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Havre de Grace seeks $200,000 CDBG grant to help low‑income homeowners with repairs and weatherization
Summary
City officials presented a $200,000 Maryland CDBG application to fund weatherization, code‑required home repairs and emergency grants for low‑ and moderate‑income owner‑occupied households; the Planning Department would administer awards with Habitat for Humanity assisting procurement for pre‑identified addresses.
Bridget Johnson, director of economic development and tourism, told the Havre de Grace City Council on Sept. 16 that the city is applying for a $200,000 Maryland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund home repairs, weatherization and emergency repair grants for low‑ and moderate‑income owner‑occupied households.
Johnson said the program would meet the state’s CDBG national objectives by benefiting low‑ and moderate‑income persons and addressing blight and housing needs. The application requests the $200,000 maximum municipal award; the city would cap individual awards at $40,000 per household. Johnson said the city’s planning department will run the application process and that Habitat for Humanity has identified eight households through county and nonprofit intake and would administer procurement for those pre‑identified properties if awarded.
Council members pressed for details. Council member Boyer confirmed the target homes are owner‑occupied; Johnson said the eight addresses are on a priority list but have not yet been vetted by the city’s eligibility process and are not guaranteed awards. Johnson said non‑priority households that meet the low‑to‑moderate income standard (defined in the application as households with total family income at 80% or less of the area median income) may apply and would be selected on a first‑come, first‑served basis if funds remain.
Johnson quoted Harford County’s area median income as $105,000 and Havre de Grace’s median household income as about $96,000 (American Community Survey five‑year estimate). She said Maryland’s CDBG allotment for FY2025 is roughly $8 million statewide and that the city anticipates submitting its application and associated resolutions immediately; she estimated the program administrator would hear back by January if approved.
The council scheduled later votes on three resolutions tied to the application and asked for any required public comment steps to be followed before awards are made.
The public hearing on the application closed that evening with no public speakers specifically asking for award changes; the council later introduced and adopted calendar resolutions to authorize submission of the CDBG application and adopt the citizen participation and anti‑displacement plans related to the application.
