Wednesday deadline for CDBG applications
The deadline to apply for Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding is Wednesday, and the city is eager to help qualifying residents affected by the 2015 flood.
“We just want to get the word out,” said Aaron Harris, community initiatives program administrator for the city. “We don’t want to not serve somebody if we have the opportunity to serve them.”
Harris said that residents affected by the flooding who still have an unmet need — repairs that need to be made to their homes or repairs that were done hastily and need to be redone — can apply for CDBG-DR funds. Residents who aren’t sure if they qualify or if the work they need done qualifies are welcome to call or come by the CDBG office, located in the building behind the Municipal Building in the City Hall complex at 630 E. Hopkins St.
“Just come talk to us,” Harris said.
Harris noted that construction is just about finished on two houses on Conway Street that were reconstructed at a level above the floodplain. Reconstruction and repair work is ongoing at other sites, according to the city.
“We’re trying to bring people up where they have a safe home and don’t have to fear the next flood,” he said, adding, “The federal government won’t let us pour money into a repetitive loss.”
Harris said that people have noticed the construction work and, realizing that the CDBG-DR funds can be used to help them with their housing situations, have submitted applications for funding.
Applicants will have to answer questions about whether they own the home that was damaged and about the size of their household and annual income, along with other questions. Applications can be viewed online or picked up at the CDBG office.
Harris urged people to come by in person or call to set up a time. “There will be somebody here to talk to them,” he said.
Moreover, if there are residents who are mobility-impaired and can’t get to the CDBG office, ‘We can come to them.”
For more information, call the CDBG office at 512-393-8147.
