Edmond, a community known for its expansive parks and revered schools, faces a housing affordability dilemma, as prices soar nearly double Oklahoma's average, creating hurdles for residents longing for homeownership and necessary home improvements.
To address these financial strains, Edmond's Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department is steering the federally funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, aiming to rejuvenate neighborhoods and foster affordable housing while also facilitating public services for low to moderate income citizens, according to a press release from the City of Edmond.
Christy Batterson, who has led the HCD Department since 2019, emphasized the department's mission: "Our goal is to provide safe and livable housing conditions to all throughout our community and to also allow older adults to age in place in their own home." She added, "Giving back to the community is what I like most about the program," as mentioned by the City of Edmond. Residents have access to several housing programs offered by the city, including Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation, Homebuyer Assistance, and the NeighborWoods Tree Program.
The Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation program prioritizes improvements crucial for health and safety—emphasizing disability accommodations, energy efficiency, and weatherization; these initiatives extend to ramp installations, doorway widening, LED lighting replacements, and even pressing emergency solutions, such as plumbing and roofing repairs.
Meanwhile, the Homebuyer Assistance program cuts the burden of down payments for those who qualify, potentially offering up to $14,999, which is 50 percent of down payment costs. "I am so glad we can offer this kind of program," voiced Avery Geist, the Community Services Coordinator for HCD, as per the City of Edmond. Geist noted, "I believe it really makes a difference in people’s lives, especially those who otherwise would not have the opportunity to be homeowners."
In the realm of neighborhood greenery, the NeighborWoods program steps in to manage the pruning and elimination of risky trees, as Leigh Martin, Edmond's Urban Forester, spotlighted the essential maintenance and safety of urban trees and the benefits they provide, such as energy savings and enhanced air quality; the program extends a helping hand to residents who meet certain criteria, noted Martin in an interview with the City of Edmond.
Applications for these diverse programs can be found on the City of Edmond's website, under the HCD section, with the city overseeing the entirety of the process from home inspections to hiring contractors, all in cooperation with the homeowners' needs and schedules. One grateful local shared, "It has come as a great blessing to us because we were without water for months because of a water-heater fire, and I could not afford a new one. But now, me and my great-grandchildren say it feels so good to be under a hot shower again! It was truly great a blessing. Through this I have met the most amazing people who helped keep us together," narrated a city publication.
