COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAMBy: Taylor Hurst, Jordan Hendershot, Diana Lamriben, Janie Heekin

HISTORY

The Community Development Block Grant program was established in 1974.

Gerald Ford was president. Established by the Housing and Community

Development Act of 1974.

PURPOSE

Ensure decent affordable housing Provide services to those most vulnerable in

a community Create jobs

POLITICAL CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE CREATION OF THE PROGRAM

There was not a lot of political controversy about the creation of the Community Development Block Grant program.

It had bipartisan support. Liberal legislators wanted to reduce poverty. Conservative legislators liked the control the

program gave to private investors and took away from the U.S. government.

IS THE CDBG PROGRAM CONTROVERSIAL TODAY?

Concerns are growing. Although the CDBG program has enormous

bipartisan support, the support from Congress is dwindling.

Congress has cut funding for the program over 25%, from about $4 billion to $2.9 billion, which is divided among 1200 cities.

WHAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT AGENCY OVERSEES THE CDBG PROGRAM?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

COST

The last updated cost of the Community Development Block Grant program was $4.7 billion in 2005.

PARTICIPATION

Currently, forty-nine states and Puerto Rico participate in the Community Development Block Grant program.

HOW IS THE CDBG PROGRAM ADMINISTERED?

States apply for grants.

REQUIREMENTS

Cities must have a population of at least 50,000 to receive grants.

Urban counties with a population of at least 200,000 are entitled to receive grants.

DISTRIBUTION

The HUD determines the amount of each entitlement by a statutory dual formula which uses several objective measures of community needs.

Funds are distributed to each state based on population, poverty, overcrowded housing, and age of housing.

All funds are distributed by states to units of general local government rather than directly to citizens.

QUESTIONS1. What federal government department agency oversees the Community Development Block Grant program?

a) FBI

b) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

c) CDBG

d) Housing and Community Development Act

2. How many states participate in the Community Development Block Grant program?

e) 49

f) 24

g) 10

h) 32

3. The purpose of the Community Development Block Grant program is to…

i) Ensure decent affordable housing

j) Provide services to those most vulnerable in a community

k) Create jobs

l) All the above

4. How large must a city be to qualify for money from CDBG? At least…

m) 20,000

n) 50,000

o) 200,000

p) 15,000

5. When was the CDBG program established?

q) 1960s

r) 1970s

s) 1980s

t) 1990s

ANSWERS1. What federal government department agency oversees the Community Development Block Grant program?

a) FBI

b) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

c) CDBG

d) Housing and Community Development Act

2. How many states participate in the Community Development Block Grant program?

e) 49

f) 24

g) 10

h) 32

3. The purpose of the Community Development Block Grant program is to…

i) Ensure decent affordable housing

j) Provide services to those most vulnerable in a community

k) Create jobs

l) All the above

4. How large must a city be to qualify for money from CDBG? At least…

m) 20,000

n) 50,000

o) 200,000

p) 15,000

5. When was the CDBG program established?

q) 1960s

r) 1970s

s) 1980s

t) 1990s

SOURCES http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offi

ces/comm_planning/communitydevelopment/programs/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Develop-ment_Block_Grant

www.commerce.wa.gov/programs/infrastructure/-CDBG-program-overview/pages/default.aspx

http://citiesspeak.org/2012/03/22/local-officials-behind-growing-support-for-cdbg-but-process-and-partisanship-remain-significant-challenge/

www.nyshcr.org/programs/NYS-CDBG/ www.colorado.gov/cs/satellite/DOLA-main