Dane County: Federal funds to improve housing for Dane County families, seniors

Contact: Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606

Dane County to Grant More than $1.7 Million in Federal Dollars

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk said today the county will allocate $1.7 million in federal funding in early 2011 to ensure more families in our communities have stable, safe housing.

Of the $1.7 million Dane County will secure, the Community Development Block Grant Commission is recommending $200,000 be used to assist prospective first-time homebuyers with down-payment assistance. These funds will be allocated to the Dane County Housing Authority and Movin’ Out, Inc. The dollars for Movin’ Out, Inc will provide housing assistance to adults and children with disabilities

$314,000 is recommended to help organizations like Project Home Inc. ($164,000) make home repairs for low-to-moderate income homeowners. The City of Stoughton is proposed to receive $100,000 of that funding to make repairs to homes in that community. Another $50,000 is slated for Independent Living to improve the safety and accessibility of homes owned by seniors or disabled citizens.

“More families are facing financial hardships as the national recession continues, making it especially important for the county to secure these dollars and ensure they go to the greatest good,” Falk said. “These dollars will help families find housing and fund needed improvements to homes to keep them safe and sound.”

“Through my last three years on the CDBG commission, I have seen a lot of good projects to help communities and individuals be done throughout Dane County,” Supervisor Cynda Solberg said. “I am pleased that we are able to offer assistance to help with quality, affordable housing for low and moderate income families.”

$20,000 of the funding will help agencies like the Colonial Club in Sun Prairie and the Stoughton United Methodist Church Ministries offer transportation to persons to get to meal sites, jobs, and doctor appointments.

The dollars will be distributed through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Initiatives coordinated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The federal government dedicates these dollars for communities to offer homebuyer assistance, home rehabilitation, new home construction, economic development and transportation services. A resolution authorizing CDBG and HOME funding will be introduced to the Dane County Board Thursday evening.