HOME Investment Partnerships Grant

The 2027 HOME Investment Partnerships Grant, administered by the Cobb County CDBG Program Office, is part of a federally funded initiative under the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990. The HOME Program is the largest Federal block grant aimed at expanding affordable housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income families across the United States. Funds are allocated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) based on a formula that assesses relative housing needs of local jurisdictions and states. Cobb County is a designated recipient of these funds and issues a formal call for proposals from eligible local organizations each year. The primary goal of the HOME Program is to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing for low-income residents. This is achieved through a variety of eligible housing-related activities, including homeowner rehabilitation, homebuyer assistance, rental housing support, and tenant-based rental assistance. In addition to direct housing provision, the program also supports capacity building among nonprofit housing developers and encourages the leveraging of private sector investment to maximize the impact of federal funds. The 2027 funding cycle will support projects within the performance period of January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2027. Cobb County's funding priorities for this cycle, guided by the findings of a 2024 Strategic Plan Assessment, target the most pressing needs within the county. Notable concerns include widespread housing insecurity affecting nearly 25% of households, a growing homeless population, and compounding social challenges such as income inequality, substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health issues. The Strategic Plan revealed that renters are particularly impacted, with nearly 42% being cost-burdened compared to 16% of homeowners. Funding allocations for 2027 have been proportioned to address these concerns effectively. Of the total HOME allocation, 20% is reserved for Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) as required by HUD regulations. The remaining funds are distributed across homeownership activities (30%), rental housing (30%), tenant-based rental assistance (10%), and planning and administration (10%). These allocations reflect the county's strategic focus on expanding affordable housing options while also addressing systemic barriers to housing stability. Eligible applicants include local nonprofit organizations and government entities that propose projects aligning with one or more of the HOME activity areas. Applications are reviewed for completeness and compliance by a Selection Committee, which submits funding recommendations to the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. It is explicitly stated that submission of an application does not guarantee funding, and costs related to preparing applications are borne by the applicants. The application window opens on February 16, 2026, at 8:00 AM EST and closes on April 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM EDT. All applications must be submitted through the designated online platform hosted by SurveyMonkey Apply. Applicants are advised to prepare submissions aligned with the funding priorities and eligibility criteria outlined by the CDBG Program Office. Award notifications are expected in November following review and board approval.