Housing Rehabilitation & Demolition or Neighborhood Development - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

The Kansas Department of Commerce administers the Housing Rehabilitation and Demolition program under its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) offerings. Designed to support housing improvements in areas facing blight and to benefit low- to moderate-income (LMI) households, this grant opportunity focuses on the rehabilitation and/or demolition of residential properties within eligible Kansas communities. The program is part of the broader effort to enhance the quality of life and infrastructure in underserved areas, addressing unsafe or substandard housing conditions that negatively impact neighborhood vitality. For the 2026 cycle, the program has allocated a total of $1.2 million in funding. Communities may apply for up to $300,000 per project to rehabilitate single-family homes—whether owner-occupied or rental properties—or to demolish unsafe structures, including outbuildings. Eligible activities also include the removal of architectural barriers, energy strategy improvements, relocation of households from severely dilapidated homes, and coverage of administrative costs. If the demolition component is pursued, the project must meet the national objective of addressing slum and blight conditions. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that their projects benefit LMI households and that they are prepared to meet the program’s requirements, including the ability to cover the cost of the required environmental review. Additionally, landlords participating in rehabilitation projects must contribute to costs: 15% if they are LMI, or 25% if they are not. The 2026 guidelines, revised for clarity and program alignment, will be made available in January 2026. A new pre-application process is mandatory beginning with the 2026 cycle. The pre-application form—available starting January 7, 2026—must be submitted and approved before applicants can proceed to a full application. The pre-application requires a project description, estimated budget, eligibility confirmation, and readiness statement. Applicants are encouraged to engage with CDBG staff prior to submitting the pre-application to ensure alignment and preparedness. The full application period opens on March 2, 2026, and closes on October 16, 2026. Pre-applications will be reviewed within ten days, after which successful candidates will receive instructions for completing their full submissions. Evaluation criteria include project need, community readiness, impact potential, sustainability, and matching fund sources. Strong projects will demonstrate active community engagement, a well-developed coalition of stakeholders, and readiness to proceed with qualified contractors and administrators in place. For assistance, applicants can contact Tim Parks, the CDBG Specialist, via email at [email protected] or phone at (785) 480-8072. While there is no stated recurrence cycle, the program has previously run annually and may follow a similar schedule in future years. Interested communities are advised to monitor updates and prepare accordingly for future funding rounds.

A strong stakeholder group and knowledgeable local administration increase success. No single component should be overlooked, especially pre-application readiness.