Community Development Week
The National Community Development Association (NCDA) has recognized April 1-5, 2024, as National Community Development Week. This week provides the opportunity for communities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Member communities are also recognizing the work of the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program. The programs are critical to the development of local strategies and initiatives to provide affordable housing, critical services, community infrastructure, and economic development in low- and moderate-income areas.
Enacted by Congress in 1974 under the Housing and Community Development Act, the primary goal of the CDBG program is simple yet profound: to empower local communities, providing them with the resources and tools necessary to enhance the quality of life for all residents. Over 1,250 state and local governments receive CDBG allocations to support housing rehabilitation programs, public infrastructure projects, small business assistance, emergency housing assistance, and a broad range of public service programming.
From FY2005 to FY2023, CDBG facilitated the creation and retention of 563,236 economic development related jobs, contributed to infrastructure developments benefitting approximately 57 million persons, assisted over 189 million persons through public service activities, and met the housing needs of over 1.9 million households. Since 1992, the HOME program has produced more than 1.37 million affordable housing units and assisted more than 387,000 households through tenant-based rental assistance.
National Community Development Week provides the opportunity for Congressional members to see first- hand the results of these programs and to learn from grantees, program subrecipients and beneficiaries why more program funding is needed. We support National Community Development Week and value the impact the CDBG and HOME programs have made in our community.
