This week marks National Community Development Week, a time to reflect on and celebrate the tangible results of the federally-funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program in over 1100 communities nationwide.

Enacted into law in 1974, the CDBG program is the principal federal program providing grants to States, cities, and counties to devise neighborhood approaches that will improve the physical, economic and social conditions in communities. It is administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The HOME program provides grants to States, cities, and counties to create safe, sanitary, and affordable housing conditions in communities nationwide.

2013 marks the 39th anniversary of the CDBG program and the 22nd anniversary of the HOME program. Both programs have faced significant cuts in the past two years; CDBG with a 26% cut since FY2010 and HOME with a 48% cut since FY2010. In FY2010, CDBG was funded nationally at $3.990 billion and HOME was funded at $1.825 billion. CDBG is now funded at $2.95 billion nationally and HOME at $1.0 billion nationally. With the economic downturn, these programs are needed more than ever to help our most vulnerable citizens and improve the overall condition of our neighborhoods.

The City of Madison's Community Development Division is proud to be a partner in the development of affordable housing, economic opportunities and neighborhoods with Madison's citizens. To celebrate National Community Development Week, the Community Development Division would like to highlight the following local accomplishments made possible with the help of the CDBG and HOME Programs over the past five years:

• 484 lower income households have been able to purchase their first home.
• Over 1,000 lower income households have benefited from the creation or improvement of affordable rental housing units.
• Over 300 individuals from lower income households have obtained jobs.
• Over 410,000 lower income individuals have benefited from a service or program at a neighborhood center.