Community Development

The mission of the Office of Housing and Neighborhood Development (OHND) is to provide critical financial, informational, and support resources to low and moderate income Hamden residents seeking to improve their access to homeownership opportunities, the quality of their housing, the viability of their businesses, the usability and effectiveness of their shared community facilities, and the cleanliness of their neighborhoods.

To achieve this mission, OHND offers programs to assist with Residential Rehabilitation, Commercial Rehabilitation, and First-Time Homebuyer's Downpayment Assistance. OHND has a permanent staff of three and is also home to Hamden's Code Enforcement and Fair Rent Officers, who work to ensure the quality and affordability of rental units.

• Click here to view OHND's program brochure for 2009 - 2010 

As a Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Community, Hamden has the opportunity to develop its own programs and funding priorities as long as those programs give “maximum feasible priority” to activities benefiting low and moderate-income people. Hamden also has the flexibility to carry out activities designed to aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight as well as address conditions that pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community when other financial resources are not available to meet such needs. CDBG funds may not be used for activities that do not meet the broad national objectives established by HUD.

Across the country, CDBG Funds are used for a number of eligible purposes, including:

• Acquisition of real property
  
• Relocation and demolition
  
• Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures
  
• Construction of public facilities and improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers, and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes
  
• Public services (within certain limits)
  
• Energy conservation activities and those related to renewable energy resources
  
• Assistance to profit-motivated businesses to carry out economic development and job creation/retention activities.
  

Generally, the following types of activities are not eligible:

• Acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of buildings for the general conduct of government
  
• Political activities
  
• Certain income payments
  
• Construction of new housing units by the local government

The Community Development Block Grant Program offers the Town of Hamden, with community involvement, the opportunity to establish programs that meet specific community needs.