About the CDBG Program
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It provides annual funding to states and local governments for housing, community development, and services that improve residents’ quality of life.
As a CDBG entitlement community, Hayward receives an annual allocation without having to compete for funding. The amount is determined using a federal formula based on population and indicators of community need.
CDBG funds are flexible and may be used to preserve housing, improve public infrastructure and facilities, provide public services, and support economic opportunity. Federal rules require at least 70 percent of CDBG expenditures to benefit residents with low and moderate incomes.
How Hayward Uses CDBG Funds
Depending on community needs, available funding, and City Council priorities, Hayward may use CDBG funds in the following areas:
- Public Facilities and Infrastructure: Improvements to streets, sidewalks, community centers, parks, fire stations, libraries, and nonprofit facilities such as emergency shelters and health clinics.
- Housing: Rehabilitation, accessibility improvements, minor home repairs, and other eligible activities that preserve housing quality and expand access to safe and affordable housing.
- Economic Development: Assistance to small businesses and micro enterprises through loans, grants, technical assistance, and activities that create or retain employment opportunities for residents with low and moderate incomes.
- Public Services: Services such as homelessness response, legal assistance, food access, senior services, housing assistance, and referrals to community resources. Services offered may vary from year to year. Federal rules generally limit public-service funding to 15 percent of available CDBG resources.
Federal rules also generally allow the City to use up to 20 percent of its CDBG resources for planning and program administration. These activities include financial management, contract oversight, monitoring, environmental review, compliance, and reporting to HUD.
Funding Decisions and Opportunities
Each year, the City prepares an Annual Action Plan describing how it plans to use its CDBG funding. Proposed activities and funding allocations are developed through the City’s annual budget processes.
CDBG-funded activities may be administered directly by the City or carried out through agreements with public agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Depending on available funding and City Council priorities, the City may also offer competitive funding to nonprofit and community-based organizations through the Community Agency Funding process. Competitive funding may not be available every year.
To learn about current or future funding opportunities and join the Community Services announcement mailing list, visit the Community Agency Funding page.
Plans and Reports
Hayward prepares several documents to plan and report on its use of CDBG funding:
- The Consolidated Plan, commonly called the Con Plan, is a five-year strategic plan that assesses housing and community development needs and establishes the City’s funding priorities. The current 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan covers five program years beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2030.
- The Annual Action Plan, or AAP, describes how the City plans to use CDBG funding during one program year. It identifies proposed activities, funding allocations, annual goals, and expected outcomes.
- The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, or CAPER, describes how CDBG funds were used during the completed program year. It reports expenditures, accomplishments, the residents and communities served, and the City’s progress toward its adopted goals.
Opportunities for Public Comment
The proposed Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan must be available for public comment for at least 30 days before final submission to HUD. The CAPER must be available for public comment for at least 15 days. Any Substantial Amendments to these documents will also be made available for public comment.
Current public-comment opportunities, draft documents, adopted plans, annual reports, and archived CDBG documents are available on the CDBG Documents page.
Residents may submit written comments and may also provide comments at designated meetings of the Community Services Commission or Hayward City Council. Meeting dates, agendas, and participation information are available through the Meetings and Agenda Center.
Contact Information
Questions about the City’s CDBG program may be directed to Ember Padró with the Community Services Division:
777 B Street, 4th Floor
Hayward, CA 94541
(510) 583-4003
ember.padro@hayward-ca.gov
