Danville has received its annual funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which this year totals about $1.14 million. City council, at its regular meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m., will consider amending the budget appropriation ordinance to allow these funds to be used for housing-related programs.
The city is a participating jurisdiction under HUD and, through that designation, receives annual funding through the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, and the HOME Investments Partnership Programs.
This year, HUD made available about $857,000 in CDBG funding and about $284,000 in HOME funding for projects to improve the Danville community, according to the staff report in the meeting’s agenda packet.
The city projects an additional $10,000 in CDBG funding and $35,000 in HOME funds to be generated from loan repayments and the sale of houses currently under city programs, says the agenda packet.
This brings the total funding from HUD for the fiscal year 2024-2025 to about $1.18 million.
Danville’s housing shortage is shrinking thanks to continued efforts to attract developers and incentivize new housing construction. But more homes are still needed.
Most of the funds from the community development block grants have historically been used for neighborhood revitalization efforts, and city staff proposes continuing that focus, the packet says.
“In addition, there is a public service category which can be funded with up to 15% of the annual allocation,” it says. “It provides funding to assist non-profit organizations to carry out programs that benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and/or households.”
A breakdown of estimated expenditures for this funding can be found in the draft ordinance in the agenda packet.
Staff recommends that city council adopt a budget ordinance appropriating these funds.
Council is the only body that is scheduled to meet this week in Danville. In Pittsylvania, the county planning commission will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
