CDBG/HOME Funding
Harford County, Maryland
Office Community & Economic Development
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME)
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program are funded through the entitlement funds received by Harford County through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funds projects which provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expansion of economic opportunities for low to moderate-income persons in Harford County. The HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program funds projects which provide decent affordable housing for low-to moderate-income persons in Harford County.
Private, nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, and in some cases, for-profit entities may be eligible to receive funding under these programs. All proposed programs/projects must meet applicable federal regulations. All selected programs/projects are subject to the availability of funding and Harford County’s budget review process. Harford County maintains the right to reject or accept proposals to fund or not to fund, or to reduce the amount of funding requested. The funds are dispersed annually to various non-profit organizations throughout Harford County and are not available to individuals directly.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program helps local governments tackle the most serious challenges facing their communities. The CDBG program works largely without fanfare or recognition to ensure decent affordable housing for all, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, to create jobs, and to expand business opportunities.
Program information
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is an entitlement funded program provided to Harford County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program funds projects which provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expansion of economic opportunities for low- to moderate-income persons in Harford County.
Funding requirements
Harford County is an entitlement jurisdiction, which means it receives an annual allocation. The county primarily uses its allocation for capital projects, to benefit the low- to moderate-income persons or households in the county, or to reduce slum and blight. The funds are dispersed annually to various non-profit organizations throughout Harford County and are not available to individuals directly.
Private, nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, and in some cases for-profit entities, may be eligible to receive funding under these programs. All proposed programs/projects must meet applicable federal regulations. All selected programs/projects are subject to the availability of funding and Harford County’s budget review process. Harford County maintains the right to reject or accept proposals to fund or not to fund, or to reduce the amount of funding requested.
All CDBG activities must meet one of the following national objectives for the program:
1. Benefit low-moderate-income persons (LMI):
- Housing for low-to-moderate households (LMH)
- Limited Clientele Benefit (LMC)
- Low to Moderate Area Benefit (LMA)
- Jobs for low-to-moderate-income persons (LMJ)
2. Slum and blight
- Area basis
- Spot basis
- Urban renewal
3. Urgent need
Application process
The application period for FY2024/FFY2023 is closed.
Application period: Typically January of each year
The Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides formula grants to state and local governments that communities use, often in partnership with local community-based non-profits, to fund activities.
Purpose
The purpose of the HOME Program is to:
- Expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, affordable housing for low-income families;
- Expand the capacity of nonprofit Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) to develop and manage affordable housing.
Affordable housing is considered housing for low- to moderate-income persons in the county (this is based upon income and family size). Supportive housing would be housing with support services, such as case management, job readiness training, etc., which allows formerly homeless or persons with disabilities transition to self-sufficiency.
Funding requirements
Funding source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HOME funds are awarded annually to Harford County to be used for activities that will improve housing opportunities. Each year Harford County must submit to HUD a Consolidated Action Plan containing specific information on how they will use their HOME allocation. The Consolidated Plan is:
- The foundation on which all the community's affordable housing efforts are built
- A tool to learn about the community's housing and development needs, to inventory its resources, to establish priorities for addressing those needs, and to develop concrete strategies for fulfilling those priorities
- A process that provides a forum for the citizens in the community to voice their opinion on the county's plans and results
Harford County awards funding to existing housing programs, non-profit developers, and local Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs). To discuss your project's feasibility, please contact Housing & Community Development at 410-638-3045.
Match requirements
HUD requires a 25% non-federal match for each eligible HOME activity.\
Affordability requirements
Affordability means a property assisted with HOME funds must be restricted to income eligible residents. In the case of rental projects, rents are restricted as well. Based upon the amount, or the type of activity using HOME funds in a property, it must remain affordable for the following time periods:
- $15,000 to $40,000 for 15 years
- >$40,000 for 15 years
- New construction of rental housing for 20 years
- Refinancing of rental housing for 15 years
Rental housing
Developers interested in providing rental housing in Harford County should contact Housing & Community Development at 410-638-3045 to discuss their project.
Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO)
Harford County, through the HOME Program, is making an investment in the future of local nonprofit housing groups. Harford County provides funds to CHDOs to own, develop, or sponsor affordable housing projects. Not every private, nonprofit organization qualifies as a CHDO. This term is reserved for those that:
- Provide decent housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income persons as a part of their organizational mission (though they may perform other functions as well)
- Have effectively carried out activities financed by HOME funds
- Have a history of serving the community where the HOME-funded housing will be
- Are organized under state or local laws and exempt from taxes under 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Meet standards of financial accountability
- One-third of CHDOs governing board must be made up of low-income community residents or elected representatives of those residents
- CHDOs must also maintain a formal process that allows low-income residents and other program beneficiaries to provide input on relevant decisions. This process must be part of the organization's by-laws
For information on becoming a CHDO call Housing & Community Development at 410-638-3045.
Application process
The application period for FY2024/FFY2023 is closed.
This application is for HOME funds set aside for CHDOs. To apply for HOME funds if you are not a CHDO, please use the CDBG/HOME application during the funding period.