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Bloomington council accepts $200,000 in additional state funds for housing rehabilitation, votes to move programs forward
Summary
Council approved an amendment to accept $200,000 from the Illinois Housing Development Authority to expand housing-rehabilitation work. City officials outlined recent CDBG outcomes, pilot programs and a proposed Habitat for Humanity partnership that would add new affordable homes.
The Bloomington City Council voted Monday to accept an additional $200,000 from the Illinois Housing Development Authority to expand local housing-rehabilitation efforts, a move officials said will fund roughly three to four additional repairs or rehabs. The motion, made by Council Member Ward and seconded by Council Member Montney, passed on a roll-call vote with no nays announced.
The funding was described during a public hearing on the Program Year 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, or CAPER, presented by William Besser of the Community Development Division. Besser said the CAPER covers 05/01/2025–04/30/2026 and that "total spending within the program year was just over $600,000." He told the council the majority of CDBG funds were directed to housing-related initiatives, including 13 affordable housing units rehabilitated this program year and one accessibility ramp installed through a partnership with AMBUCS Corn Belt.
Director of Community Impact and Enhancement Patrick Cordero outlined how the new state dollars and other grants will be used alongside locally budgeted funds. He said the city has 10 rehabs completed since May 1 and another 10 in progress; five demolitions are underway and additional demolition projects are funded or in contract. Cordero said the city asked for an additional $350,000 through the Illinois Housing Development Authority Strong Communities program for demolition over the next two years and has a $250,000 general-fund line item to support further demolitions.
Officials also described several pilot programs funded this fiscal year: a $100,000 "Rebloom the Block" pilot (the administration said $80,000 of that would cover two new affordable homes in a proposed Habitat for Humanity partnership), a $130,000 small home-improvement pilot intended to support roughly 10 modest home repairs (roofs, HVAC, radon mitigation, ADA accommodations), and a $20,000 Beautify Your Block pilot that will provide up to $1,200 per property for exterior curb appeal projects.
Cordero summarized the proposed Habitat partnership, saying the nonprofit has four vacant parcels it plans to develop into new affordable housing and that the city expects its share to be about $40,000 per unit: "To build 2 new affordable houses in partnership with Habitat, it will only cost us $80,000," he said. He added staff plans to bring a formal resolution and Habitat representatives to a future meeting for council consideration and said groundbreaking could occur this fall if the council approves.
Besser highlighted other CAPER details that informed the council's decision: sidewalk improvements near the newly renamed Kimholm and Short Towers (formerly Woodhill Towers) serving nearly 3,000–4,000 residents, public-service awards (capped at 15% of allocation) that supported outreach by Home Sweet Home Ministries (177 community members served), and administrative subawards to Prairie State Legal Services and the McLean County Regional Planning Commission.
Council members asked for follow-up details on historical rehab counts, vacancy estimates and program applications; Besser and Cordero said staff would supply specific comparative numbers and an application link to council. Several council members praised the programs and the community-engagement events tied to them.
The council also discussed a forthcoming vacant-and-foreclosure ordinance intended to require registration of derelict properties, a periodic registration fee and enforcement measures; staff said the ordinance will target vacant, derelict properties that pose public-safety or nuisance risks and is not intended for actively listed-for-sale properties. The ordinance was described as a fall agenda item, with legal review ongoing.
Next steps: staff will return with a formal resolution to accept and appropriate the IHDA funds, provide requested comparative rehabilitation figures to council, and bring the Habitat partnership proposal to a future meeting for formal consideration.
