What is your housing story?

We all have a housing story. Perhaps you know a recent college graduate trying to find a place to stake their first flag. Perhaps you have aging parents who need to downsize and find quality, affordable housing. Perhaps you know someone who needs funding support in order to make home repairs.

Housing plays a crucial role in the lives of our residents, and now is the time to share your housing priorities with us, as we look to update the city's five-year consolidated plan.

For more than 40 years, the city has qualified to receive federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Programs funds for housing and community development activities. One of the requirements to receive this grant funding is adoption of a 5-year consolidated plan.

The consolidated plan is a blueprint for the city and its citizen advisory committee to target grant resources and make funding decisions for the next five years.

Cedar Rapids has seen a 30 percent decrease in the amount of funding it receives over the last five years due to budget reductions at the Congressional level. Your voice is crucial as we prioritize these shrinking funds.

CDBG and HOME funds need to be used for a specific purpose - creating housing and economic opportunity for low and moderate income citizens and revitalizing neighborhoods that are in need of investment.

Traditionally, the city has used funds to answer a wide variety of community needs, including these accomplishments from the most recent program year:

' 58 homeowners received assistance for home repairs

' 9 additional homes were rehabilitated

' 98 homebuyers received down payment assistance

' 9,733 people received access to health care services

' 733 homeless persons received shelter and case management services

' 406 youths attended before- and after-school programs or mentoring services

The city needs your help identifying activities most important to the community. Please join us for an open house and provide your feedback on goals and priorities for the 5-year consolidated plan from 4-7 p.m. today at the City Service Center (500 15th Avenue SW). We look forward to hearing from you.

' Paula Mitchell is Housing and Redevelopment Manager for City of Cedar Rapids. Comments: (319) 286-5852. p.mitchell@cedar-rapids.org