Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announces the City of Evansville will accept applications for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program May 12 through June 5. Nonprofit agencies offering public services are eligible to apply for CDBG grant funding for programs ranging from daycare services, food providers, and many others.
The proposal must meet HUD requirements and the agency must attend a training session to be held on May 8 at Central Library Browning Room B from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and have an in-office meeting with DMD staff after the proposal is made. After proposals are determined to be eligible, they are reviewed by the Citizens Advisory Committee, which is appointed by the Mayor.
The CAC recommendations are reviewed by the Mayor and are sent to the Evansville City Council for approval. Kelley Coures, the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) Community Development Coordinator, said in 2014 the city was able to fund 36 out of 39 public service grant requests. Coures said the City will have approximately $300,000 to allocate to public service activities for the 2015 plan year.
In addition to the public service grant program, the City of Evansville also funds assistance to homeowners with CDBG dollars in a variety of ways through nonprofit agencies. One of the most successful programs using City allocated CDBG funds is the Memorial Community Development Corporation Emergency Home Repair Program.
The City launched the local Home Repair program in 2010 with $100,000 in grant funds, and continued funding the program at that level in 2011 and 2012. Under the leadership of Mayor Winnecke, the DMD sought City Council approval to increase the funding to $284,000 in 2013. Karma Green-Johnson,
Director of Neighborhood Stabilization for Memorial CDC, said the program has helped more than 35 families in 2014, including Kelly and Kevin Casper.
The Casper’s home had fallen into disrepair creating an unsafe living environment. The couple met income guidelines and was current on mortgage payments and property taxes, making them eligible for assistance through Memorial’s Emergency Home Repair Program. Kelly Casper said contractors hired by Memorial installed new waterlines and repaired a leaking kitchen sink, replaced a cracked bathtub and the water-damaged subfloor under the tub, upgraded the house electrical service, repaired the heater, installed a new air conditioning unit, repaired structural damage to the living room ceiling, and installed new steps and a handrail at the rear entrance.
Kelly Casper said the family could not afford to make the repairs without financial assistance.
“It seems like after paying for everyday bills there is never enough money left to fix the important things that need to be done,†Kelly Casper said. “With help from the Department of Metropolitan Development and the Memorial Emergency Home Repair Program, we were able to fix our home and make it a safe place to live.â€
For more information about the Community Development Block Grant Program, contact DMD Community Development Coordinator Kelley Coures at 436-7806. For information on the Memorial Development Corporation Emergency Home Repair Program, contact Karma Green Johnson at 402-5530. Kelly Casper may be reached at 479-0903.
