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Burlington council approves $198,000 CDBG roofing application to help six low‑income homeowners
Summary
The Burlington City Council voted unanimously May 4 to submit a $198,000 Community Development Block Grant application to replace failing roofs on six low‑ and moderate‑income owner‑occupied homes, with $18,000 allocated for administration.
The Burlington City Council on May 4 approved a resolution to apply for a $198,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Iowa Economic Development Authority to fund roofing replacements for six owner‑occupied households.
Sarah Hickox of the Southeast Regional Planning Commission said the application requests the program maximum of $198,000: $30,000 per home for six households ($180,000) plus a 10 percent administrative allocation ($18,000). Eligibility is limited to households at or below 80 percent of HUD’s median income for Des Moines County; Hickox gave examples such as $51,550 for a single‑person household and $73,600 for a four‑person household.
The grant is intended for critical roof repairs that threaten the health and safety of homes. Hickox said the program is citywide rather than limited to a single neighborhood and that the city maintains a waiting list for rehabilitation assistance; staff plan to income‑verify and prepare applications for six households so the project is “shovel ready” if funded. "We received a lot of phone calls from Burlington residents needing assistance," Hickox said.
Council members voted 5–0 to approve the application. The resolution closes the public hearing and authorizes staff to submit the CDBG application, due May 22, 2026. If awarded, the grant would fund only roofing work (shingles, underlayment, soffit/fascia, gutters and limited related items); staff said displacement during construction is not expected.
City staff said the grant would complement existing local programs such as the housing trust fund, demolition program, upper‑story rehabilitation efforts and other grants that support housing stock and affordability. No funding commitment beyond submitting the application was made at the meeting.
