Pocatello Community Development Block Grant Program

In 1996, the City's population exceeded 50,000 and "entitlement status" from the federal government was achieved. Consequently, Pocatello is entitled to about $400.000 per year in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The administration of these funds is the division's primary focus.

CDBG funds are utilized for a variety of housing and community development programs as well as several special projects. The city's consolidated plan for CDBG funding guides the spending of the funds and enables officials and citizens to collectively solve neighborhood and community problems that meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) national objectives which are:

  1. Benefit to low- and moderate-income persons.
  2. Removal or elimination of slums and blight.
  3. Meeting other community development needs having a particular urgency because conditions may pose a serious and immediate threat to the health and welfare of the community.
As a recipient of funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, every 5 years the City is required to create a new Consolidated Plan outlining the City's needs and priorities for use of CDBG funding. Based on the Consolidated Plan, the annual action plan specifies exactly how a given year's funding will be used, for example, sidewalk and housing repair. Then, at the end of the program year, the City must report on the work it did over the year in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. The current version of each of these plans can be found at the links below:
  1. DRAFT - Program Year 2020 Action Plan (PDF)
  2. Program Year 2019 Action Plan Amendment CARES ACT (PDF)
  3. Program Year 2019 Action Plan (PDF)
  4. Program Year 2018 CAPER (PDF)
  5. Program Year 2017-2021 Consolidated Plan & Program Year 2017 Action Plan (PDF)

News

CARES Act Program

The City of Pocatello has temporary rental or mortgage assistance for persons and families who face financial hardships directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Pocatello CARES Act Program provides financial assistance for up to three consecutive months of Rental or Mortgage Assistance, and up to three consecutive months of Utility costs.  The purpose of this program is to assist low-income households who have had loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rental or Mortgage payments will be made directly to the landlord or financial institution. Landlord or lender participation in the program is required to provide assistance.

This is a temporary program and funding is limited.

Eligibility:

  • City of Pocatello resident
  • Loss of income due to COVID-19
    (i.e. verifiable proof of loss of income effective 3/27/2020, forward)
  • Have not received federal housing subsidy in the past 12 months.
  • Income qualification (see income limits below)
Program Year 2020 Income Limits (Subject to Change)
Bannock-Pocatello Area
Income Limit Category1 Person2 People3 People4 People5 People6 People7 People8 People
AMI 30%$13,900$15,850$17,850$19,800$21,400$23,000$24,600$26,150
AMI 50%$23,100$26,400$29,700$33,000$35,650$38,300$40,950$43,600
AMI 80%$37,000$42,250$47,550$52,800$57,050$61,250$65,500$69,700

Contact Janae Mitchell at jmitchell@pocatello.us or 208-234-6186 or contact Lisa Smith at lsmith@pocatello.us or 208-234-6188 for a grant application.

HUD Terminates the 2015 AFFH Rule

On July 23, 2020, HUD Secretary Carson announced the termination of the Obama Administration's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) regulation.

The Trump Administration is replacing it with a final rule titled "Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice". The final rule repeals both the Assessment of Fair Housing and Analysis of Impediments requirements. The rule leaves in place the requirement that grantees certify they are affirmatively furthering fair housing. AFFH certification "will be deemed acceptable if the grantee has taken some active steps to fulfill the duty to affirmatively further fair housing as established in the Fair Housing Act."

This rule takes effect 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. For now grantees will continue to follow existing policy which requires the development of an Analysis of Impediments (AI) to fair housing choice as part of the Con Plan process. Once this final rule becomes effective, the AI will no longer be required.

Goals & Objectives

The City's goals and objectives primarily relate to revitalizing deteriorating neighborhoods, providing decent housing and suitable living environments, and expanding economic opportunities-principally for low and moderate income persons. Funding can also be provided to various non-profits in the community such as:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Advisory Committee

In fulfilling its duties, the CDBG staff supports the CDBG Advisory Committee. The CDBG Advisory Committee is charged with the development, oversight, and implementation including funding recommendations for the City's Consolidated Plan. The CDBG staff can help you with information; please call 234-6188 or email. Other organizations that can help include:

Citizen participation is a key component of the City's CDBG programs, and several opportunities for public input on various aspects of these programs occur throughout the year and are publicly noticed in the Idaho State Journal.

Contact Us

If you have questions or would like more information, you can contact staff at the following numbers or send an email.

  • CDBG Program Coordinator: 208-234-6186
  • Fair Housing Information: 208-234-6188
  • Grants Administrator: 208-234-6188
  • Property Rehabilitation Specialist: 208-234-6255