The HOME program is a federal entitlement grant program authorized by Title II of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended. The program provides annual grants on a formula basis to entitled cities, counties, approved consortia, and states.
Local governments receiving HOME funds are called Participating Jurisdictions (PJs). Congress determines through the passage of the annual federal budget how much HOME funds will be available each year to participating jurisdictions.
HUD manages and oversees the HOME Program. Each PJ is responsible for deciding how HOME funds will be used in its jurisdiction and for the daily administration of HOME funds.
The HOME Program intends to increase affordable housing opportunities, particularly for people with low incomes.
Specific purposes of the HOME Program include:
- Expanding the supply of decent and affordable housing, particularly rental housing, for people with low and very low incomes.
- Strengthen the abilities of state and local governments to design and implement strategies for achieving adequate supplies of decent, affordable housing.
- Provide both financial and technical assistance to HOME recipients, including the development of model programs for affordable low-income housing.
- Expand and strengthen partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector, including for-profit and non-profit organizations, in the production and operation of affordable housing.
The Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, allows units of local government to enter into cooperation agreements and form a consortium to create affordable housing as part of the HOME Investment Partnership Program.
In 1994, Champaign, Urbana, and Champaign County created a HOME Consortium to receive HOME funds directly from HUD. In 1995, HUD officially certified the Urbana HOME Consortium and the local governments created an intergovernmental agreement that named the City of Urbana as the Lead Entity.
The Consortium includes unincorporated Champaign County (represented by the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission), the City of Champaign, and the City of Urbana.
HOME funds administered through the Consortium support a variety of local service providers in the community, including Cunningham Township, Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center, C-U at Home, First Followers, Habitat for Humanity, and Champaign County Regional Planning Commission.
More information on how the City of Urbana uses its HOME funds can be found in the Grants Division's Plans and Reports.