Community Development

Modern style homes in ConcordThe Community Development Division is committed to making the City of Concord and its neighborhoods better places to live, work, and play. Through the efforts of this Division, the City strives to provide safe, decent, affordable housing, a suitable living environment and economic opportunities, specifically for low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. The City has several programs in place to accomplish this goal. These programs are federally funded through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Act Programs. 

Federal Grant Programs

 

News/Events/Annoucements


News

HUD Launches Website to Combat Source of Income Discrimination for Families Using Housing Vouchers

 

On March 13, 2024, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Richard J. Monocchio, announced the launch of HUD’s new website detailing protections against Source of Income (SOI) discrimination for families with Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs). SOI discrimination is the practice where landlords, owners, and real estate brokers refuse to rent to current or prospective qualified tenants with an HCV or other forms of public assistance. The Source of Income Protections website serves as a “one-stop shop” for HUD stakeholders that summarizes existing materials to explain what SOI discrimination looks like, identifies states and local jurisdictions that prohibit it, and provides resources for people who believe they have experienced this form of discrimination. Click the title to learn more.

   

HUD Signs on to Historic Climate Declaration at United Nations Buildings and Climate Forum

 

On March 13, 2024, during the United Nations Buildings and Climate Forum in Paris, France, representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shared information on its efforts to decarbonize and increase resiliency within its programs and housing portfolio, highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and climate resilience and learned key insights into building climate resilient homes. Investing in energy efficiency measures, a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration, not only helps tackle the climate crisis but also cuts energy costs, which is especially crucial for low-income Americans who suffer from high energy burdens, and makes homes more resilient to climate-fueled disasters. Click the title to learn more.

   

HUD Awards $2.75 Million to Train and Equip Skilled Housing Counseling Professionals

 

On March 12, 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling announced today it has awarded $2.75 million in grants to seven nonprofit organizations to fund training and education for current and prospective HUD-certified housing counselors. Click the title to learn more.

   

HUD's Investments in Affordable Housing and Plan to Lower Housing Costs for Working Families

 

On March 7, 2024, the White House highlighted the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) efforts in a new fact sheet, detailing ways the Department and the entire Biden-Harris Administration are boosting housing supply and easing housing costs for Americans. This announcement builds on recent efforts by the White House and HUD. Click the title to learn more.

   

HUD Makes $10 Million Available to Support New Homebuyers and Bridge Wealth Gap

 

On March 5, 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling has announced that $10 million in grant funding is available to eligible HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. These agencies will use the funding to prepare and equip prospective homebuyers to successfully navigate the homebuying process.  This new funding will enable HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to provide culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services for pre- and post-purchase housing counseling, aiming to increase homeownership rates among historically underserved communities. The funding affirms the ongoing commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration to help close the racial wealth gap and address homebuying barriers that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Click the title to learn more.

 

Events

April 11, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

 

The City of Concord’s Housing Department and the Planning & Neighborhood Development Department are partnering with the N.C. Human Relations Commission to provide a virtual Workshop for Landlords and Property Managers.  The event will feature a presentation by Ms. Bernadette Dominguez, a Fair Housing Investigator of the N.C. Human Relations Commission, a division of the N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings.  Please join us to learn more about landlords and tenants’ rights and responsibilities and the federal and state laws that govern these rights.  To register, please visit concordnc.gov/LLPMWorkshop or call (704) 920-5152. 

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Announcements

Reimagine McGill Survey Results

 

In the fall of 2023, the City of Concord, in partnership with community organizations, sought residents’ input through a survey to help guide the decisions to determine how to redevelop the property that was purchased by the City on McGill Avenue, which is a major gateway between Western Concord and historic Downtown Concord.  The City wanted to explore the concepts that would address a critical community need for greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables.  The input from the community will help to guide the decisions for redevelopment on McGill Avenue.  The survey results are now available for review.  Please view the results below:  

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March 24, 2024 – Deadline to Apply to Purchase an Affordable New Home in Concord

 

The City of Concord’s Planning & Neighborhood Development Department has constructed a house that is available for buyers that are below 80% of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) area median income limit. The City used its HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds to build this home that is located at 314 Sycamore Avenue SW. This affordable property is only available during the open application deadline dates. Applications must be completed through Neighborly Software and all of the required information must be submitted through the application portal by the deadline of Sunday, 3/24/2024 by 5:00 p.m. Applicants must apply during the open application period. Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the deadline will be denied.

The City’s affordability incentives are based on its mission to partner with our community to deliver excellent services and plans for the future while preserving, protecting, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. In an effort to preserve these affordable housing opportunities, the City developed a scoring matrix that allows the Affordable Housing Purchase (AHP) Committee to review and recommend the best offer to the Concord City Council for approval.

The City included a link to the video that provides construction details, a link to the virtual tour of the home, and a link to the Neighborly Software application portal. Interested applicants may drive by the site, but open house dates will be provided for applicants before the application deadline. Once the application deadline has passed, visits will be scheduled for eligible applicants that met the requirements for review by the AHP Committee. The Concord City Council will determine the awarded applicants.

The City is selling this property directly with no realtor relationship. Applicants are not required to have a realtor to purchase this property. Simply upload the letter that provides an offer to purchase and any additional terms with your application. The City has an outside closing attorney that can handle the details of the sale if you do not wish to hire an additional closing attorney. Also, applicants will be required to submit a copy of the homebuyer education workshop certificate from a HUD-certified agency or counselor.  Certificates from lenders are unacceptable.

This property is being re-listed. If you have already started an application on this property and did not complete or submit your application previously, your information is still available in the Neighborly Software system. Simply update your information and submit your application by the deadline if you are still interested. Click on the image below to view a larger version of the flyer.

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For more information, contact the City of Concord’s Planning & Neighborhood Development Department at (704) 920-5152.