Did you know Layton City is a designated HUD EntitlementCommunity? The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) specifies that metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000 are eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds directly from HUD. Layton is eligible and approved by HUD to directly receive funds and the City’s Community and Economic Development Department oversees this program.
The primary purpose of the federal tax generated grant funding is to help HUD meet three national objectives. One of three HUD National Objectives must be met when utilizing CDBG funds:
- Benefit low- and moderate-income persons
- Prevent or eliminate slums or blight
- Address community development needs having a particular urgency
The At Home in Layton program offers home ownership assistance to qualifying homebuyers. The backing is offered as a grant that may be used for up to 50% of the required down payment, closing costs or principal reduction. During its most recent program year, the City assisted eight qualified households with down payment funding towards their new home. The grant is currently offered in $10,000 increments per application toward one home and qualification is based on total household income.
Layton City also helps its low-to-moderate-income residents with an Emergency Home Repair and Rehab program. This CDBG-funded effort provides qualified candidates assistance to immediately correct an emergency condition determined to present an imminent danger to health and safety of the resident’s occupants. The home rehabilitation portion of the program helps eliminate blight, conserve energy, conserve water, and preserves Layton’s housing inventory. Layton assisted five households with Emergency Repair/Rehab grants during the recent program year. Some of these efforts included installing energy efficient windows, furnace, water heater, and more. Other projects such as sewer repair, repair or replacement of electrical hazards, and roof repair also qualify.
Layton disburses 15 percent of its annual allocation to nonprofit organizations to undertake specific community development activities. The City’s current participating public service entities include the Safe Harbor domestic violence shelter, Lantern House homeless shelter, Open Doors, and Youth Court.
Community decisions regarding the distributions of these funds are carefully examined by staff and the City Council. The impact on the community is top priority when making these vital decisions.
Questions regarding Community Development, housing needs, and public services efforts may be forwarded to: Morgan Cloward, CDBG & Economic Development Specialist, Layton City Community Development, 437 North Wasatch Drive, Layton, Utah 84041, mcloward@laytoncity.org, 801-336-3770.