Planning and Community Development

Current CDBG and HOME Programs

The City Commission prioritizes the CDBG funding annually based on community need. The 2010/2011 CDBG funding is prioritized as follows:

* Affordable housing 27%
* Public facilities improvements 33%
* Public service activities 15%
* Economic Development 5%
* Administration 20%

HOME funding is not prioritized as the single intent of the program is to expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing in the community.

A)     City Housing Programs Description

The City of Great Falls offers several programs targeted at promoting affordable housing on a citywide basis. All funds are available on a limited basis and projects are selected by a loan committee on the basis of need and benefit. Specific income guidelines apply to the housing programs. In all instances, the property must be within the city limits of Great Falls and mobile homes are not eligible.

Applications for the programs are accepted year round as funds become available. For complete details, program requirements and applications for these City-sponsored housing rehabilitation programs, see the application online version, contact the Community Development Department at (406) 455-8404, or email Rehab Specialist Bruce Haman. These programs include:

  1. Deferred Payment Loan Program

    These funds are used primarily to assist single family homeowners in the low income range to make necessary repairs to bring their homes up to code and make them safe and sanitary places to live. The applicant must own the home and have lived in it for at least one year. The funds are provided to the homeowner in the form of an interest free loan; monthly payments are required to begin being paid when the first mortgage is paid off. In addition, the full loan amount is due upon any transfer of title. The maximum loan amount is $50,000 per homeowner.

    [picture: residential property before use of a Deferred Payment Loan]
    Before
    [picture: residential property after use of a Deferred Payment Loan]
    After

     

  2. Rental Improvement Fund Program

    [picture: bathroom after use of Rental Improvement Fund Program]
    After
    [picture: bathroom before use of Rental Improvement Fund Program]
    Before

    These funds are used to assist property owners to make code-related repairs to rental property. Rents for rehabilitated units must be affordable to low income tenants and tenants' rents cannot increase for two years. Funds are provided to the rental property owner in the form of an interest free loan; monthly payments are required to begin being paid back as soon as the project is complete or six months after the loan is awarded, whichever comes first. The maximum loan amount is $30,000 per unit and a maximum of $100,000 is available to any one owner or group.

     

  3. Water and Sewer Loan Program

    [picture: water/sewer loan project]
    Trench and pipe for a Water and Sewer Loan Program project

    The objective of this program is to stabilize and improve water and sewer service lines by providing financial assistance to landlords and homeowners who own their rental and residential property.

    The water/sewer program will require a re-payment to begin plus 3% interest when the project reaches substantial completion. Handicap, elderly and low income owners may be interest exempt depending on financial ability to repay. Monthly payments are due the first of each and every month.

     

B)     Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. AKA Neighborworks Great Falls

The City has allocated CDBG and HOME funds to Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., to promote affordable housing activities within our community. This agency is using CDBG funds for purchase and rehabilitation of housing, neighborhood clean-up, and other activities which address affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. Currently, HOME funds are being used to construct single family homes and to provide financial assistance to help low income first time home buyers, single heads of households, and disabled people purchase homes.

Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., also has specific income guidelines for the services they provide. Call them at (406) 761-5861 to obtain information and eligibility requirements related to the housing programs they administer.

C)     Accessible Space, Inc.

[picture: The Portage]
The Portage

The City has allocated HOME and CDBG funds to Accessible Space, Inc., a non-profit housing agency, to assist with development of three housing complexes. Southwinds Estates (located at 1615 Oasis Court) is a 24 unit, subsidized, accessible apartment building for low income adults with severe mobility impairment, and it includes 24 hour supportive services. The Portage (located at 1521 23rd Street South) is a 48 unit accessible apartment building for the elderly and low income disabled adults. Meadow Lark Apartments, another 18 unit subsidized, accessible apartment building for low income adults with severe mobility impairments was constructed at 1701 1st Street Northwest.

D)     Income Guidelines

Low income guidelines for the City's housing programs are as follows:

Size of
Household		 Low Income
(50% MFI*)		 Moderate Income
(80% MFI*)
1 $19,300 $30,900
2 $22,050 $35,300
3 $24,800 $39,700
4 $27,550 $44,100
5 $29,800 $47,650
6 $32,000 $51,200
7 $34,200 $54,700
8+ $36,400 $58,250

*MFI - Median Family Income for Great Falls, May 2010

Other financial factors, such as existing assets, are also taken into consideration to determine eligibility for City housing rehabilitation programs. Contact Bruce Haman at (406) 455-8404, or email Bruce Haman, with specific program eligibility questions.

E)    Public Facility and Infrastructure Improvements/ Handicap Accessibility

[picture: Gibson Park playground]
Gibson Park

The City uses the CDBG program to fund activities which will improve public facilities which are primarily used by low income people and to make infrastructure improvements in areas of the community which are primarily low income.

CDBG funds are provided to local non-profit agencies and other City departments to promote handicap accessibility in public buildings and parks.

Public Facility Improvement and Handicap Accessibility activities being funded in 2010/2011 will be posted after the City Commission approves the list.

 

G)     Upper and Lower River Road Water and Sewer District

The City has allocated CDBG funds to the Upper and Lower River Road Water and Sewer District to extend water and sewer mains to connect the district to existing City lines. This project will be implemented in three phases over the next several years and involves a variety of funding sources.

H)     Economic Development

The City Commission has allocated CDBG funds to activities which will create job opportunities for people with low to moderate incomes.