Grants Community Planning and Development

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a critical federal initiative designed to support community revitalization by providing decent housing and expanding economic opportunities, particularly in low- and moderate-income (LMI) areas.

What are the National Objectives of the CDBG Grant?

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program has three national objectives: 

• Benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) persons.
• Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight.
• Meet a need having a particular urgency (referred to as urgent need).

Who is eligible for the CDBG Grant program?

Eligible grantees are as follows:

• Principal cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)
• Other metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000
• Qualified Urban Counties with populations of at least 200,000 (excluding the population of entitled cities)
• States and insular areas

What are the eligible activities that can be used with this funding?

CDBG funds may be used for activities which include, but are not limited to:

• Acquisition of real property
• Relocation and demolition
• Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures
• Construction of public facilities and improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers, and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes
• Public services, within certain limits
• Activities relating to energy conservation and renewable energy resources
• Provision of assistance to profit-motivated businesses to carry out economic development and job creation/retention activities

Who Benefits from this type of Grant?

• To benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) persons in a specified area at least 51% of the residents must meet the LMI income limits.
• In the presumed benefit category, at least 51% of clientele of low-and moderate-income (LMI) persons or of a particular group for the entire community must meet the LMI income limits. 

What are the groups that fall into the presumed clientele beneficiary?

HUD presumes certain groups of people have low and moderate incomes. They are persons who are elderly, severely disabled, victims of domestic abuse, abused children, illiterate adults, people who are homeless, migrant farm workers, and persons living with AIDS.

Learn more about organizations supporting the Arlington Community in the Participating Organizations section below.

The ESG program provides critical funding to address homelessness in Arlington by supporting homeless shelters, offering essential services, and helping families and individuals transition from homelessness to stable housing. ESG funds help maintain shelters by covering operational costs like staffing, utilities, and essential supplies. It also supports services such as case management, mental health counseling, and life skills training.

A core component of ESG is rapid rehousing, which offers short-term rental assistance and helps families move quickly into permanent housing. The program provides financial aid for rent, security deposits, and utilities, reducing the length of time spent in homelessness. All projects funded through ESG must comply with HUD guidelines and align with Arlington's 5-Year Consolidated Plan, which outlines local housing and homelessness priorities.

What are the objectives of the ESG Grant?

• Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street;
• Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families;
• Help operate these shelters;
• Provide essential services to shelter residents;
• Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families; and
• Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.

What is eligible for the ESG Grant Program?

Eligible recipients generally consist of metropolitan cities, urban counties, territories, and states:

• Metropolitan cities, urban counties and territories may subgrant ESG funds to private nonprofit organizations.
• State recipients must subgrant all of their ESG funds (except for funds for administrative costs and under certain conditions, HMIS costs) to units of general-purpose local government and/or private nonprofit organizations.
• All recipients must consult with the Continuum(s) of Care operating within the jurisdiction in determining how to allocate ESG funds.

Who benefits from this type of grant?

ESG beneficiaries are as follows:

Homeless individuals or families who are at risk of homelessness and meeting the following criteria:

• Has an annual income below 30 percent of median family income for the area, as determined by HUD;

• Does not have sufficient resources or support networks, e.g., family, friends, faith-based or other social networks, immediately available to prevent them from moving to an emergency shelter or another place that is not designated for use as a nighttime residence or temporary shelter accommodations.

What are the eligible activities that can be used with this funding?

• Street Outreach:  Provides connections to resources for unsheltered homeless individuals and families
• Emergency Shelter: Renovations to convert facilities to shelter; Case Management services; Shelter Operational costs
• Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing:  Housing relocation and stabilization services and/or short-and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to help individuals or families living in shelters or in places not meant for human habitation move as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing.
• Data Collection (HMIS) - ESG funds may be used to pay for the costs of participating in and contributing to the HMIS designated by the Continuum of Care for the area
• Administration -Up to 7.5 percent of a recipient's allocation can be used for administrative activities such as general management, oversight, and coordination of the ESG Program.

Learn more about the ESG Program and details on eligibility and requirements.

The HOME program focuses on expanding affordable housing options for Arlington residents, with a major emphasis on first-time homebuyers. The program offers financial assistance to help families cover down payments and closing costs, making homeownership more accessible. Additionally, it provides homebuyer education and counseling to support long-term housing stability.

The HOME program also funds housing rehabilitation for low- and moderate-income homeowners, enabling them to repair or upgrade aging homes to meet modern safety standards. These projects improve living conditions and preserve Arlington's affordable housing stock. The program further supports rental assistance, helping low-income families cover rent and utility costs, reducing housing insecurity.

By promoting affordable housing, supporting low-income renters, and helping first-time homebuyers, the HOME program strengthens Arlington's community fabric.

What are the objectives of the HOME grant?

• Empowers people and communities to design and implement strategies tailored to their own needs and priorities.
• The consolidated planning expands and strengthens partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector in the development of affordable housing.
• HOME's technical assistance activities and set-aside for qualified community-based nonprofit housing groups builds the capacity of these partners.

What are the eligible funding amounts available?

• States are automatically eligible for HOME funds and receive either their formula allocation or $3 million, whichever is greater.
• Local jurisdictions eligible for at least $500,000 under the formula ($335,000 in years when Congress appropriates less than $1.5 billion for HOME) also can receive an allocation. The formula allocation considers the relative inadequacy of each jurisdiction's housing supply, its incidence of poverty, its fiscal distress, and other factors.
• Participating jurisdictions that have a current and approved Consolidated Plan, which will include an action plan that describes how the jurisdiction will use its HOME funds. 

Who benefits from this type of grant?

• The eligibility of households for HOME assistance varies with the nature of the funded activity. For rental housing and rental assistance, at least 90 percent of benefiting families must have incomes that are no more than 60 percent of the HUD-adjusted median family income for the area.
•  In rental projects with five or more assisted units, at least 20% of the units must be occupied by families with incomes that do not exceed 50% of the HUD-adjusted median. The incomes of households receiving HUD assistance must not exceed 80 percent of the area median. HOME income limits are published each year by HUD.

Learn more about the HOME grant.

Lydle Ridge

Lydle Ridge Apartments is a vibrant new addition to Arlington’s affordable housing landscape, offering a welcoming and modern home for residents aged 62 and older. Opened in December 2024, this thoughtfully designed community features mixed-income one- and two-bedroom floor plans, ensuring high-quality, accessible living for seniors. Located at 2301 Little Road, Lydle Ridge was made possible in part through investments with HOME funds as a Program Year 2023 recipient and was developed with support from local initiatives aimed at expanding affordable housing. With contemporary amenities and a strong sense of community, it provides a comfortable and secure place for seniors to call home.

Alliance for Children

Alliance for Children has expanded its Arlington facility with a new 24,000-square-foot addition and renovated 5,000-square-foot center to better serve children in need. Located on West Abram Street, the upgraded space supports growing partnerships, brings counseling services in-house, and enhances forensic investigations with advanced technology and a new digital forensics lab. Child-friendly features include play and art therapy rooms and a helicopter cab play area donated by Bell Textron. The project was funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) support from Program Years 2020 and 2023.

Wynn Terrace Senior Cottage Community

The Wynn Terrace Senior Cottage Community reflects a strong partnership between the City of Arlington and Housing Channel, a nonprofit organization committed to expanding affordable housing. Designed for residents aged 55 and older, this innovative rental community offers a secure and comfortable environment tailored to the needs of Arlington’s senior population. Supported in part by the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Wynn Terrace promotes quality, affordability, and independence, providing seniors with a welcoming place to call home.