The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program supports community development activities to build stronger and more resilient communities. To support community development, activities are identified through an ongoing process. Activities may address needs such as infrastructure, economic development projects, public facilities installation, community centers, housing rehabilitation, public services, clearance/acquisition, microenterprise assistance, code enforcement, homeowner assistance, etc.
Housing Strategy
Priority Need: There is a need to increase the amount of affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary housing for homebuyers, homeowners, and renters.
Goal: Improve, preserve, and expand the supply of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income persons and families that is decent, safe, and sound.
Homeless Strategy
Priority Need: There is a need for supportive services and housing opportunities for homeless persons and persons and families at-risk of becoming homeless.
Goal: Improve the living conditions and support services for homeless persons, families, and those who are at risk of becoming homeless.
Community Development Strategy
Priority Need: There is a need to improve community infrastructure, facilities, public services, and public safety, as well as eliminate blight throughout the City of Kankakee.
Goals: Improve the living conditions of Kankakee residents through improving community infrastructure, facilities, public services, public safety, and eliminating blight.
Economic Development Strategy
Priority Need: There is a need to increase employment, self-sufficiency, and small business support for residents of the City of Kankakee.
Goals: Improve and expand employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the City of Kankakee.
Administration, Planning, and Management Strategy
Priority Need: There is a need for planning, administration, and oversight of Federal, State, and local funded programs.
Goals: Provide sound and professional planning, administration, oversight, and management of Federal, State and local funded programs and activities.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a longstanding commitment to eliminate racial and ethnic segregation and other discriminatory practices in the provision of housing. As stated on the HUD website:
It is HUD's mission to promote nondiscrimination and ensure fair and equal housing opportunities for all. In an ongoing effort to provide services and activities on a nondiscriminatory manner and to affirmatively further fair housing, HUD is charged by law to implement and enforce a wide array of civil rights laws, not only for members of the public in search of fair housing, but for HUD funded grant recipients as well.
HUD extends the responsibility of affirmatively furthering fair housing to local jurisdictions through a variety of regulations and program requirements. For example, HUD requires all local jurisdictions participating in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) formula programs to complete an annual Consolidated Plan, which establishes a "unified vision for community development actions." As part of the consolidated plan process, jurisdictions were required to complete an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice ("Analysis of Impediments") report and to take actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis.
Aside from federal and state laws, the City of Rockford has a fair housing ordinance that prohibits discrimination and provides protection for specific classes of people based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or familial status. This protection extends only to situations that occur within the Rockford city limits. Situations that occur outside the city limits should be referred to either that municipalities local government offices, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, or the fair housing division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
