Emergency Shelter Grant Link
GENERAL:
Each July, the Pierce County Urban Consortium receives approximately $3 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist lower-income people, households and communities. Funds assist social services and infrastructure improvements throughout the County and it's cities and towns. The cities of Tacoma, Lakewood, Auburn and Pacific operate their own CDBG programs. Federal CDBG program requirements are detailed in 24 CFR 570. County government administers the program for the consortium.
Applications are considered yearly by a Citizen Advisory Board comprised of County city and town elected representatives and a number voluteers from throughout the County. Terms are three years. Potential members can apply here.
ELIGIBILITY:
Activities must meet one of three National Objectives:
- serve predominantly lower-income clients
- eliminate or mitigate slums and blight
- address an emergency need.
Low-income benefit is our primary objective and it is defined in three different ways. Because federal requirements limit the use of the slums & blight and emergency need objectives please contact our staff to discuss their applicability if you believe they might apply to your situation.
- Low-income eligibility (income eligible) is defined annually by HUD based on family income projected from the latest census. New figures are received annually, usually by February. Click on Income eligibility to view the latest income limits. All people and households whose income categories are listed as low-mod, low, or very low are eligible for CDBG assistance based on related family size.
- Certain classes of individuals are presumed to be low-income (presumed benefit) and eligible for CDBG assistance as a group (not as individuals) if they are in one of the following categories: seniors; severely disabled adults; homeless; battered spouses; abused/neglected children and youth; illiterate adults; migrant farm workers, and persons living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, HUD has indicated that persons who use food banks or meals programs may be presumed to be eligible low-income clients.
- Lower-income communities (area benefit) include those cities, towns, communities or specific areas (regardless of size) where more than 51 percent of households have an income that is less than the county median income based on most recent census data. Because of an exemption given to Pierce County, some communities can, in fact, have a population where less than 51 percent is below the county median income. Where census data is not available for the targeted area the county may conduct a survey of the community. That process requires considerable time and should be requested only after consultation with division staff. Lists of pre-determined areas and communities considered to be eligible will be contained in the division's annual CDBG funding application.
Once an activity is determined to meet a National Objective, it must meet one of several eligible activity classifications including a variety of facility, infrastructure, housing, and public service classifications and a number of other classifications. Contact division staff if you have a question about project eligibility. back to the top
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Applications for CDBG/ESG are generally available in November. Completed applications are due the first week in December. Click here for information regarding the application process.
FUNDING PARTNERS:
Those who receive a contract award become responsible for certain contract obligations. In the Public Services Area, they might include routine reports and reimbursement requests. In the Physical Improvement Area, they could be forms and certifications related to construction projects. Routine forms are available on the Funding Partner's page.
ANNUAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Click here for the 2008-09 Citzen's Advisory Board's (CAB) Schedule.
back to the top
