Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix

• Nature of the program
• Activities generally eligible for CDBG funding
• Phoenix Community Development Block Grant programs
• CDBG programs sponsored and implemented by other departments
• Request for proposal and open application programs
• Resident participation
• CDBG Funded Agency Documents
• The Future of the CDBG Program
• Recognition of Outstanding CDBG Funded Program

For more information regarding any of the programs listed on this page, or for questions regarding the CDBG Program itself, please contact: Barabara Bellamy at 602-262-7845 or e-mail: barbara.bellamy@phoenix.gov

The city of Phoenix Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, administered by the Neighborhood Services Department, has been serving the community since 1975. Along with other CDBG programs nationwide, the Phoenix program was created to revitalize neighborhoods and housing primarily in low-income areas, promote economic development and to provide public facilities/infrastructure and services.

The Phoenix program is funded through annual block grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1994, HUD issued new regulations requiring cities to combine the planning and application process of four separate HUD-funded programs into the Consolidated Plan, including CDBG. The Consolidated Plan uses Request for Proposal and Open Application processes for the allocation of CDBG funds.

The Phoenix program uses its CDBG funds for comprehensive revitalization of designated neighborhoods, housing rehabilitation, construction of facilities such as senior and community centers, small business loan programs, social services and homeless assistance. The program has touched and enriched lives, especially of low- and moderate-income residents, by providing facilities, housing and services that otherwise would not have been available.

In order to qualify for funding, federal CDBG program objectives require that proposed activities either benefit low- and moderate-income individuals or prevent slum and blight.

Activities that can be funded include:

• Housing rehabilitation programs.

• Public services.

• Removal of barriers that restrict the mobility and accessibility of elderly and handicapped persons to public or private buildings or facilities.

• Rehabilitation and preservation activities for recognized historic properties.

• Commercial and industrial rehabilitation, and special economic development projects.

• New housing construction through eligible sub-recipients (nonprofits).

• Acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or installation of public facilities and utilities.

• Elimination of slum and blight conditions which includes acquisition, disposition and clearance of real property for public purpose.

The Neighborhood Services Department administers the Phoenix CDBG program. The department was created by the City Council in 1992 to preserve and improve the physical, social and economic health of Phoenix neighborhoods. A portion of the city's annual CDBG funds are utilized by NSD for its comprehensive efforts to revitalize designated neighborhoods and to provide affordable housing opportunities to low- and moderate-income households. CDBG-funded programs sponsored and implemented by NSD include:

• Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation: Provides grants and loans to low-income homeowners for rehabilitation of homes.

• Infill housing programs: Provides assistance for the development of infill housing in target neighborhoods.

• Rental Rehab/Renaissance Program: Combats neighborhood problems of crime and blight associated with rental housing.

• Emergency Tenant Assistance: Provides temporary emergency shelter, one month's rent, security and utility deposits, emergency food vouchers and emergency bus tokens to tenants who are at risk of becoming homeless due to unsafe and unsanitary living conditions.

• Landlord/Tenant Counseling: Provides counseling/mediation for tenants and workshops and information on the Landlord/Tenant Act.

• Demolition: Abates abandoned and dilapidated properties in order to reduce blight and enhance the physical environment of low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.

• Code enforcement: Reverses physical deterioration in focus and target neighborhoods by enforcing property maintenance and zoning ordinances.

• Graffiti prevention program: Implements proactive strategies to remove and prevent graffiti in Phoenix.

• Hardship Assistance Program: Provides a one-time grant to families at or below 80 percent of the median income who are cited for violations of Phoenix's Neighborhood Preservation and Zoning Ordinance.

• Home Improvement Loan Program: Subsidizes interest rates for bank loans to low- and moderate-income homeowners for home repairs.

• Public Housing Modernization:CDBG funds allow the Housing Department to make major repairs to city-owned public housing units, maintain them in suitable working order and afford security to tenants.

• Family Self-sufficiency and Winter Overflow Shelter: CDBG funds allow the Human Services Department to eliminate barriers to self-sufficiency for public housing tenants and provide shelter to the homeless during the winter.

• Expansion Assistance and Development Program (EXPAND): The Community and Economic Development Department provides financial assistance (collateral reserve deposits) to new or expanding businesses that generate jobs for low- and moderate-income individuals.

• Technical assistance to small or micro-businesses: CDBG funds allow the Community and Economic Department to provide capacity building, technical assistance and professional services to small, struggling businesses to assist them in stabilizing and expanding operations.

Phoenix allocates a portion of its annual CDBG entitlement through Request for Proposals (RFP) and Open Application programs. Priorities for funding are based on public hearings, updated needs assessment and City Council information.Nonprofit agencies can apply for funding from the following programs through the Neighborhood Services Department:

• Public Services and Public Facilities RFP: Funds public facilities projects and public services such as youth services and child care.

• Neighborhood Revitalization Open Application: Funds infill housing, housing rehabilitation, acquisition/rehabilitation for home ownership.

• Neighborhood Infrastructure Open Application Fund: Funds projects sponsored by city departments in partnership with neighborhood associations to improve streets, sewers, drainage and other infrastructure projects.

• Neighborhood Enhancement Open Application Program: Funds projects sponsored by city departments in partnership with neighborhood associations to improve parks, playgrounds, landscaping, gateways, streets and alley closures.

• Housing Counseling RFP: Funds housing counseling services provided by nonprofit organizations.

Open application and RFP programs sponsored by other departments include the following:

• Housing Open Application: The Housing Department provides funds to nonprofit housing agencies for first-time home buyers assistance and the development of affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons, especially special needs populations

• Economic Development RFP: The Community and Economic Development Department provides funding to nonprofit organizations for micro-enterprise and small business technical assistance, incubator development and commercial/industrial improvements.

• Homeless Support and Job Training Programs: The Human Services Department provides funding for homeless shelter/support and job training/employment services for low- and moderate-income individuals.

Neighborhood Services Department RFP

The Public Services and Public Facilities Request for Proposal (RFP) is generally made available in the fall. Look for a Request for Proposal notice on the official "City Page," which appears every Friday in the Valley & State section of The Arizona Republic.

Neighborhood Services Department Open Application

Applications are accepted year-round for the Neighborhood Revitalization Open Application, Neighborhood Infrastructure Fund and The Neighborhood Enhancement Program. Housing Counseling Block RFP funds are made available in the spring and also are advertised on the "City Page."

RFP applications and general information/instructions for current funding are available at:

The Consolidated Plan requires participation of residents in order to ensure that the city's CDBG funds meet the actual needs of its residents and their neighborhoods. By allowing citizens and organizations to bring forth ideas and be involved and committed to proposed solutions, resident involvement promotes better understanding of community needs and available resources to address those needs. Residents help identify CDBG needs and priorities through annual Consolidated Plan public hearings. Smaller focus groups involving residents and other key representatives are used in the planning process.

A citizen review committee representing a cross-section of Phoenix residents has assisted the city with this process since 1984. The committee reviews and recommends projects for the Phoenix Community Development Block Grant Program to be funded by the Request for Proposal program.

• The Future of the CDBG Program
  
• Recognition of Outstanding CDBG Funded Program