BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem is looking to use nearly $2 million in federal funding it expects to get to rehabilitate affordable housing in the city and renovate Friendship Park.
City Council on Tuesday began looking at recommendations for the $1,416,201 in Community Development Block Grants and $455,213 from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program it expects to receive.
- Bethlehem announced it expects $1,871,414 in CDBG and HOME funding to roll in this summer
- City Council proposes to spend $405,000 of that for housing rehab grants and loans
- Also, $240,211 of that would go for Phase 1 or renovations at the city's Friendship Park
Those amounts represent increases of 1.8% and 5.7%, respectively, over last year, according to an official with the state Department of Community and Economic Development, which administers the funds.
Officials expect to get the funds this summer.
"CBDG funding supports community development activities directed at revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development and improving facilities and services."Robert Vidoni, housing and community development administrator
On Tuesday, council looked at 17 projects for the CDBG funds and four for the HOME money.
At the meeting, Robert Vidoni, DCED housing and community development administrator serving as the CDBG and HOME administrator, explained the CDBG program benefits low and moderate-income populations, "preventing or eliminating slums or blight, and addressing community needs."
It "supports community development activities directed at revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development and improving facilities and services," he said.
The HOME program's intent is "to increase the supply of quality affordable housing for lower-income households, expanding nonprofit housing provider capacity, strengthening state and local government capacity to provide affordable housing and leveraging private sector investments in housing,” Vidoni said.
Recommended CDBG allocations were:
- Housing rehab grants and loans, $275,000, and housing rehab program delivery, $130,000
- City program administration and planning, $263,240
- Phase 1 Friendship Park renovations, $240,211
- Greater Valley YMCA, Bethlehem Branch, $198,000, and YWCA Bethlehem, $15,000
- Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Inc., $2,000 from CDBG and $98,000 from CDBG-CV
- New Bethany Ministries-Representative Payee Program, $52,750 and New Bethany Ministries-Trinity Soup Kitchen, $25,000
- Hogar CREA International of Pennsylvania, Inc., $50,000
- Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem, $40,000
- Kellyn Foundation, $30,000
- North Penn Legal Services, $20,000
- Non-congregate shelter acquisition, $20,000
- Community Action Lehigh Valley, $20,000
- Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, $15,000
- ShareCare Faith in Action, $10,000
- Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, $10,000.
Recommendations for HOME funds were:
- City of Bethlehem Affordable Housing opportunities, $198,410
- Housing rehabilitation-acquisition, rehab and resale, $143,000
- Community Action Lehigh Valley, $68,282
- City HOME program administration and planning, $45,521.
DCED soon will submit to council a proposed resolution that would approve the funding recommendations and submission of the 2023 Annual Action Plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Vidoni added that Bethlehem currently features two home-funded programs: the Bethlehem Homebuyer Assistance Program as well as direct buyer purchase subsidies for houses constructed and rehabilitated with HOME funds.
