, council voted on which of four worthwhile nonprofit organizations should receive $300,000 through a Community Development Block Grant fund. According to a city report, CDBG is a U.S. Housing and Urban Development Small Cities program that provides funds for housing and community development activities in rural Arizona. The Arizona Department of Housing is the state agency that administers these federal funds. Northern Arizona Council of Governments administers the planning of annual allocations and provides the technical assistance for application preparation for Northern Arizona. 

Sedona organizations are eligible for the grant every four years. Projects vying for the grant were Habitat For Humanity to purchase residential lot(s) to build affordable homes; renovations for the Sedona Community Center; day resource center for the homeless and indigent population through the Sedona Area Homeless Alliance; and an overnight housing facility for homeless individuals with an emphasis on families with children, run through the Church of the Red Rocks. 

After much deliberation and several votes, Council chose the Church of the Red Rocks project with Sedona Area Homeless Alliance as its secondary choice. CDBG funds can be used for a diverse range of projects. 

However, to be eligible for funding, they must meet at least one of the three national objectives: n At least 51 percent of the persons who benefit from the project must be low to moderate income. 

n Reduce or eliminate slum and blighting conditions. 

n Address a particular urgency such as natural disaster or immediate health threat. 

The report also states that in reviewing the proposals, city staff and NACOG representatives assessed the relative viability of each. 

“All have challenges but would also serve some of Sedona’s most vulnerable community members,” it states. 

“Staff has tried to identify the challenges, as well as potential benefits, for each project. Since 2015, communities are only permitted to select one project per grant cycle, so splitting the funds amongst multiple projects is not an option. Council is being asked to select one project for which a formal CDBG application will be made.” 

There are still additional steps that Church of the Red Rocks must go through in order to receive the funding, which will be available at the end of the year. Then, the church has two years to get the shelter up and running while providing services. Furthermore, any project granted funds must be sustainable for at least five years. When it came time to vote, there was no consensus by council on who it wanted when asked to provide a top choice and secondary one. 

Mayor Sandy Moriarty was joined by council members Jessica Williamson and Bill Chisholm in 

choosing Church of the Red Rocks. Vice Mayor John Martinez and Councilman John Currivan chose the Community Center, Councilman Scott Jablow wanted to see Habitat for Humanity while Councilwoman Janice Hudson picked Sedona Area Homeless Alliance. 

“In the six years that I’ve been on council, I’ve got to admit this is one of the toughest decisions to make,” Martinez said. 

“I think we all agree that we wish we could split this up and give some to everybody. But at the same time, by doing that nobody really gets the amount that they need. They are all very good and tug at the hearts. We wish we could help everybody.” 

Following more discussion and a second vote, the two finalists were chosen. During their presentation, John Lothrop from Church of the Red Rocks said ideally the plan would be to find a house or commercial building to transform into a shelter in West Sedona. They would serve individuals or couples with children or elderly women, with a typical duration being one to two months. They would hope to serve 50 to 100 people a year. 

The church has committed $40,000 toward the project while additional funds would come via fundraising, grants and donations from additional organizations. 

“We’re looking at families with children,” Lothrop said. “We’re looking to get children out of the cold and [ensure] that they’re sheltered. We want to focus on the most vulnerable.” 

During the public comment period, Cindy Parker — pastor and teacher at the Church of the Red Rocks — echoed Lothrop’s words. 

“We have looked into the eyes of the homeless children, the most vulnerable in our community, and we have seen the hope that’s there,” she said.