Communities are taking advantage of CDBG's flexibility and wide range of eligible activities to carry out comprehensive strategies to address economic, physical, and social issues. Many communities are combining CDBG with other HUD programs to create innovative strategies for affordable housing development and community and economic revitalization. HOME primarily funds affordable housing construction, rehabilitation, and rental assistance. Communities can use HOME funds for rental and downpayment assistance needed to attract and retain families to the area and CDBG funds for public services and economic development activities needed to keep the new neighborhoods viable. Young high school dropouts are encouraged to participate in Youthbuild to obtain a GED, job skills, and meaningful on-site work experience in a construction trade.
Participants learn in the classroom and earn income as trainees at construction sites.
Many localities get more for their community development funds by combining CDBG-funded construction projects with Youthbuild. The rehabilitation of affordable housing has traditionally been the largest single use of CDBG funds, but the program is becoming an important catalyst for economic development activities that expand job and business opportunities for lower income families and neighborhoods. Many of our Nation's older cities contain environmentally contaminated sites known as brownfields. Due to perceived financial and legal risks, obtaining financing for brownfields cleanup and rehabilitation is difficult. CDBG provides important start-up funds and loan guarantees that communities can use to begin cleanup and redevelopment, lowering risk and attracting private resources.