Projects receiving assistance must serve low- and moderate-income persons (generally defined by HUD as members of a family earning no more than 80 percent of the area median income) and/or prevent or eliminate slums and blight.

Activities that benefit low and moderate-income persons can address this objective by serving low- and moderate-income areas and clientele.

An activity to prevent or eliminate slums and blight - generally consists of a project that provides a benefit to the service area and the area must be designated by the City as a slum, blighted or deteriorated area.

Activities assisted must address one or more conditions which contributed to the deterioration of the area.

The following is a list of eligible activities within the CDBG program:

• Acquisition of Real Property
• Disposition
• Public Facilities and Improvements
• Clearance and/or Demolition
• Public Services
• Interim Assistance
• Rehabilitation
• Homeownership Assistance Planning and Capacity Building Program
• Administration Costs
• Minor/Critical Repair
• Architectural Barrier Removal
• Loss of Rental Income from Displacement

The following is a list of ineligible activities within the CDBG program:

• Assistance to buildings used for the general conduct of government
• General Government Expenses
• Political/Religious Activities
• Purchase of Equipment
• Operating and maintenance expenses
• New Housing Construction
• Income payments

Urgent Repair Assistance may be provided to homeowners residing in structures judged by City staff to be detrimental to the health and safety of the homeowner-occupant(s) and requiring immediate attention. The sole intent of the funds is to eliminate hazardous situations.

City staff will inspect the unit to determine the severity of the needed repairs and will make the sole determination as to the eligibility of the dwelling for Urgent Rehabilitation Assistance. If the structure does not meet the eligibility qualifications, the owner will be referred to other programs for possible assistance. No lien is placed on the structure.

Funds may be utilized to conduct improvements designed to remove material and architectural barriers that restrict the mobility and accessibility of elderly or disabled persons in owner-occupied residential dwellings. The intent of these funds is to provide essential home modifications that increase accessibility, safety, and security as needed to maintain independence. No lien is placed on the structure. Assistance will be available on a city-wide basis to eligible households.

Funds are available to assist eligible low-income homeowners with bringing existing substandard housing units into compliance with local housing and building codes. The primary purpose of the program is to assist in the removal of code violations and improve through rehabilitation efforts the long term, structurally sound housing stock of the City rather than to assist houses which will continue to be substandard following the infusion of program funds. Assistance will be available in annually designated targeted areas. Projects with repairs in excess of $10,000 will have a 10-year lien placed on the property with the lien requirements as described below.

Projects where the costs of all of the necessary repairs exceed the project budget and projects judged structurally and/or financially infeasible for rehabilitation will also be considered for Reconstruction. Reconstruction involves the demolition of the existing substandard dwelling and the rebuilding of the dwelling unit on the same location as the original structure.

All Reconstruction projects will have a 10-year lien placed on the property with the lien requirements. For additional program information contact the Community Development Manager at (903) 531-1303 or through our contact form.