City of Mishawaka Community Development Block Grant Program 2025

The City of Mishawaka's 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program aims to ensure decent affordable housing, provide services to vulnerable community members, and create jobs through business expansion and retention. This program is a vital tool for local governments to address community challenges, aligning with the broader mission of community development and support for low and moderate-income individuals and areas. The program targets several key beneficiaries and impact goals. It focuses on homeless individuals by improving and increasing public services. It also addresses the needs of special populations, including youth, the elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals, through public service programs like feeding and social welfare initiatives. Housing is another critical area, with goals to promote homeownership, develop new affordable housing, preserve existing owner-occupied housing, and make accessibility improvements. The Mishawaka Consolidated Plan, covering 2025-2030, outlines specific priorities and focuses. These include Homeless Priority-Public Services, Special Needs Priority-1 Public Services, and various Housing initiatives such as Homeownership Assistance, Affordable Housing, and housing preservation and rehabilitation. Community Development Priority focuses on improving public and community facilities, infrastructure (streets, walks, curbs, ADA ramps), and eliminating slum conditions through demolition. Administration, Planning and Management, and Fair Housing are also key priorities, ensuring sound program oversight and promoting fair housing choices. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in decent affordable housing, enhanced public services for vulnerable populations, job creation, and improved community infrastructure. The program seeks to assist low and moderate-income persons and families in achieving homeownership, provide accessible housing, and revitalize blighted areas. Through these initiatives, the City of Mishawaka is implementing a strategic approach to community development, guided by a theory of change that posits that by addressing fundamental needs in housing, public services, and infrastructure, the overall quality of life for all residents will significantly improve. Eligible activities for CDBG funding are diverse and designed to help low and moderate-income individuals, households, or areas. These activities encompass Public Facilities and Improvements, Code Enforcement, Architectural Barrier Removal, and a wide array of Public Services (including youth, senior, childcare, homeless shelter operations, services for persons with HIV/AIDS, and crime prevention). Other eligible activities include Planning, Housing Services (down payment assistance, renovation), Microenterprise Assistance, Economic Development Assistance, and Façade Improvements for Private Businesses. This comprehensive approach ensures that various community needs can be addressed effectively.