Update: City of Asheville Community Development Block Grant funding recommendations

For the 2015-2016 program year, the city of Asheville received $1,083,621 in Community Development Block Grant funding through the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. On March 17, the Asheville Housing and Community Development Committee listened to presentations from area CDBG applicants, and while many interesting and timely projects are proposed each year, those with the most potential were vetted and recommended for funding. Funding recommendations for use of CDBG funds were made at the Housing and Community Development meeting on March 19. Those funding recommendations were subsequently addressed and approved at a city council public hearing on April 28 that authorized submission of the city’s Consolidated Action Plan for 2015-2016 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Council approved the grants as recommended by the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium and the HCD Committee.

According to a press release from the city of Asheville, that plan’s CDBG program, due to be submitted to HUD by May 15, is “fully funded from federal CDBG entitlement grants, unused funds from previous completed projects and estimated program income. Staff costs to administer the program are also fully paid from federal sources. The funded programs will provide new construction and other economic activity in the city and region, creating and sustaining employment. CDBG funds will also benefit almost 2,500 low-income City residents through homeless services, financial counseling, small business assistance and other needed services. [CDBG] partner agencies leverage $4.82 of other funding for every $1.00 of CDBG funding.”

Click on the following graph for an illustrated thematic breakdown of 2015-2016 CDBG funding:

Complete 2015-2016 funding:

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity — Homeowner Education — $50,000
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity — Lending Services — $40,000
Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Council — Fair Housing — $10,391
Asheville City School Foundation — After School Program — $14,850
ARC of Buncombe County — Housing Services Case Management — $15,000
Eagle Market Street Development Corporation — Empowering Residents — $45,920
Green Opportunities — Job Training and Placement — $125,000
Helpmate — Domestic Violence Services — $15,840
Homeward Bound — Pathways to Permanent Housing — $85,000
Homeward Bound — AHOPE — $59,400
Mountain Bizworks — Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs — $70,000
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Tier I Emergency Home Repair — $75,000
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Tier II Emergency Home Repair — $75,000
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Housing Services — $90,000
OnTrack — Financial Counseling — $11,880
Partners Unlimited — Academic Enhancement — $4,950
Pisgah Legal Services — $44,550
The Support Center — Women’s Business Center WNC — $45,920
City of Asheville Program Administration — $204,920
Total Recommended Funding — $1,083,621

After examining the distribution of CDBG funds over the last three funding cycles, one can see that, in general, the ratios of funding have stayed about the same, particularly for programs involving residential or housing concerns. Education/training and professional have fluctuated slightly, while the city of Asheville utilizes 20 percent of each funding cycle’s funds for program administration. A three-year illustration of CDBG funding for the city of Asheville is as follows:

Complete 2014-2015 funding:

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity — Home Repair — $49,902.00
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity — Homeowner Education — $60,720.00
Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry — Housing Services — $15,180.00
Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Council — Fair Housing — $16,587.00
Asheville City Schools Foundation — After School Program — $26,811.00
Green Opportunities — Job Training and Placement — $150,000.00
Helpmate — Domestic Violence Services — $16,567.00
Homeward Bound — AHOPE — $50,265.00
Homeward Bound — Pathways to Permanent Housing — $85,000.00
Mountain BizWorks — Business Coaching for Entrepreneurs — $70,840.00
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Down Payment Assistance — $60,000.00
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Lending Services — $131,560.00
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Tier I Emergency Home Repair — $75,000.00
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Tier II Emergency Home Repair — $75,000.00
OnTrack — Financial Counseling — $10,053.00
Pisgah Legal Services — Homelessness Prevention — $50,265.00
Women’s Wellbeing and Development Fund — Ujamaa Freedom Market — $27,000.00
City of Asheville Program Administration — $203,938.00

Complete 2013-2014 funding:

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity — Home Repair — $25,000.00
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity — Housing Services — $55,000.00
Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry — Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing — $18,800.00
Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Council — Fair Housing Outreach & Education — $20,000.00
City of Asheville — Spray ground at Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center — $35,000.00
Eblen Charities — Tenant Based Rental Assistance — $35,000.00
Green Opportunities — GO Energy Team Weatherization Assistance & Apprenticeship Program — $45,000.00
Green Opportunities — GO Training Team — $80,000.00
Helpmate — Crisis Stabilization for Victims of Domestic Abuse — $10,000.00
Homeward Bound — AHOPE — $50,000.00
Homeward Bound — Supportive Housing Services — $85,000.00
Mountain BizWorks — Business Development & Training & Coaching — $60,000.00
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Down Payment Assistance — $30,000.00
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Housing Services — $110,000.00
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Tier I Emergency Home Repair — $74,340.00
Mountain Housing Opportunities — Tier II Emergency Home Repair — $70,000.00
OnTrack — Financial Education and Counseling — $10,000.00
Partners Unlimited — Academic Enhancement — $6,391.00
Pisgah Legal Services — Homelessness Prevention — $40,000.00
City of Asheville Program Administration — $196,855.00