Community Development
Cranston Department of Community Development
Community Development Block Grant Program
The City of Cranston has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $1,097,397 for fiscal year 2009-2010. These funds will be used to support a wide range of activities including housing rehabilitation, heating assistance, minority outreach health programs, adult day care and a Mayor’s Scholarship Fund. The program is for Cranston residents only. All applicants must meet HUD income guidelines which are listed below.
Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program
This program provides low-interest loans to income eligible Cranston homeowners to assist them in making needed repairs and improvements to their homes and to correct code violations. The program is available for single family to three family buildings, and the property must be owner-occupied. Typical improvements include roofs, vinyl siding, windows, doors, and gutters. Depending on a client’s eligibility, The Loan Program includes a 0% Deferred or a 2% interest for 15 years on the amount borrowed for rehab of homes. Funds are not available for new construction.
First Time Home Buyer Closing Cost or Down Payment Assistance
These programs make funds available to first time home buyers to help defray some of the initial costs when purchasing a home. Closing Cost Assistance will pay up to $3000 as a grant toward closing cost. The Down Payment Assistance is a 50/50 matching of down-payment funds up to $5000 available to any HUD income eligible first time home buyer. These grants are a forgiven lien after the homebuyer has lived in the home a minimum of five years from the day of the closing.
Additional information on the CDBG program can be obtained at the HUD website, www.hud.gov/offices/cpd.
For more information about Cranston’s CDBG programs, please call 461-1000, ext. 7226, or visit our office at the Hamilton Building, 1090 Cranston Street, Cranston, RI. Our office is located on the top floor.