Low-to-moderate income renters in Galesburg could soon see improvements to their living conditions, thanks to the City of Galesburg being named a finalist for a $300,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Community Development Block Grant Healthy Houses Program. The funding will support the replacement of HVAC systems in rental homes with six or fewer units occupied by low-to-moderate income tenants, creating healthier and more energy efficient environments for residents.
“While we still have some requirements to meet prior to receiving a written contract for the grant, we are grateful to the Illinois DCEO for recognizing the importance of investing in safe, healthy housing,” said Steve Gugliotta, Director of Community Development. “This funding will allow us to make essential upgrades that will benefit renters and landlords alike, improving quality of life and reducing energy costs for residents.”
The Healthy Homes Program is designed to enhance living conditions for tenants by addressing critical housing needs, including heating and cooling systems that contribute to safe and healthy environments. The grant will enable Galesburg to upgrade HVAC systems in eligible rental properties, ensuring more residents have access to reliable and energy-efficient climate control.
Housing revitalization is a significant need and priority for the City of Galesburg. The city has been strategically working to improve housing conditions through a multifaceted approach, which includes enforcing property maintenance codes, repairing homes through grant opportunities, and demolishing and removing dilapidated structures. An interactive map on the city’s website illustrates the progress made towards housing revitalization since 2019, which includes removal of 74 dilapidated structures, lead remediation of 82 homes through a HUD grant, and repair of 92 homes through grants from DCEO, IHDA and the City of Galesburg Local Housing Repair Grant.
This initiative complements Galesburg’s ongoing commitment to housing revitalization. Two additional grants in the city’s portfolio – the Housing Repair Assistance Program and the DCEO CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program – are currently accepting applications. Over the next few months, the necessary work to finalize this new grant agreement will be completed, and more information on the application process and program guidelines will be made available at that time.
Information on housing grants is available on the city’s website. To receive updates on housing grants, visit the e-notify page and subscribe to the “Housing Grants” category.
***Courtesy of Steve Gugliotta, Director of Community Development in Galesburg***
