The largest single grant of the four received by the City, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is also the most flexible. Working largely to ensure decent affordable housing for all, provide services to the most vulnerable members of our community, create jobs and expand business opportunities, CDBG funding provides a wide array of housing and social services. Examples include as low-income home repair, public facility construction and rehabilitation, demolition of unsafe structures, summer youth programs, employment training and senior services. The program is an important tool in helping tackle the city's most serious community challenges. CDBG has made a difference in the lives of millions of people all across the nation. Begun in 1974, CDBG is one of the oldest programs in HUD.

In order to be an eligible under the CDBG program, all activities must meet one of the following national objectives for the program:

• Benefit low- and moderate-income persons;
• Prevent or eliminate slums or blight; or
• Community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community.