Community Development Block Grant

The City of Seattle’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program channels between $9 million and $10 million annually in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to various programs that help low- and moderate-income Seattle individuals, families and communities.

The funding comes to the City’s CDBG program office, in the Human Services Department, and is distributed to the Office of Economic Development, Office of Housing and community-based social service agencies to help pay for various programs and projects. CDBG staff also ensures compliance with federal regulations, monitors national developments affecting CDBG funding, and represents the City to HUD.

About one-third of the CDBG money that comes to Seattle each year is used to support programs that provide emergency shelter and transitional housing to homeless individuals and families. Another third supports economic and community development programs. Between 2009 and 2014, the City dedicated $35 million dollars to community building in southeast Seattle using the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund to manage the designated fund. Beginning in 2013 as the SE Seattle project wraps up, the City will shift resources to two new initiatives. First, a partnership between HSD and OED will focus on enhancing employment readiness and placement for 19-24 year old disadvantaged young people through the Career Bridges program.  Second, CDBG will continue to support small businesses in the South Park area who have been impacted by the closure of the South Park bridge and loss of business traffic in the area. The final third of CDBG funding is used to build and preserve affordable housing, provide home repairs for low-income residents, and improve buildings used by social service agencies to run their programs.

The Community Development Block Grant program is governed by the policies and strategies outlined in Seattle's Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development.

Overview of City’s CDBG-funded programs

Seattle Human Services Department
Street address: 700 5th Avenue, Suite 5800, Seattle, WA 98104
Mailing address: PO Box 34215, Seattle, WA 98124-4215

Phone: 206-386-1001
Fax: 206-233-5119
TTY/TTD: 206-233-2778

Accommodations for people with disabilities provided upon request.