Callender Highlights Local CDBG Funding to Combat Coronavirus

State Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) announces scheduled Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding coming to Lake County that will provide aid to communities as they continue to counter the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ve seen our health system struggling due to the difficulties and shortages that have been brought upon by COVID-19,” said Callender. “I am thankful that Lake County will receive this financial relief, it will ease pressure on our medical professionals and give our communities more resources in combating this deadly virus.”

Lake County is scheduled to receive $822,275 in funding provided by the CDBG program, which was appropriated through the CARES Act that Congress passed and the President signed into law in late March. The CDBG program falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The CDBG program provides communities and states with funding to provide a wide range of resources to address COVID-19, such as constructing medical facilities for testing and treatment, acquiring a motel or hotel building to expand capacity of hospitals to accommodate isolation of patients during recovery, supporting businesses manufacturing medical supplies, and more.

Other assistance programs that were allocated funds through the CARES Act includes the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and the Housing Opportunities for Person with Aids (HOPWA).

The ESG program will enable state and local governments to address coronavirus among the homeless population as well as provide state and local governments with homelessness prevention funding for individuals and families who would otherwise become homeless due to coronavirus.

The HOPWA program is dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS by giving grants to local communities, states, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families in response to COVID-19.

While Lake County is not receiving ESG or HOPWA funding, Ohio is slated to receive $45,617,005 for ESG, and $910,129 for support of HOPWA.

In total, HUD is allocating $90,919,075 for Ohio through the CDBG program.