Community Development Block Grant

About the Program

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG or "Block Grant") funds are granted directly to the City of Aurora to assist low to moderate income persons who earn 80% of the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville Area Median Income or below (for a family of 4, this would be $89,700 in 2024).

CDBG is the main Federal anti-poverty grant and is used by hundreds of cities nationwide. Block Grant funds are generally spent to assist low to moderate income Aurora residents, or to eliminate substandard conditions that may exist in our community. The City receives approximately $1.6 million annually in CDBG funds based on a formula calculation consisting of Census data, poverty rates, housing age, etc.

Our Successes with this Program

In conjunction with the HOME Grant, we were able to accomplish the following for the families of Aurora:

• Assisted 139 Aurora households with foreclosure prevention services so that residents with financial problems could keep their homes.

• Assisted 733 Aurora residents (including children and veterans) to avoid homelessness by providing shelter, counseling, training, legal aid and food support.

• Funded urgent upgrades to 63 housing units ensuring that Aurora's housing stock is decent and safe.

• Provided 331 Aurora residents with job training and skill development services to cope with a challenging economy.