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Council reallocates $75,000 in CDBG funds to expand homeowner‑repair program
Summary
The mayor and council approved a resolution to increase the Rebuilding Together Montgomery County contract for the CDBG homeowner repair program from $186,755 to $261,755, reallocating $75,000 from underused down‑payment assistance funds to serve an estimated additional 6–8 homes.
The council voted April 21 to authorize the city manager to amend the contract with Rebuilding Together Montgomery County and increase the homeowner‑repair program budget by $75,000, from $186,755 to $261,755. Staff said the additional funds come from underutilized Down Payment Assistance (DPA) allocations and are being reallocated to address HUD timeliness requirements for the city’s CDBG program.
Housing staff said the homeowner‑repair initiative has served 39 households in its first two program years and that the $75,000 increase is expected to serve roughly six to eight additional homes, with average repair costs between $7,500 and $10,000 per house. Staff also asked to remove the program’s 33% cap so the city manager can reallocate up to 50% of the total CDBG grant to the homeowner‑repair program if needed to meet demand and timeliness.
Council approved the resolution by voice vote. Council members asked for future data tracking on recipients (including age cohorts and whether homeowners are older adults using the program to age in place) to assess program reach and outcomes.
Why it matters: The move redirects underused homeownership assistance funds to urgent repair needs, a typical HUD‑allowed reallocation that can clear timeliness obstacles and get repairs completed for lower‑income homeowners.
What’s next: Staff will implement the contract amendment with Rebuilding Together and report back with participant demographics and outcome data as requested by council.
