City of Cedar Rapids

Overview

Provide decent housing (by assisting the homeless, retaining affordable housing stock, increasing the availability of permanent housing, and increasing supportive services for persons with special needs without discrimination).

• Provide a suitable living environment (by improving the safety and livability of neighborhoods, increasing access to quality facilities and services, reducing the isolation of income groups, revitalizing deteriorating neighborhoods, restoring/preserving features of special value for historic, architectural, or aesthetic reasons, and conserving energy resources).
• Expand Economic Opportunity (by creating jobs, providing access for credit, and empowering people in federally assisted housing to achieve self-sufficiency).

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
To be eligible for CDBG funding, proposals must address one of three broad national objectives:

• principally benefit low- and moderate-income households
• reduce or eliminate slum and blighting conditions
• address a particular urgency (such as natural disaster or immediate health threat).
• Funding must also address any of a number of specific eligible projects. There is great flexibility for use of the money. To summarize, the City has traditionally funded housing rehabilitation assistance (for owner-occupants) and a variety of public facility and service improvements. "Sub recipient" entities may undertake activities, if they possess appropriate non-profit status. New housing construction is one of only a few ineligible activities, not allowed by law.

HOME Investment Partnership Program
HOME funding is principally eligible to assist any of a number of housing assistance activities. To summarize, the City has traditionally funded rehabilitation assistance (for rental investors), and has provided down-payment/closing cost assistance for first-time qualified home buyers. A set-aside requirement also ensures that a portion of the funds are provided to non-profit entities certified as a "Community Housing Development Organization ("CHoDO") carry-out other housing assistance activities. New construction is eligible under this program, but any assistance provided (for any activity) generally invokes long-term affordability provisions (to benefit low- moderate-income households).

The City's Funding Proposal Process
The City solicits CDBG & HOME funding proposals through an application process that occurs annually from mid-October to early-December. A "Grants & Programs" citizens committee then reviews all proposals and, in consideration of the City's approved "Consolidated Plan", makes advisory recommendations to the City Council in favor of those that should be approved. After a public review and comment period, final funding decisions are submitted to HUD in the form of an annual Action Plan for a fiscal year from July 1st through each June 30th.

Public Service & Facilities Documents