Abilene advisory council recommends CDBG and HOME allocations, including $140,000 for Salvation Army

The Neighborhood Services Advisory Council recommended distribution of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program funds for local housing and nonprofit projects, approving funding recommendations for city-run programs and nonprofit applicants and forwarding the package for final action by the City Council.

The council recommended CDBG funding for the city’s condemnation/demolition program and a critical-repair program, and recommended HOME funding for single-family rehabilitation and first-time home-buyer assistance. The advisory body also recommended awarding $140,000 to the Salvation Army and about $71,008 to Dignity Health Management Center; Habitat for Humanity was designated to receive the Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) set-aside of roughly $70,008.

Leticia Reeves, division manager for the Office of Neighborhood Services, told the council the office must meet HUDs national objectives and the citys consolidated plan and that Abilene is an entitlement city. Reeves said the city follows a council policy that restricts CDBG capital funds to capital projects for nonprofits rather than operating expenses. "Every year, we get our entitlement from HUD. So this is just going over the applications we received for this year for this coming year," Reeves said.

Reeves outlined the principal requests: a city…