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Blight removal, home rehab among block grant projects

Blight removal, home rehabilitation and code enforcement are to get funding.







Beth Jachman, hometownlife.com Published 12:16 a.m. ET Feb. 4, 2015 | Updated 12:16 a.m. ET Feb. 4, 2015 An after photo of a blighted home rehabilitated as part of the townshipâs neighborhood revitalization program.(Photo: Submitted)


Blight removal, home rehabilitation and code enforcement are to get part of $1.1 million in funding in Redfordâs Action Plan for the 2015-16 program year.

Redford Township will receive an estimated $800,000 Community Development Block Grant 2015-2016, along with an anticipated $300,000 in program income for a total 2015 budget of $1,100,000, according to Mike Dennis, Redfordâs Community Development director.

The $800,000 is down from $827,000 received last year, he said.

The Action Plan, which Dennis presented to the Redford Township Board of Trustees last week, sets general guidelines for housing and community development activities for the next program year, beginning April 1, 2015, and running through March 31, 2016.

Americans with Disabilities Act improvements are scheduled to make some township parks more accessible at a cost of $20,000.

Another $20,000 is budgeted to improve facilities at the Redford Community Center, which also serves as the senior citizen center.

Projects to remove blight and rehabilitate homes are also budgeted in the action plan.

Rehab projects

Some $80,000 will be used to buy blighted properties and demolish structures under two parts of the CDBG funding â designated to fight slum and blight and for low- and moderate-income areas.

The plan is to purchase eight blighted properties as part of this program, Dennis said.

Enforcement of township building codes and ordinances also receives $115,000 in the action plan budget to target blight.

A revolving loan fund/deferred loan program for eligible low- and moderate-income homeowners to rehabilitate single-family homes has been budgeted $129,000. Applications are accepted on a first come/first served basis and there is a waiting list for the program. Emergency assistance is also provided to eligible families.

Some $10,000 has been budgeted for loans for faÃ§ade improvements and building code items for commercial businesses in eligible areas of the township.

The action plan includes $200,000 to acquire vacant foreclosed homes with the intent of rehabilitating the property for resale to low- or moderate-income households. This program is included with the Redford Township Stabilizing Neighborhoods Action Plan (SNAP II) Program. The original SNAP Program was supported with federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP 1) funds which were awarded by HUD in 2008.

Site clearance and blight removal are budgeted $100,000 as part of the program.

Community programs

Some $20,000 has been set aside to help low-income residents pay for required sidewalk replacement during the townshipâs sidewalk replacement program.

Some 15 percent of the CDBG funding can be spent on community service projects, Dennis said.

In the townshipâs action plan those include funds for Dial A Ride, the Neighborhood Watch, Redford Interfaith Relief, senior citizen and youth programming.

Dial A Ride, which provides transportation services to Redford Township seniors and disabled people, is budgeted $60,000.

Neighborhood Watch receives $3,000 in funding for program materials in eligible block groups.

Redford InterFaith Relief, an operation of food pantry, clothing assistance, and emergency assistance program for low- and moderate-income families within Redford Township, receives $10,000.

Some $3,000 is budgeted for program/activity staff of Senior Citizen Department for Redford Township.

And $60,000 is funded for staffing for youth services and juvenile diversion programs/activities.

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