Santa Clara Earmarks $3 Million for Affordable Housing

Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal

The County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors will allocate about $3 million in federal funding for several housing-related programs and community service programs.

Recipients include the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership Act, and American Dream Downpayment Initiative programs.

"Providing decent housing for all residents is one of the county's highest priorities," said Supervisor Don Gage, District 1. "The federal funds that the county is allocating will provide much-needed housing options for the families in this valley."

The Community Development Block Grant Program was created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The county has been working with the cities of Campbell, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill and Saratoga, as well as the unincorporated areas of the county.

Activities funded by the county and the participating cities since 1975 include the development of new affordable housing units, rehabilitation of affordable housing units, construction of neighborhood centers, removal of architectural barriers for the elderly and persons with disabilities, fair housing services, shelters for the homeless and victims of domestic violence, and other housing-related public services.

The HOME funds are used primarily to help finance housing construction projects. The goals of the HOME program include expanding the supply of decent and permanently affordable housing for lower income families, with an emphasis on rental housing for very low income families.
The American Dream Downpayment Initiative Program provides down payment assistance to low-income families who are first-time homebuyers towards the purchase of single family houses. The Initiative is a component under the HOME Program.