The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is an entitlement grant provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant is distributed directly to urban counties based on population, poverty levels, age of housing stock and other information provided by the United States Census. The primary purpose of the CDBG program is to provide services that principally benefit low-income citizens and to develop viable urban communities. The CDBG program National Objectives are:

• To benefit extremely low, low and moderate income persons,
• To eliminate deteriorating areas/blight and
• To meet an urgent community need

Orange County's CDBG program meets the national objectives (stated above) and also sets forth goals to improve designated county neighborhoods, by providing for eligible activities such as:

• Capital Improvements
  Paving and drainage, sewer & water line improvements, construction of sidewalks, limited park improvements, construction and/or improvements to community facilities
• Affordable Housing Development
  Site acquisition and infrastructure
• Housing Rehabilitation
  Emergency service and extensive home rehabilitation
• Parks and Recreation
  Improvements to designated neighborhood parks
• Public Services
  Child care, services for the elderly, abused child care assistance, services for the handicapped, etc.

Economic Development and Associated Administration
The overall goal of the County's program is to stabilize and revitalize low income neighborhoods through capital improvement, housing rehabilitation and public service activities. Citizen participation is encouraged through public hearings and neighborhood meetings whereby current activities are discussed and new proposals and project suggestions are considered for the annual CDBG application.

• Rental Housing Rehabilitation: Rental housing activities under HOME are undertaken by Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs). Eligible activities are site acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable multi-family rental housing. The HOME Program provides strict guidelines on the composition of the tenants and on the amount the owner can charge for rent. Resale restrictions are enforced to ensure long-term affordability requirements.
• Homeowners Rehabilitation: The owner-occupied single family housing rehabilitation activity provides financial assistance to qualified very low income homeowners through deferred loans.
• Tenant Based Rental Assistance: The activity is targeted to special needs populations by providing rental assistance similar to the Section 8 certificate program. Households are required to make a monthly contribution and the assistance is limited to two years.

The Role of CHDO's in the HOME Program: A CHDO is a non-profit organization specifically designed for the HOME Program. A minimum of 15% of the total HOME allocation must be reserved for activities for CHDOs. Once funding is awarded, the CHDO will enter into legal agreements with Orange County specifying HOME rental housing activities to be carried out and requirements such as the number of years that the project must remain affordable, management control, financial and record keeping. CHDO projects are awarded funding on a competitive basis. Public/Private Partnership is encouraged through the use of Community Housing Development Corporations (CHODO's) for selected rental housing rehabilitation activities.

Orange County's program is designed to help improve the quality of existing emergency shelters for the homeless by providing certain essential social services to homeless individuals so that these persons have access not only to safe and sanitary shelter, but also to programs to improve their situations. Participation is encouraged and solicited from local agencies directly involved with providing services to the homeless.

The County contracts a portion or all of its ESG funding to one or more agencies for a period of one (1) year.

For additional information about the CDBG program, please contact the division's Planning and Development Section at (407) 836-5165.

For additional information about the HOME Program and the ESG program, please contact the division's Planning and Development Section at (407) 836-5167.

For further information about the HOPWA program contact the City of Orlando Housing and Community Development Bureau at (407)246-2708.