CDBG Coalition
About the CDBG Coalition
The CDBG Coalition consists of 33 national organizations which recognize the importance of the CDBG program in empowering and transforming people and places. The organizations represent elected officials, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and advocates.
About the CDBG Program
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a highly impactful federal program that allows State and local governments and their program partners to craft locally driven solutions to address urgent and important community development needs. Program activities focus on four areas: decent housing, infrastructure (public improvements), services, and economic development. The CDBG program grows local economies and improves the quality of lives for low- and moderate-income citizens. Over 1,200 jurisdictions receive an annual allocation of CDBG funds. Nationally, over 7,200 rural, suburban and urban communities have access to CDBG funds. Communities use CDBG to respond to current and emerging community development needs, including job creation, affordable housing development, improvement of existing housing stock, the delivery of services, and the development of infrastructure improvements.
Public Facilities and Infrastructure Improvements
CDBG helps communities fund the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and installation of public facilities and infrastructure. These include publicly owned infrastructure such as water and sewer systems and buildings owned by non-profit organizations that are open to the public and provide important community services. Overall, these activities received the highest amount of program investment among eligible categories in FY2023.
Public Services
CDBG grantees can use up to 15% of their annual allocation plus 15% of program income from the previous program year for community services to address a wide range of community needs. These services include employment training, meals and other services to the elderly, services for abused and neglected children, aid to local food banks, youth and senior services, and support for many other community services. Services are provided by large and small public and private organizations in diverse settings such as schools, community facilities and other venues.
Affordable Housing
CDBG is essential to affordable housing preservation and expansion in low- and moderate-income areas. The CDBG program focuses on the elimination of conditions which are detrimental to health, safety, and public welfare primarily through rehabilitation of single family and rental properties. These activities result in the preservation of affordable housing and the expansion of the affordable housing stock for low- and moderate- income people. Grantees also use CDBG to assist first-time homebuyers. These resources enable low- and moderate-income people to enter the housing market and build wealth through homeownership.
