By Mark H. Morial
Mayor of New Orleans

The impact of HUD funds on the City of New Orleans cannot be underestimated. Over the past 24 years, the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) has played an essential role in addressing a variety of issues. CDBG funds have affected almost every aspect of daily living in the city in a positive manner. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds has allowed us to provide parks, street improvements, business development and expansions and art museums in our city. The Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) has enabled us to increase our affordable housing stock for our low- and moderate-income residents.

These funds have been indispensable in changing the city’s landscape. The streets and infrastructure of the city has improved dramatically throughout our neighborhoods. The Michoud-Industrial Corridor largely owes its existence to CDBG funds. We have been able to make public facility improvements in community multi-purpose, and recreational centers, with the assistance of the program. We have also been able to provide safe and decent affordable housing to our very-low and low-income household residents through our HOME owner-occupied rehabilitation program.

CDBG and HOME has directly affected the lives of residents in our city. According to our figures, in the past year, over 62,000 people representing more than 4,000 households have received public services, including over 760 receiving child care assistance. More than 840 people have been involved in drug abatement programs; approximately 720 persons have participated in literacy/educational programs; approximately 7,900 people have received health care services; 900 elderly persons have receive senior services; more than 51,300 young people have received youth services; and nearly 380 households comprising 2,745 units were assisted with owner-occupied rehab, rental rehab, and first-time homebuyer programs.

CDBG and HOME have served as important leveraging mechanisms in attracting private sector funds - resulting in partnerships such as the $530 million "House New Orleans" initiative with Fannie Mae, and the $20 million "At Home In New Orleans" initiative with the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust Fund and Freddie Mac. In addition, over the past 4 years we have leveraged $4 million with CDBG and HOME funds into a "Bond" program with the New Orleans Home Mortgage Authority (NOHMA). This comprehensive approach, which involves using our federal resources with private sector funds has helped us to add over 10,000 new home owners to the City’s tax base.

We have an increasing number of projects involving financial institutions as partners which has allowed us to disburse our funds into more areas. We can see the impact of this in the revitalized Central City area where 57 new, rehabilitated units were sold to new homeowners. In addition, new opportunities are developing for businesses in the Oretha Castle Haley area of Central City; and in Rivers Frederick Square, a square block area of 24 new homes that have been constructed and sold; and in New Orleans East where Jazzland, a new amusement park, is being developed.

CDBG and HOME funds have been instrumental in bringing revitalization to our city. From every neighborhood and area, the rebuilding of New Orleans is visible to its citizens. Without CDBG and HOME resources these efforts would not have been possible. I can definitely state that CDBG and HOME has contributed greatly to the rebuilding of New Orleans.