| Community Development Block
Grant - Small Cities Housing Program |
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WHAT IS CDBG? The Wisconsin Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, administered by the
Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Housing
& Intergovernmental Relations (DHIR), provides grants to general
purpose units of local government for housing programs which
principally benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) households.
The Department targets the housing program resources to those
communities having the greatest need and the most competitive
proposals. The available funding for housing is approximately
$8 million per year with the average 18-month grant being
approximately $450,000.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A CDBG HOUSING
PROGRAM? CDBG dollars are flexible and responsive to
local needs. CDBG funds are awarded as a grant to the community
to help pay for activities identified in the successful application.
In addition to addressing LMI housing needs, CDBG can be used
to leverage other programs or serve as a local match. The
grant also can be used as an incentive to involve the private
sector in local community development efforts or to respond
to area needs. Often the CDBG program serves as a catalyst
for other community development projects.
WHO CAN APPLY? General purpose
units of local government (i.e., towns, villages, and cities
with populations of less than 50,000 and counties other than
Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Dane) are eligible to apply. Applications
may be submitted individually or jointly with another jurisdiction
where mutual action is needed to solve a shared problem.
Special purpose units of government such as redevelopment
authorities, housing authorities, and sanitary districts cannot
apply but may be chosen by grantees to operate the program.
Indian tribes are not eligible because there is a special
Indian Block Grant Program administered directly by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
- Rehabilitation, demolition, or removal of buildings.
- Conversion of buildings into dwelling units.
- Removal of architectural barriers.
- Acquisition of real property.
- Payment of relocation costs and benefits.
- Homeownership opportunities for renters.
- Neighborhood improvement activities.
REVIEW OF APPLICATION AND SELECTION OF
GRANTEES The Department uses a point system for evaluation
of applications and selection of grantees.
COMMUNITY NEED Distress indicators
are evaluated and scored for each eligible applicant. The
distress indicators are a measure of relative need and include
substandard household condition and percentage of low-income
households.
PROGRAM QUALITY Housing proposals
are evaluated to determine their effectiveness in upgrading
the quality and expanding the supply of decent, safe, and
sanitary housing for LMI households. Successful programs have
included residential rehabilitation (including accessibility
improvements for persons with disabilities); conversion of
commercial property to residential units; assistance to LMI
renters to become homeowners; and small public facilities
projects which enhance the target neighborhood housing efforts.
Credit is given to communities that also propose to utilize
other resources to accomplish their goals.
OTHER POINTS Additional points
may be earned by applicants which have made an effort to provide
equal housing opportunities to all people and whose program
is designed to serve a relatively high percent of low-income
households. Regardless of the scores, at least 51 percent
of the funds requested for all housing projects must directly
benefit low- and moderate-income people.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS While the
grant ceiling establishes the maximum which may be requested,
individual grants will be awarded only in amounts commensurate
with the size of the community, its capacity, and the scope
of the proposed program.
For more program information, contact:
Marie Kielley
Division of Housing & Intergovernmental Relations
P.O. Box 8944
Madison, WI 53708-8944
Phone: (608) 266-5842
FAX: (608) 267-6917 TTY: (608) 267-2726
E-mail: marie.kielley@doa.state.wi.us
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