Waterloo Times

Nearly $1 million of Community Development Block Grant and HOME program funds for next year should go to fixing up low-income homes, according to the Waterloo Community Development Board. 

The city is expecting to get $1.7 million in total from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money not earmarked for home rehab would go to social services agencies ($134,000); emergency home repairs ($80,000), neighborhood services operations ($80,000), and $90,000 to the city of Cedar Falls, the board recommended.  

The board’s other recommendations include the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and Salvation Army getting $15,000 each; Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity receiving $74,200; Waterloo Warming Center and Iowa Legal Aid would both receive $5,000; and Operation Threshhold’s home weatherization program would receive $20,000.   

Waterloo gets the money every year to help improve low-to-moderate income areas and people who live in poverty by boosting services and programs. The city has, in the past few years, honed in on housing programs in particular because the annual amount Waterloo receives has continually decreased. 

Rudy Jones, community development director, said housing needs are simply becoming more critical every year. As a result, some requests from agencies and groups were not recommended by the Community Development Board to receive funds. Waterloo Leisure Services, for example, won’t be getting the $25,000 it requested for swing sets at Sullivan Park.

Community members can weigh in during the public comment period slated for March. Comments can be mailed to Rudy Jones; Community Development Board, Carnegie Annex, Suite 202; 620 Mulberry St.; Waterloo, IA 50702, or emailed to anita.merfeld@waterloo-ia.org

The city council will make a final decision in April.